The Financial Impact of Tires
Fleet Managers all around the world suffer from high overhead costs from their trucks that stem from one thing: tires. Tires account for 30% of operating costs for fleets on average. Neglecting tires not only leads to more frequent tire purchases, but it also leads to potentially dangerous downtime events and reduces fuel efficiency. Monitoring not only pressure but temperature, tread depth, alignment, and load can prolong the tire lifespan tremendously and prevent dangerous blowouts from happening. Let us take a deeper dive.
Monitoring pressure is critical to the lifespan of the tire. Both underinflation and overinflation can contribute to tire loss. Underinflation not only impacts fuel efficiency but also accelerates the wear of the tire, particularly on the sides of the tread. A tire that is 30% underinflated can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 3% and reduce premature tire wear by 45%. In addition, underinflation can cause heat buildup in the tire, which will degrade the material of the tire over time. Data is limited on the impact of overinflation on tire wear and fuel efficiency, but excessive inflation can cause upwards of 15% in tire loss and wears the center of the tread faster.
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Many fleet vehicles have expensive tires that can range upwards of 900 each, depending on the model. When tires are replaced due to mileage instead of the proper tread depth, there is lost value in the tire. Monitoring tread depth with Cerebrum can help extend the utility of the tire and be certain that the tires will be replaced or retread at the correct tread depth. This ensures drivers get the most out of their tires.
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Downtime events can be costly and can easily accumulate upwards of a thousand dollars in losses for each event. Factoring in time the vehicle is not active, potential blowouts, roadside assistance and potentially accidents can really snowball into a large figure. Using Cerebrum, fleets can monitor pressure, temperature, and tread depth to proactively maintain their tires to ensure maximum value retention from tires and prevent downtime events from occurring. Customizable alerts can be set to warn drivers of imminent danger or poor tire conditions.
Cerebrum users also benefit from the saved time and maintenance cost for checking the tires pre trip and post trip. On average, drivers spend approximately 15 mins on each pre-trip and post trip which can accumulate over time. Our intelligent tire solution cuts down inspection time by about 90%; all it takes is 1-2 minutes to connect to the sensors to display temperature or pressure, which can be displayed in a report. In conclusion, an investment in Cerebrum is an investment not only for your tires but for your vehicles, business, and safety.