“Drop-in” system said to promote tire balance

March 13, 2013

NASHVILLE, TN. A new system from International Marketing Inc. (IMI) is said to promote balance among all tires, regardless of position on the vehicle.

Announced this week at the Technology and Maintenance Council’s annual meeting, the Equal system is part of the company’s new “Operation Extra Mile” program. Operation Extra Mile focuses on extending tread life and longer use of the most fuel-efficient part of commercial tires, in all wheel positions, by reducing uneven wear and vibrations.

According to the company, while most fleets balance steer tires, the number who balance drive tires is much smaller. As a truck goes down the road at 66 mpg, the tire and wheel assembles rotate 563 times per minute. With each rotation of an out of balance assembly, a vibration occurs and the tire develops irregular wear, IMI said.

“Remember when truck alignments were mostly performed on only the front end?” said Robert Fogal, president and CEO of IMI. “Today, total vehicle alignment on all axles has become a standard. The time for total vehicle tire/wheel balancing has come as well. Tire are simply too expensive to continue to ignore and waste.”

Equal is an internal balance compound that is simply dropped into the tire and keeps all tires, regardless of wheel position, in balance for the life of the tread, IMI said. By maintaining a continuous mass balance, Equal reduces vibrations and uneven wear caused by speed, the load, and the road.

Once Equal is in the tire, the bag breaks apart and not only balances, but provides the vibration damping. Vibration damping not only helps to eliminate irregular wear but also reduces fore and aft cab movement caused by drive tire imbalance.

Sponsored Recommendations

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Unlocking Fleet Safety & Efficiency: The Managed Service Advantage

Want to boost your fleet's safety and efficiency? Tune in now to discover the power of Managed Services in optimizing your safety program, streamlining operations, and making ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!