Haul truck tyres are among the most expensive consumables on a mine, and an early failure stops the truck and scraps a tyre with life left in it. Early failures usually come from heat, low pressure, overloading, rock cuts or skipped checks, and each leaves signs a regular check would catch. Tracking pressures, tread, cuts and hours for every tyre turns guesses into a plan. This guide explains the causes and the checks, and how mines track haul truck tyres in HVI.
Why Mining Haul Truck Tyres Fail Early and How PM Tracking Stops It
Heat and TKPH, pressure, load, cuts and haul road condition, plus the daily checks and tyre records that stretch every tyre's life.
Why Haul Truck Tyres Fail Early
Many early removals trace back to a short list of causes, and each one can be spotted before the tyre is lost.
Heat build-up
Long, fast hauls with heavy loads overheat the tyre inside.
Fix: keep site TKPH below the tyre's ratingWrong pressure
Low pressure flexes and heats the casing.
Fix: check cold pressures every dayCuts and impacts
Spilled rock and sharp edges on roads and loading areas.
Fix: clean spillage and grade roadsOverloading
Loads above the rating crush and overheat tyres.
Fix: check payloads and load evenlyWorking Out Site TKPH
TKPH, or tonne kilometres per hour, compares the work a haul cycle asks of a tyre with what the tyre can take before it overheats. The figures below are illustrative.
Tyre makers publish a TKPH rating for each tyre and may apply corrections for haul length and temperature. If site TKPH is close to or above the rating, reduce speed, shorten hauls or ask the tyre supplier about a better-suited tyre.
Daily Tyre Checks
The operator or tyre fitter should check these before the first haul of each shift.
Every Tyre Tracked From Fitment to Scrap
HVI records daily tyre checks, pressures, cuts and repairs against each truck and wheel position with photos, so tyre problems are caught early and each tyre's life can be reviewed.
What to Track for Every Tyre
A tyre record turns individual checks into a picture of what is shortening tyre life on your mine.
| Record | How often | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Pressures | Every shift | Under-inflation before it causes damage |
| Tread depth | Weekly or as set by the supplier | Wear rate and remaining life |
| Cuts and repairs | Whenever found | Problem areas on roads and loading points |
| Hours and position | At every change | Tyre life by truck and wheel position |
| Removal reason | At every removal | Which causes cost the most tyres |
| Cost per hour | Monthly | True tyre cost across the fleet |
The Haul Road Is Part of the Tyre
Many tyre problems start on the road, not on the truck.
- Graded regularly with good drainage
- Spillage cleared from loading and dump areas
- Gentle curves and well-kept ramps
- Water used to control dust, not flood roads
- Repeated cuts on the same section
- Potholes and soft spots after rain
- Sharp rock on loading floors
- Trucks spinning wheels on ramps
Tyre Life by Truck in HVI
A sample view of tyres removed this quarter and the reasons recorded.
| Truck | Position | Life at removal | Removal reason | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT-04 | Rear inner left | Full expected hours | Normal wear | Full life |
| DT-08 | Front right | Well short of normal | Sidewall cut, loading area | Clean loading floor |
| DT-11 | Rear outer right | Well short of normal | Heat separation | Check TKPH and pressure |
Haul Truck Tyre FAQs
What is TKPH?
Tonne kilometres per hour. It measures the work a haul cycle puts on a tyre, based on average load per tyre and average speed, and is compared with the tyre's TKPH rating.
Why do haul truck tyres overheat?
Heavy loads, high average speed, long hauls, low pressure and hot weather all build heat inside the tyre. When site TKPH exceeds the tyre's rating, heat damage becomes likely.
How often should haul truck tyre pressures be checked?
At least once a shift with the tyres cold, before the first haul, and after any repair. Follow the pressure set by the tyre supplier for your load and duty.
Why record the reason for every tyre removal?
It shows which causes, such as cuts or heat, cost the most tyres and where to act. Teams that record tyres in HVI can compare life by truck and position.
Can tyre checks be recorded on a phone?
Yes. Pressures, cuts and photos can be recorded against each truck and wheel position during daily checks. Book a demo to see tyre checks in HVI.
Get the Full Life From Every Haul Truck Tyre
Watch TKPH, check pressures every shift, keep haul roads clean and record every tyre from fitment to removal in HVI. Fewer early failures and lower tyre cost per hour.
