Safety - Section 20 9/11 OM2041 Page 20-14 TIRES Tire Maintenance Handling Tires If the proper procedure for performing maintenance or replacement of the wheel or tire is not used, the wheel or tire may burst, causing damage, serious injury, or even death. When performing such mainte- nance, consult your authorized regional Komatsu dis- tributor, or the tire manufacturer. Rim and tire maintenance can be hazardous unless the correct procedures are followed by trained personnel. Improperly maintained or inflated tires can overheat and burst due to excessive pressure. Improper infla- tion can also result in cuts in the tire caused by sharp stones.
Both of these conditions can lead to tire dam- age, serious personal injury, or even death. Refer to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), SAE J1337, Off-Road Rim Maintenance Procedures and Service Precautions, Section 4.2 for additional information on demounting the tires and rim assem- blies. Also, refer to Section 4.4 of SAE J1337 for assembly and inflation recommendations. To safely maintain a tire, adhere to the following con- ditions: Before a tire is removed from a vehicle for tire repair, the valve core must be partially removed to allow deflation, and then the tire/rim assembly can be removed.
During deflation, persons must stand outside of the potential trajectory of the locking ring of a multi-piece wheel rim. The U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) addresses tire repairs in its Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations, 30 CFR 57.14104. After the tire/rim assembly is installed on the vehicle, inflate the tires to their specified pressure. Abnormal heat is generated, particularly when the inflation pressure is too low. DO NOT stand in front of a rim and locking ring when inflating a tire mounted on the machine. Observers must not be permitted in the area. NOTE: To prevent injury from the wheel rims during tire inflation, use one of the following:
DO NOT weld or heat the rim assembly with the tire mounted on the rim. Resulting gases inside the tire may ignite, causing explosion of the tire and rim . A wheel cage or other restraining device that will constrain all wheel rim components during an explosive separation of a multi-piece wheel rim, or during the sudden release of air. Storing Tires After Removal A stand-off inflation device which permits a person to stand outside of the potential trajectory of the wheel components. As a basic rule, store the tires in a warehouse in which unauthorized persons cannot enter.
If the tires are stored outside, always erect a fence around the tires and put up “No Entry” signs and other warning signs that even young children can understand. Use the specified tires. The tire inflation pressure and permissible speeds, given in this manual, are general values. The actual values may differ, depending on the type of tire and the specific operating conditions. For details, please consult the tire manufacturer. Stand the tire on level ground and block it securely so that it cannot roll or fall over. If the tire falls over, flee the area quickly. The tires for dump trucks are extremely heavy. Never attempt to hold or support the tire.
Attempting to hold or support a tire may lead to serious injury. When the tires become overheated, a flammable gas is produced inside the tire which can ignite. It is particularly dangerous if the tires become overheated while the tires are pressurized. If the gas generated inside the tire ignites, the internal pressure will suddenly rise, and the tire will explode, resulting in danger and/or death to personnel in the area. Explosions differ from punctures or tire bursts because the destructive force of the explosion is extremely large. Therefore, the following operations are strictly prohibited when the tire is pressurized:
Welding the rim Mounted tires stored as spares must be inflated to the minimum inflation pressure necessary to keep the tire beads properly seated. Maximum inflation pressure of the stored tire must not exceed 15% of the tire’s cold inflation pressure. Welding near the wheel or tire. Smoking or creating open flames