MINING TYRES
links have broad-faced profiles to maximise the
wear surface that it says not only preserves tyres
from abrasion but also significantly extends the
life of the chain and cut the cost-per-loaded-tonne
by as much as 76%. “Under the banner of
advanced asset protection, RUD-ERLAU TPC
protect earthmover tyres from heavy abrasion and
sudden-death sidewall damage and provides
essential traction safety over clayey and frozen
haul roads.” RUD-ERLAU is a premium brand of
the RUD Group.
AHS fleets increasing – what’s the
effect on tyres?
This remain something of an unknown as the
mines have kept cards fairly close on what the
effects of AHS operation on tyres are and direct
AHS truck tyre data remains elusive. Tony Cutler,
Owner/Principal Consultant at OTR Global, had
this unique insight: “The widespread claim of
higher tyre life with autonomous haulage is based
on one early implementation of AHS. A small
section of the mine was dedicated to AHS
operation. The autonomous haul trucks travelled
on substantially better haul roads at significantly
lower speeds than manned trucks operating in
RUD-ERLAU says its Tire Protection
Chains can prolong wheel loader tyre
life by as much as ten years
other parts of the
mine. Emphasis was
on safety not
productivity. Under
those conditions it is
not surprising that
tyre life increased.
However, the claimed
magnitude of that
increase (around
40%) was greatly
overstated based on
an unreliable relative
tyre life estimate. In
the real world where
productivity is a key
requisite, expect a
significant reduction in tyre life due to faster travel
speed – lateral acceleration on corners is a
particular concern – combined with higher payload
targets. AHS inherencies such as identical tracking
and a throttle or brake (no coasting) operating
regime also aren’t especially tyre friendly.
However, the main goal is minimising the TCO of
the haulage operation and AHS –properly applied
– is one of the best ways of achieving this
provided that tyres of the highest quality and work
capability are used.”
Cutler says that one issue that AHS providers
are working diligently on at the moment is
incorporating a degree of randomisation into
vehicle tracking to avoid
tyres travelling along
precisely the same line
on every haul cycle, and
resultant roadway
rutting – especially at
intersections and
corners. This became a
priority with the
substantial uptake of
AHS in Canadian oil
sands mines where
identical tracking can lead to ruts well over a
metre deep during warm weather operation.
Even though Kal Tire as a leading tyre
management company has contracts at Canadian
sites that have AHS fleets or are trialling them like
Suncor Fort Hills, Imperial Oil Kearl and Teck’s
Highland Valley Copper, the company has not yet
been called upon to manage the AHS truck tyres
directly either because the mines are currently
doing it themselves or the wear levels have not yet
required tyre changes but the company expects to
be involved in the coming months as things
develop. Allan commented: “We are expecting
certainly a more predictable tyre life and more
predictable wear pattern. One unknown for us is
are trucks being exactly loaded or overloaded as
this would have a corresponding effect on the
level of heat damage due to weight pressures. We
will find out how much longer the tyres are lasting,
and if they are operating in ideal conditions or not.
But if you can makes sure the mine roads are in
good condition, we are expecting impressive
results; and we will be able to track everything via
our Tire Operations Management System (TOMS)
and benchmark autonomous fleet tyres against
non-autonomous.” It is also expected that AHS
tyres in use will become more rounded due to
more sustained pressure on the tyre shoulder.
There is even talk that there will have to be a
fundamental design change in mining tyres to
better accommodate AHS fleets once the nature of
A BRAND OF THE RUD GROUP
Strength of steel and passion of men
to protect equipment´s most important asset.
ERLAU TYRE PROTECTION CHAINS –
NEVER WITHOUT!
The wear life of mining tyres on AHS trucks will become clearer as more
fleets go into operation and more data is shared but it is not all going to
be positive
Erlau AG | Erlau 16, 73431 Aalen, Germany
Tel +49 7361 595-0 | [email protected]
www.erlau.com
JULY/AUGUST 2020 | International Mining 69