Magazine for the professional tire industry
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MTD October 2014 Tire repair that will extend past the fex zone so it is anchored on the lower sidewall. In a departure from previous tire repair practices, the injury is not centered on the patch. By ofseting the repair unit, technicians can accomplish the goal of reinforcing the area around the injury while ensuring the end of the plies is not located in the fex zone of the sidewall. Most tire repair material manufacturers have created a series of templates that make it easy to determine where the repair unit must be located in relation to the injury and the sidewall. TIA recently developed a video in cooperation with TRMG and filmed the RSR process at Tech International's new training facility in Johnstown, Ohio. Te RSR procedures will be part of the planned update to the association's highly successful Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Program that is scheduled for 2015. Tire repair has always been a key component of the Certi- fed CTS training, so the addition of the RSR will make it even more efective. All of the Certifed CTS Instructors will receive a copy this fall. Drill, fll, patch and bill Te basic principles of proper tire repair haven't changed much in the 32-plus years that I've been in the industry. Over the last 18 years as an educator, my mantra has been "drill it, fll it, patch it, bill it." Drilling the injury is important because the damaged material must be removed. Filling the injury prevents moisture from entering the body of the casing and causing corrosion that leads to separations. Patching the injury prevents air from escaping the interior of the tire and reinforces the area. And, of course, billing for the work keeps you in business, because it takes a substantial investment in tools, equipment and materials to properly repair tires. I believe when people receive anything for free, it becomes devalued in their mind, and its level of importance is diminished. Despite the narrow-minded opinions of legislators who are unwilling to recognize the dangers that improper (including on-the-wheel) tire repairs create for motorists, it's important that the industry continues to emphasize the need to demount the tire from the rim so it can be inspected before following the guidelines. Afer the tire passes inspection and the trained technician determines it is repairable, then the proper proce- dures can be followed to safely return it to service. Te message appears to be geting through: More retailers are abandoning the on-the-wheel plug and patch-only methods in favor of the process that has been universally endorsed by the tire companies and industry organizations for decades. While I seriously doubt that improper tire repair will ever completely disappear, I'm optimistic that the progress we've made as an industry is a sign that accidents like the one that claimed the lives of the Barbers will be few and far between. ■ Kevin Rohlwing is the Tire Industry Association's senior vice president of training and a fequent Modern Tire Dealer contributor. Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 21120 36 36