A Report on the repercussions of a single puncture
For any business, downtime means losing money. The knock on effects can be catastrophic. Deadlines missed; irate customers; and also the added pressure of trying to catch up, in order to try and get the work back on track again. One simple event, such as a tyre puncture, can cause all of these things to happen, and the fact is that it is preventable.
Many companies report large costs due to the repair and replacement of tyres. One company recently reported monthly costs of over a thousand pounds a month due to tyre repairs and callouts for three JCB Loadalls. Another company quoted costs of three and a half thousand pounds per month on replacement tyres due to punctures and call outs. The actual cost of repairs and call outs is only the tip of the iceberg. Add on the cost of lost journey time or production, and the knock on effect to the business can be staggering.
Missing deadlines can incur penalties, and the added consequence of loss of trust from the customer. One missed deadline or failed delivery may well have a knock on effect for people in construction, especially if the vehicle is due to be elsewhere the following day. With specialised plant equipment, further problems can arise due to the specific nature of the vehicle tyre. Trying to get hold of a specific tyre, and having it replaced in a timely manner can be difficult. While all of this is happening, staff often cannot be productive.
Tyre punctures on their own can cause severe problems to a business, but just as damaging in the long term are under inflated tyres. A survey of thirty thousand tyres found that ninety per cent were under inflated. This again, has a knock on effect for the business. Ten per cent under inflation can add another 6.25% to fuel costs and can reduce tyre life by between ten and forty per cent due to the fact that tyres heat up quicker when under inflated, therefore increasing wear. At a time when some tyre prices have increased as much as three hundred per cent, anything that can be done to ensure that a business can continue working with fewer downtime hours is to be welcomed.
Tyre life can be extended by regular evaluation. Checking for wear and tear, and if necessary rotating tyres may extend the life of the tyre. It may be possible to repair a tyre before the worst happens. Regular tyre pressure checks can often help to prevent wear on a tyre.
A new generation of tyre sealants may be the answer. Tyre sealants are injected into the tyre and form a seal inside the tyre itself when a puncture occurs. Such has been the success of tyre sealant products that some companies have reported savings of up to seventy five per cent of repair and replacement tyre costs, while others have reported that repair and replacement costs have been eliminated altogether, and report that tyres are wearing out, rather than having to be replaced due to damage. One company reported that one of their JCB tyres working on a land fill site was found to contain a hundred and twelve nails, but due to the tyre sealant, the tyre had not punctured once. Another advantage is that tyre sealants help to maintain tyre pressure, thereby extending the life of the tyre.
Tyre sealants may be the way forward to reduce the regularity of tyre punctures, resulting in less downtime, and reduced tyre costs.