Tire Safety: Protecting Lite, Limb and Equipment

摘要

Raise your hand if you've ever welded on the wheel of a heavy truck or earthmoving machine-or used a torch to heat a stubborn lug nut or brake drum-without first removing the tire or, at least, pulling the bead completely off the rim on one side. If you have your hand up, thank your lucky stars you're still here to raise it. Welding or torching a wheel with the tire in place is a potentially deadly practice-even if the tire has been deflated. In fact, some in the tire industry suggest that heat from any source-whether dragging brakes, snagging a power line with a raised body, lightning, or run- ning tires under-inflated, overloaded or too fast-can initiate a chemical reaction within the body of a tire called "pyrolysis."