Proper Repairs in the Shop Proper Repairs in the Shop and on the Roadand on the Road

Brian LaughlinBrian Laughlin

Technical Training ManagerTechnical Training Manager

Tech InternationalTech International

REMEMBER THIS NUMBER

87.5

Shop Repair vs. Road RepairShop Repair vs. Road RepairTop 10 Reasons for doing a “Road Repair” Top 10 Reasons for doing a “Road Repair” Common Repair MethodsCommon Repair MethodsEffects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipRMA repair proceduresRMA repair proceduresThe Missing LinkThe Missing Link2006 Scrap Tire Study2006 Scrap Tire StudyCosts to the Retreader, Tire Dealer, Fleet Costs to the Retreader, Tire Dealer, Fleet Policing Our IndustryPolicing Our Industry

Proper Repairs in the Shop and Proper Repairs in the Shop and on the Roadon the Road

Shop RepairShop Repair

Tire repairs performed by trained Tire repairs performed by trained technicians in a service bay or in a full technicians in a service bay or in a full service repair facility.service repair facility.While often a fast paced environment, a While often a fast paced environment, a tire spreader, tools and repair materials tire spreader, tools and repair materials are more readily available.are more readily available.Lighting adequate, climate often more Lighting adequate, climate often more favorable.favorable.Shift is usually 8 to 10 hours.Shift is usually 8 to 10 hours.

Road RepairRoad Repair

Tire repair done by a “trained” technician on the Tire repair done by a “trained” technician on the side of the road, parking lot, or wherever the side of the road, parking lot, or wherever the vehicle stopped.vehicle stopped.

Usually no one around but the Tire tech and the Usually no one around but the Tire tech and the driver. Driver sets the tempo of the job. “Just driver. Driver sets the tempo of the job. “Just make it hold air” mentality. make it hold air” mentality.

Inclimate weather conditions can be a factor.Inclimate weather conditions can be a factor.

Lighting is not adequate, tool selection limited.Lighting is not adequate, tool selection limited.

Service call hours can be 24/7.Service call hours can be 24/7.

Top 10 Reasons for Doing a “Road Repair”Top 10 Reasons for Doing a “Road Repair”

10. Tire Tech-Monday Night Football is on in 30 minutes. If 10. Tire Tech-Monday Night Football is on in 30 minutes. If I just plug it I’ll be home in time for the pre-game show.I just plug it I’ll be home in time for the pre-game show.

9. Tires are only the 39. Tires are only the 3rdrd largest expense to the fleet, the largest expense to the fleet, the driver’s time is worth more than a casing.driver’s time is worth more than a casing.

8. Driver-Just patch it for now. I’ll have the injury filled in 8. Driver-Just patch it for now. I’ll have the injury filled in the next 50 to 100 miles when I’m having the lug nuts re-the next 50 to 100 miles when I’m having the lug nuts re-torqued.torqued.

7. Tire Tech-I don’t need to fill the small ones, moisture 7. Tire Tech-I don’t need to fill the small ones, moisture doesn’t penetrate a hole less than 1/8” anyway.doesn’t penetrate a hole less than 1/8” anyway.

6. I’ve been using these string plugs for thirty-eight years 6. I’ve been using these string plugs for thirty-eight years and never had a problem. and never had a problem.

5. Tire Tech- I’ll just 5. Tire Tech- I’ll just plug itplug it for now if you promise to have the for now if you promise to have the patch installed when the lug nuts are re-torqued in the patch installed when the lug nuts are re-torqued in the next 50-100 miles.next 50-100 miles.

4. Don’t worry I’ve got this all purpose patch. It will hold 4. Don’t worry I’ve got this all purpose patch. It will hold anything.anything.

3. Can I borrow a nickel? With a hole this big the patch 3. Can I borrow a nickel? With a hole this big the patch needs some extra reinforcement.needs some extra reinforcement.

2. If I put this screw back in the hole, you promise to have it 2. If I put this screw back in the hole, you promise to have it repaired in the next 50 - 100 miles.repaired in the next 50 - 100 miles.

1.1. Have you gotta light? My grandpa showed me this trick a Have you gotta light? My grandpa showed me this trick a long time ago to make sure the patch will stick. long time ago to make sure the patch will stick.

Stand back!Stand back!

Top 10 reasons for Doing a “Road Repair”Top 10 reasons for Doing a “Road Repair”

Common Repair MethodsCommon Repair Methods

On-the-wheel “Plug” On-the-wheel “Plug” RepairRepair

Inside “Patch Only” Inside “Patch Only” RepairRepair

On-The-Wheel “Plug” RepairOn-The-Wheel “Plug” Repair

Damage is not Damage is not removed.removed.

Tire is not reinforcedTire is not reinforced

Liner is not sealedLiner is not sealed

Impossible to detect Impossible to detect hidden damagehidden damage

Inside “Patch only”Inside “Patch only”

Outside and inside views of the injury with the steel belts Outside and inside views of the injury with the steel belts exposed showing rust present.exposed showing rust present.

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor Workmanship

Unfilled injury resulting in increased damage to the casing.Unfilled injury resulting in increased damage to the casing.

This photo shows the This photo shows the previous injury with all previous injury with all damage removed.damage removed.

The injury has grown The injury has grown to a section repair.to a section repair.

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipPatch/Plug combination repairPatch/Plug combination repair

Great attempt…Great attempt…

……just came up a little just came up a little short.short.

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipSidewall BulgeSidewall Bulge

This casing was This casing was rejected because of a rejected because of a pencil bulge in the pencil bulge in the sidewall.sidewall.

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipSidewall BulgeSidewall Bulge

The injury, located at the edge The injury, located at the edge of the crown area, was of the crown area, was repaired with a patch plug unit. repaired with a patch plug unit.

The object penetrated the tire The object penetrated the tire at an angle but the technician at an angle but the technician drilled straight through creating drilled straight through creating another hole. The bulge is a another hole. The bulge is a result of moisture entering the result of moisture entering the casing, allowing rust to follow casing, allowing rust to follow the steel cable in the sidewall.the steel cable in the sidewall.

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipCombinationCombination

Bias repair in a radial Bias repair in a radial tire.tire.

Unfilled injury.Unfilled injury.

Poor buffed texturePoor buffed texture

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipOpen injury being processed to remove all rust Open injury being processed to remove all rust

and separation. and separation.

Affects of Poor WorkmanshipAffects of Poor WorkmanshipRust and Separation Due to Open Injuries.Rust and Separation Due to Open Injuries.

Effects of Poor WorkmanshipEffects of Poor WorkmanshipRepair Over anRepair Over an Unfilled InjuryUnfilled Injury

RMA Procedures For Puncture RMA Procedures For Puncture Repair of Truck/Bus tiresRepair of Truck/Bus tires

Four basic principles for puncture repair Four basic principles for puncture repair

1.1. Remove the tire from the wheel and inspectRemove the tire from the wheel and inspect

2.2. Prepare the injuryPrepare the injury

3.3. Fill the injury with a suitable vulcanizing material or Fill the injury with a suitable vulcanizing material or rubber stem that will keep moisture outrubber stem that will keep moisture out

4.4. Seal the inner liner with a repair to prevent air lossSeal the inner liner with a repair to prevent air loss

Consensus of Tire Manufacturers, Consensus of Tire Manufacturers, Repair Manufacturers, and Tire Repair Manufacturers, and Tire

Industry AssociationsIndustry Associations

Proper Repair MaterialsProper Repair Materials

Patch/plug Patch/plug combination repaircombination repair

Two-Piece repairTwo-Piece repair

2006 Scrap Tire Study 2006 Scrap Tire Study

RMA in conjunction with NHTSA examined RMA in conjunction with NHTSA examined scrap tires form various cities around the scrap tires form various cities around the USA.USA.

14,271 tires were examined.14,271 tires were examined.

17.4%, 2483 of the tires had been repaired.17.4%, 2483 of the tires had been repaired.

How many tires were repaired properly?How many tires were repaired properly?

50%?50%?

40%?40%?

30%?30%?

20%?20%?

2006 Scrap Tire Study2006 Scrap Tire StudyPercentage of properly repaired tires?Percentage of properly repaired tires?

310 tires or 12.5 %310 tires or 12.5 %

87.5% Improper! 87.5% Improper! Plug only or Patch onlyPlug only or Patch only

2006 Scrap Tire Study2006 Scrap Tire StudyPercentage of properly repaired tires Percentage of properly repaired tires

Improper Repair Costs EveryoneImproper Repair Costs Everyone

RetreaderRetreader– Improper repairs requiring re-workImproper repairs requiring re-work– Nail hole injuries requiring section repairNail hole injuries requiring section repair– Tires scrapped during retread processTires scrapped during retread process

Tire DealerTire Dealer– Above costs passed on from retreaderAbove costs passed on from retreader– Customer comebacksCustomer comebacks– Time and repair materialsTime and repair materials

FleetFleet– Increased tire costsIncreased tire costs– DowntimeDowntime

OtherOther– Environmental – rubber on the road, scrap tire piles.Environmental – rubber on the road, scrap tire piles.– Tax dollars to remove debris.Tax dollars to remove debris.

The Missing Link …The Missing Link …

RMA Repair

Procedures

RMA Repair

Procedures

Road RepairsRoad

Repairs

Please minimize the presentation and

play the Drill-Fill.avi movie.

The Missing Link …The Missing Link …

RMA Repair

Procedures

RMA Repair

Procedures

1.1. Drill the injuryDrill the injury

2.2. Cement the injuryCement the injury

3.3. Fill the injuryFill the injury Total time:Total time: 87.587.5 secondsseconds

Road RepairsRoad

Repairs

““It’s just a tire repair”It’s just a tire repair”

Proper Tire Repair is a proven method of returning a crucial Proper Tire Repair is a proven method of returning a crucial component of the vehicle safely back to service.component of the vehicle safely back to service.87.5% of the repairs examined in this study did not meet industry 87.5% of the repairs examined in this study did not meet industry standards, tire manufacturer’s warranties, or repair manufacturer’s standards, tire manufacturer’s warranties, or repair manufacturer’s guidelines.guidelines.In what other industry would a 12.5% performance rating be In what other industry would a 12.5% performance rating be accepted? accepted? – Cardiology? Cardiology? – Pharmacy?Pharmacy?– Waste Collection? Waste Collection? – How many coaches get to keep their job with a winning percentage of How many coaches get to keep their job with a winning percentage of

12.5%?12.5%?– What if the US Air Force only hit their target 12.5% of the time? Would What if the US Air Force only hit their target 12.5% of the time? Would

they proudly say “we may not hit’em all of the time, but we sure blow a they proudly say “we may not hit’em all of the time, but we sure blow a lot of stuff up!” lot of stuff up!”

Some say “it’s just a tire repair.” The reality is doing the job half right Some say “it’s just a tire repair.” The reality is doing the job half right is like lighting the fuse of a 250,000 pound bomb. is like lighting the fuse of a 250,000 pound bomb.

Policing Our IndustryPolicing Our Industry

Possible ConsequencesPossible Consequences– New Federal Legislation New Federal Legislation – NHTSA has the documented scrap tire study showing NHTSA has the documented scrap tire study showing

87.5% of repairs were done improperly.87.5% of repairs were done improperly. (The TREAD Act resulted from one specific problem yet is effecting the (The TREAD Act resulted from one specific problem yet is effecting the entire passenger vehicle and passenger tire markets. Mandatory TPMS entire passenger vehicle and passenger tire markets. Mandatory TPMS on new vehicles is placing a burden on tire dealers trying to compete for on new vehicles is placing a burden on tire dealers trying to compete for service revenue with auto dealerships.)service revenue with auto dealerships.)

Does your repair material supplier offer tire Does your repair material supplier offer tire repair training?repair training?As an owner or manager of a tire business, or As an owner or manager of a tire business, or fleet service manager, do you police your tire fleet service manager, do you police your tire repair procedures…repair procedures…

or is it “just a tire or is it “just a tire repair”?repair”?