You should also regularly reinforce to your drivers and mechanics the value of your investment, advises Cohn. Relate to them the costs associated with purchasing tires and the importance of taking proper care of that investment to reduce costs. “Encourage them to do regular walk-arounds before heading out for the day,” he says, “and remind them to not only check inflation pressures, but also check for uneven tread wear.”

Also develop and implement a rim program that includes inspections and maintenance. Some items to watch for include rim flange wear, elongated bolt holes and cracks.

A good way to check your tire selection and maintenance programs is to conduct a scrap pile analysis. “Look at every tire that comes out of service to get an idea of why tires are in the pile,” notes Jones. “It will give you a good idea as to whether or not you’re spec’ing the right tires and maintaining them for the longest life.”

“Make sure the reason tires are dying is because they’re used up, not because they’re abused or poorly maintained,” Walenga stresses. “You want to make sure that every tire that makes it to the scrap pile got there honestly. Use your scrap pile as a tool to help identify when to pull tires from service, to pick a new type of tire and to confirm the performance you think you’re getting.”

“It really makes sense to pay attention to tire selection and maintenance,” adds Cohn. “Other than fuel costs, tires are the highest maintenance cost a fleet will have.”