Tire Information From A to Z

When it comes to the alignment on your truck, "close enough" can cost you a lot of money. Jerry Thrift, manager of new product development at Ryder Systems in Miami, Fla., knows how much shortened tire life costs, and he's done something about it: Ryder developed its own internal alignment specs. "Alignment is extremely important from a tire-cost perspective," Thrift says. "And with the cost of fuel today, we need to be grabbing every advantage we can. If the truck isn't properly aligned, fuel economy will suffer right along with tire life."

Consider this: A giant Off the Road (OTR) tire used in mines can weigh as much as 13,000 pounds, and a portion of the giant tire is made up of petroleum-based synthetic rubber. When a giant OTR tire is retreaded, not only is the life of the tire extended (meaning that it can be kept out of a landfill indefinitely if another one takes its place after its useful life is over), but retreading contributes to saving vast quantities of oil and other raw materials.