Tyres are usually the most neglected components of a vehicle, and they get the least attention. But, a little attention and maintenance would cut the costs and help protect the environment as well. This was the message driven home at a seminar on ‘tyre care’ organised by the TVS Tread, a division of the Sundaram Industries Limited, here on Thursday.
The seminar was organised for the officials APSRTC and hire bus operators/owners working with the RTC.
The speakers highlighted that improper inflation, over-speeding, overloading, road and weather conditions and driving habits would have a bearing on the life of a tyre.
Over-speeding, for instance, would increase the flux of a tyre and generate more heat.
Users should remember that cooler the tyre runs, the better would be its life, they said.
Explaining the manufacturing aspects, parts and functions of a tyre, TVS Tread CEO V. N. Ramamoorthy stressed the importance of extending the tyre life and multiple retreads. Use of quality materials and process in retreading alone could ensure maximum life of a tyre to get cost effective operation and lowest cost per km. Apart from cost cutting,
it was a fundamental requirement to protect environment from pollution. Burning of tyre or rubber was detrimental to ecology and would result in air and environmental pollution. In countries like the US and the UK, it was mandatory to retread tyres before they were condemned, Mr. Ramamoorthy pointed out.
APSRTC Executive Director (Vijayawada and Vizianagaram zones) G.V. Ramana Rao said that apart from fuel cost, the cost of tyres was the highest operational cost the APSRTC incurred every year.
By practising good principles in operation, driving and tyre maintenance, users could make consistent savings by avoiding wastages. Retreading of a tyre would extend its life and result in reduction of huge outlays in new tyre costs.
APSRTC Krishna Regional Manager A. Koteswara Rao, Guntur Regional Manager A.V.R.K. Prasad, West Godavari Regional Manager P. Srinivasa Rao and others were present.
