Tire life cycle: the 9 stages from purchase to disposal

Do you know the tire life cycle?

Tires are fundamental components in every type of vehicle, but when it comes to logistics, they become parts that require a lot of knowledge to keep the fleet's trips safe and reduce waste throughout the operation.

Anyone who works in transportation knows how poor Brazilian highways can be. On top of that, there is all the weight, heat, cold, rain, impacts and road hazards that tires face. These factors, combined with inflation pressure, load, speed and temperature, affect the tire's performance and can shorten its useful life.

Businesses that want to save money and increase their profits invest in knowledge, right? That is what we will focus on today, explaining the useful life of a tire, why it should not be estimated by calendar age alone and what care can help extend the use of the tire.

Starting with the most important part:

What is the tire life cycle?

We have broken this part into stages to make the whole period of use of the tire within the fleet clear, from purchase to disposal.

The stages are the acquisition of the tire, fire-number branding, storage, installation on the vehicle, inspections during use, retreading, return to inventory and new use of the tire until it reaches the disposal stage.

To help you understand it better, see in detail how each stage works:

1. The transportation company buys a new tire from a specialized store.

2. The tire must receive fire-number branding, that is, have its identification record made on the casing.

3. The tire is registered at the company, either through a system or a tire control spreadsheet. Through this registration, it is possible to know when it was bought, its manufacturing date, the maintenance planning, and whether it is in inventory or on which truck or bus it was mounted.

4. The tire goes to inventory to be properly stored while it does not need to be installed. Ideally, it should be kept in a clean, dry, cool and well-ventilated place, because storage is also part of caring for the casing.

5. As needed, the tire is installed on a truck or bus.

6. During use, it should go through periodic inspections that analyze pressure, tread wear, visible damage and tread depth, in addition to rotations and cleaning of the rubber. Pressure, tread depth, rotation and alignment are among the central points of ongoing tire maintenance.

7. Based on a professional's assessment report, its first retreading should be done before the tire shows fatigue.

8. After retreading, the tire returns to inventory and waits to be installed on a truck again. The return to use depends on the condition of the casing and on the technical assessment made during the process.

9. The maintenance and retreading cycle should repeat until the casing starts to show damage or is no longer in safe condition for retreading. This means the last stage has arrived: disposal.

Just one note here:

Remember that tire disposal must be done responsibly, at a suitable location and with a company responsible for collection. This stage should not be treated as simply abandoning the tire, because a tire that is out of use needs to follow a proper disposal path within fleet management.

Want to see this in your fleet? Talk to a Prolog specialist

What is the useful life of a tire?

The useful life of a tire should be tracked mainly through its usage history, the condition of the casing and the inspections carried out throughout the operation. Tires are designed to run many thousands of kilometers, but it is not possible to accurately predict the actual useful life of a specific tire by looking at its calendar age alone.

In practice, durability depends on proper maintenance, correct pressure, the load carried, speed, temperature, impacts, injuries caused by road hazards and the overall condition of the vehicle. That is why, instead of treating mileage or age as a fixed rule, the fleet needs to combine registration, periodic inspection and professional assessment.

How to check a tire's expiration date?

A tire does not have an exact expiration date. As we mentioned above, its durability depends on several factors that cause wear and on how the tire is maintained after it is installed on the vehicle.

What we can know for sure is its manufacturing date. It helps with the fleet's internal control, but it does not replace an inspection of the tire's condition or a professional's assessment, especially in vehicles that run little or sit idle for long periods.

On the sidewall, there is a code called DOT (Department of Transportation), which should contain a four-digit numeric sequence at the end. The first two digits indicate the week of manufacture and the last two, the year.

See the example:

DOT XL 1419

14 is the week of manufacture, and 19 is the year, standing for 2019.

How can you tell if tires are still good?

The best way to know whether tires are still fit for use is to combine measuring the tread depth with an inspection of the overall condition of the tire. Under the Brazilian rule, when the remaining tread depth is below 1.6 mm, the tire is not compliant for use. This can be checked visually through the wear indicators.

Driving on a poorly maintained tire can compromise safety and subject the offender to the penalties set out in the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB). In addition to tread depth, look for cuts, bulges, deformations, punctures and signs of fatigue. When in doubt, a professional's assessment is essential.

When can a tire be retreaded?

For a tire to be retreaded, its level of fatigue needs to be analyzed, and its beads, sidewalls, shoulders and belt packages need to be preserved. However, a definitive answer can only be given by a professional, who will examine the tires to make the best decision.

Do you see how important it is to keep the vehicle's servicing up to date?

Keeping truck parts in good condition is a great way to save money, ensure a long life for the vehicle and increase safety on the road. Maintenance after installation is one of the most important factors in a tire's useful life, so it is worth keeping track of the inspection routine before wear rules out retreading. Below, we share some important tips.

What care extends the useful life of a tire?

Keep tire calibration correct

To determine the ideal calibration for the vehicle, check the guidance in the manufacturer's manual. The recommendation is to calibrate every 15 days and with cold tires. Oh, and take the opportunity to inflate the spare tire too.

Correct pressure is one of the main points of ongoing maintenance. Inadequate pressure changes the tire's contact with the ground, accelerates irregular wear and can damage the casing before it is time for retreading.

Clean the tires

Dirt such as branches, mud, sharp objects and other debris can often get stuck in tires. That is why it is important to remove it carefully with products made specifically for tires.

While cleaning, take the opportunity to look for cuts, stuck objects, deformations and signs of damage. The monthly inspection should pay attention to correct pressure, tread wear and tire damage.

Watch the wear indicators

Tread wear is one of the biggest reasons for a reduction in a tire's useful life. When the depth falls below 1.6 mm, the tire no longer meets the required minimum and the casing can suffer damage that rules out retreading, shortening the time in use and requiring the purchase of new tires.

It is important to have a tread probe or to take the truck, or bus, to the professional who takes care of the fleet's tires. Even so, remember: tread wear does not tell the whole story. With low mileage, for example, a professional inspection is still necessary to assess the tire's actual condition.

Do alignment and balancing

A vehicle's alignment and balancing should be done every 10,000 kilometers driven. Together, they help prevent damage to the truck's suspension which, when damaged, also harms the tires through excessive impacts.

In addition, a properly leveled vehicle does not shake or pull to the sides on the highway, making driving safer. Alignment also appears among the central points of tire maintenance, along with pressure, tread depth and rotation.

Rotate the tires periodically

Tire rotation should be done every 10,000 kilometers. This maintenance makes them wear evenly. That way, the tires will not become irregular or lose service time.

Rotation also helps identify differences in wear between vehicle positions. When one position wears out the tire faster than the others, there may be an issue with pressure, alignment, suspension, load or the way the vehicle is operated.

Pay attention to suspension noises

The suspension of a heavy vehicle can be damaged very easily, because it carries load and the poor conditions of Brazilian highways do not help.

A truck's suspension should not make strange sounds. At any unusual noise, look for a mechanic. Even more so when the suspension is impaired, increasing the weight on the tires and deteriorating their casing more quickly.

Plan routes before traveling

Planning travel routes is good for the driver, the truck, the cargo and the tires.

Do you know why?

Because it makes it possible to create safer, faster and more economical routes by assessing roads with better asphalt, lighting and signage conditions, among others. These details avoid routes that can harm the vehicle's components, including tires exposed to impacts, heat, excess load on bad stretches and the risk of cuts.

Practice defensive driving

One way to take care of tires and also ensure more safety is through defensive driving. Avoid sharp turns, keep to the recommended speed according to the truck's load, and do not pull away abruptly or brake hard.

It is worth staying up to date on news in freight transport and constantly looking for tips that help make the work more stable and safe. When the fleet keeps track of the registration, inspections, maintenance and final destination of each tire, it becomes easier to make use of the casing while it is in good condition and to take the tire out of service at the right time.

Visit our YouTube channel for more information about the world of logistics (video in Portuguese):