7 Step Tire Check
THE FIRESTONE 7-STEP TIRE CHECK
When Mother Nature only gives you a few days to get your fields planted, you need to keep your equipment moving. Downtime is expensive; delayed planting can cost as much as $2,475* an hour.
*The $2,475/hour figure is based on the following common industry assumptions: 16-row planter, planting at 30 inches, planting at 5 miles per hour, and field efficiency of 80%. The price of corn was averaged to be $4.80/bu., and the yield was taken from 2023 USDA reports of 177.3 bu/ac. Yield loss from delayed planting was taken from DuPont Pioneer’s Planting Outcome Effects on Corn Yield study.
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To help prevent downtime and get the most out of your Firestone tires, check them regularly using these 7 simple steps:
- Check tire pressure with a calibrated gauge and set the inflation pressure using the inflation calculator as a guide.
- Check tire sidewalls for cracks, cuts, and other damage.
- Check tire treads and consider replacing if there is less than 20 percent left.
- Check tire tread areas for stubble damage and exposed cords and replace tires with obvious damage.
- Check ground contact area to make sure there is no gap between the lugs and the ground.
- Check valve stems for cracks, corrosion, and debris. Make sure valve caps are clean and intact.
- Check all nuts and bolts to ensure they are tightened properly.