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A Mounted Wheel Tire Program
A mounted wheel tire program, if administered properly, is one way that a fleet can out source and reap the benefits of a
lower tire maintenance cost. A successful program starts with a fleet recognizing the need for a better program to reduce tire cost.
The first thing necessary in setting up a mounted wheel program is to find a combination tire dealer and
retreader that understand how the program works. This is t ough because a lot of tire dealers and retreaders primarily want to sell new tires and retread rubber, first and foremost, and do everything else as an added cost. Some tire service
providers think that having a tire service truck available a couple of times a week to thump tires and change whatever is needed is an effective tire
program. This does not even come close to a mounted wheel program, nor is it cost effective.
How it works
Being willing and able to furnish a tracking system for casings is the most important offering from a
combination dealer and retreader that proposes to do a mounted wheel tire program. The reason for this is simple; managing the casings via a tracking system is the one thing that will ensure that you get back
your own casings and make the program a success.
Not only do you have to have a dealer/retreader that tracks the casings from the time they are picked up
, run through the inspection procedure, run through the retread process, and finally back to you, but one that is willing to maintain the rejected casings in a
central location for scrap analysis. Having casings in a central location also ensures adjustments get handled effectively.
Another important piece of an effective mounted wheel tire program is the wheel maintenance. This has
to include cleaning or refurbishing as necessary. Refurbishing should include a reasonable warranty of at least one year . A new valve stem and double seal valve cap is also necessary. Proper dismounting and
mounting is crucial to casing management and is easier to maintain from a central location. On a 100% mounted wheel tire program any bead damage is confined
to the dealer/retreader in charge of the program. If not on a100% mounted wheel tire program, the tracking system will identify bead damage by location.
Pick up and delivery is the last piece of the mounted wheel tire program the dealer/retreader has to
provide. Schedules should allow minimum inventory at locations. An online ordering system allows for
multi-location companies to view inventory levels of available casings, take off tires for run outs, and retreads on hand.
Managed properly, a mounted wheel tire program will reduce tire cost and eliminate unnecessary  stocking of tires. All it takes on the fleet side is for management to buy in and
give it time to develop and prove its worth. On the dealer/retrader side it takes someone knowledgeable in the process and willing to build and maintain trust.
Very few combination dealer and retreader know how to administer a
mounted wheel tire program. The one that has continuously proven its effectiveness is Snider Tire in Bluffton, Indiana. Dave Double runs a first class retread operation and administers a successful
mounted wheel tire program with several customers. Call him at 800-320-9666 or 260-824-4520, tell
him you read about the program on trucksavvy.com.
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