Tips to keep 'em rolling.

TIRES ARE TO YOUR VEHICLES WHAT SHOES ARE TO YOUR BODY. SO GIVE YOUR TIRES THE SAME ATTENTION AND CARE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR SHOES BEFORE STARTING THAT BATTALION RUN.

NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR TIRES ARE, HOWEVER, HEAT MAKES THINGS TOUGH ON THEM. GO BEAT THE DAMAGE THAT HEAT CAN BRING BY HEEDING THESE PM TIPS.

Turn Down the Heat

Tires get hot during normal operations, and when it's hot outside, the tires can't cool off. Continuous heat weakens the tires.

You can't turn down the temperature outside, but you can give tires some relief by not overloading the vehicle. Overloaded vehicles add heat to tires, so reduce the load.

Sinking Sand

Reduced loads decrease the chance that you'll sink in sand. You'll really want to do this for the trailers you're pulling! So load them as lightly as possible.

Also, lower tire pressures allow for more flotation and traction in sand. That's why some vehicle operator's manuals list a lower tire pressure for driving in sand. But make sure you add air back to those tires before you drive on the pavement again.

Tire Pressure Points

Make sure all tires, including the spare, have the right amount of air in them. Gauge a tire that looks low, and check your TM for the right pressure.

One sign of underinflation is worn tread at each side of the tire. And underinflated tires flex more than properly inflated tires. That flexing creates heat, which ruins tires and may cause a blow out.

Low tire pressure also leads to sidewall cracks. If you see a sidewall crack, make sure the crack doesn't extend 1/16 inch or deeper or go to the cord or steel. If it does, report it.

Try to add air as necessary before operation, and before the tire gets too hot. Adjusting tire pressure while the tire is hot can lead to not enough air being added, since the pressure increases in the heat.

Also, note that if you need to add more than 10-15 psi to the tires, you have to use tire inflator gauge, NSN 4910-00-441-8685. That'll keep you safe. It gives you 10 feet of hose between tile gauge and the chuck so you avoid the danger of getting hit by a flying split ring or an exploding tire.

But make sure you stand off to the side--not in front of the tire assembly--to avoid the path of an exploding tire. Also, if the underinflated tire is below 80% of its recommended pressure, fully deflate it, remove it from the vehicle, and inspect it using the guidance in TM 9-2610-200-14.

Overinflated tires can be a problem, too. They don't flex enough and wear in the middle since tile middle tread takes all the weight. And when an overinflated tire hits a large rock or a rut, the cords or steel belts inside snap and break, weakening the tire. So keep your tire's pressure within prescribed limits.

Avoiding Flats

Keep your vehicle moving by avoiding fiats. Try not to run over growth or brush that could have spines and thorns that break off in tires and work their way through. And look for nails, metal or rocks lodged in the tire. They'll take the tires to "leak city," so if you see 'em, report 'em.

Also, drive carefully over rocky, rough terrain. Radial tire sidewalls are thinner than those of bias tires, and rocks call make some severe cuts. Wheeled construction and material handling equipment are especially prone to tire damage because the mission often requires them to work where the is rough.

Check the air pressure in tubeless tires often because tubeless tires can have a bead-breaking problem. The bead pulls away from the rim, letting air escape. That can be caused by traveling over rocky terrain.

And when you stop, take a few seconds to look for rocks caught between dual tires. Trapped rocks rub holes in tire sidewalls, so get them out of there.