Tyre-related costs rank among the top five operating expenses for most mining operations. You have no choice but to protect your tyres to improve your profits. And the three popular tyre protection solutions you have are foam filling, solid tyres, and chains.
At RUD Chains & Tyre Protection, we understand the challenges you face while choosing the best tyre protection for your machines. However, from our 150 years of experience in the industry, we can guide you towards the best option available.
In this article, we’ll examine foam filling’s puncture-proof reliability, solid tyres’ robust durability, and protection chains’ flexible defence systems. We’ll also explore the performance, costs, and suitability of these protections.
Read on to learn more about different tyre protection solutions.
What Are Solid Tyres for Mining Equipment?
Unlike traditional pneumatic tyre designs that rely on air pressure, solid tyres use entirely hard rubber compounds. Operations like to reserve these tyres for the harshest environments. This is because in those conditions, conventional tyre destruction happens so frequently.
Solid tyres work best on low-speed machinery operating in conditions where sharp debris, extreme temperatures, or corrosive materials would destroy standard tyres within days or weeks.
Let’s find out why some mining businesses choose this uncompromising approach.
The Promise of Absolute Puncture Immunity
Solid tyres deliver on one simple promise: they cannot go flat. For operations facing constant tyre failures from scrap metal, slag, or razor-sharp rock fragments, this immunity becomes their primary selling point.
Here’s what makes solid tyres different from others:
- Solid Rubber Construction: Manufacturers build these tyres completely from dense rubber compounds that eliminate any possibility of punctures or air loss. That said, sharp objects may still damage the tyre surface but won’t cause deflation.
- Maximum Load Capacity: The sturdy structure of these tyres distributes weight more evenly than air-filled tyres. This feature removes the risk of pressure loss found in standard tyres, and allows them to handle static heavy loads without deflection or pressure loss.
- Unwavering Base: Typical inflatable tyres can compress and move under too much load. However, solid tyres provide a completely stable platform for machinery during stationary operations like heavy lifting, loading, or precision positioning tasks.
The Inherent Performance Compromises
Many people overlook the serious trade-offs that come with solid tyres. It happens due to the idea of having puncture immunity. But the downsides can affect every aspect of your operation unless you’re careful enough.
The compromises below usually make solid tyres unsuitable despite their obvious benefits:
- High Purchase Price: The massive volume of rubber and complex manufacturing process create costs often double or triple that of comparable pneumatic tyres.
- Extreme Operator Experience: Without air cushioning, every bump, vibration, and shock transfers directly to the machine operator. The result is fatigue and potential health issues during long shifts.
- Accelerated Machine Wear: When you use solid tyres, all operational forces go directly to drivetrains, axles, and chassis components. For that, you’ll face issues including premature wear and expensive mechanical failures over time.
See also: Why HRV Is So Important for Your Health and Wellbeing
The Facts on Foam Fill Tyres
Let’s talk about foam-filled tyres now. This method modifies standard pneumatic tyres to make them flat-proof. Technicians achieve this effect by pumping liquid polyurethane into the tyre cavity.
Put simply, you get a middle ground between air-filled vulnerability and solid tyre harshness with foam fills. Here’s how the process works and where it fits best.
How a Standard Tyre Becomes “Flat-Proof”
The foam filling process changes any pneumatic tyre into a puncture-resistant unit. Tyre experts first mount the tyre and inflate it to stretch the carcass. After deflating, they drill a small hole to allow air to escape during filling.
In the next step, professionals use specialised equipment to pump a two-part polyurethane mixture through the valve stem. The liquid displaces all air and begins curing immediately.
Within 24 to 48 hours, the mixture becomes a flexible rubber-like core that maintains the tyre’s original pressure permanently. This approach lets operators keep their preferred tyre brand, tread pattern, and size while gaining puncture protection.
Ideal Applications and Primary Limitations
Foam-filled tyres work best on slower-moving equipment in scrap yards, demolition sites, or recycling facilities. They suit machines that face frequent punctures but don’t need high-speed operation or maximum comfort.
However, the added weight of the foam also has some serious drawbacks. The polyurethane adds substantial mass to each wheel assembly. In turn, they put extra strain on drivetrains and axles. This effect can cause premature tyre wear and expensive mechanical failures.
The foam also prevents you from repairing your tyre in the future. That’s because once you fill them with the foam, any tyre damage means complete replacement and refilling. As you can see, it’s a permanent decision with ongoing cost implications.
So, think it through before deciding to go with foam fill for your tyre protection.
RUD Tyre Protection Chains: Best Option?
You’re probably wondering if there’s a way to avoid making permanent, expensive changes (like it is with foam fill) or hurting your machine’s performance with your tyre protection. Don’t worry, we have good news for you: RUD Tyre Protection Chains (TPC).
RUD TPCs don’t change your tyre structure permanently. Instead, they add a flexible, high-strength steel mesh that wraps around both the tread and sidewalls of your tyres. That’s how your equipment will handle tough terrain perfectly while keeping the original tyre’s performance.
We’ll explain below how RUD TPCs are probably the ideal solution for you.
A Smart Investment in Machine Performance
Here’s the kicker… RUD TPCs work as performance boosters rather than simple protection devices. How? The hardened steel construction of our protection chains creates a moving interface between the tyre and surface that other solutions can’t match.
This performance advantage shows up clearly in two main areas of operation.
Unmatched Grip on Tough Surfaces
Our tyre protection chains have many gripping features. For one, the chain’s interlocking mesh grips loose rock, mud, and slippery surfaces with its amazing effectiveness. At the same time, sharp edges on the outer chain links bite into the terrain to stop wheel spin and maintain forward movement.
All these grips together quickly adapt to changing surface conditions. Your operators have steady control over their equipment, too, which is impossible with solid tyres or foam fills.
Wait, did we mention RUD TPC’s self-cleaning properties? Yeah, this feature adds another layer of reliability to your tyre by stopping debris buildup.
Protecting Tyres from Damage and Sudden Failure
The steel mesh of tyre protection chains creates a physical barrier that takes impacts from sharp rocks and debris before they reach the tyre surface. Such protection covers the vulnerable sidewalls of the tyre where most failures originate.
More importantly, the flexible design moves with every tyre bend, so your machines can operate with their normal function.
Working Out the True Cost of Operation
Most operations make the mistake of comparing only upfront prices when looking at tyre protection options. Short-term thinking like this ignores the total cost picture that determines your profits.
Here’s how you save more with your extended investment in RUD Tyre Protection Chains.
Making Tyre Assets Last Much Longer
RUD TPCs can make heavy-duty tyres last up to ten times longer than normal. It’s because these chains protect your tyres from cuts, punctures, and heavy wear, which usually force early replacement.
Cutting Downtime and Replacement Costs
Sudden tyre failures can ramp up your overall expenditure due to unplanned downtime. Each production stop costs far more than tyre replacement alone, including lost productivity, emergency service calls, and missed delivery schedules.
The solution? RUD TPCs. Our chains will ensure that the only maintenance jobs your team has to do are anything but tyre-related. This reliability advantage often pays for the entire investment through downtime savings alone.
Make the Right Choice for Your Operation
Mining operations are nothing less than a battleground. And your tyres need to survive this constant battle against sharp rocks, debris, and rough conditions. Fortunately, we have proven tyre protection solutions to help you improve your equipment’s reliability and profitability.
In this comparative guide, we walked through the distinctive features of three protection solutions. We saw that solid tyres offer complete puncture immunity but create harsh rides, while foam filling provides a middle-ground protection with permanent weight penalties. Meanwhile, RUD chains give you the most effective, efficient, and flexible protection.
Contact us at RUD Chains & Tyre Protection today for a site assessment and change your tyre strategy with our world-leading protection technology. Let’s keep your operations running profitably for decades.
