TIRE SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES

Safe operating procedures for multipiece rim wheels:

1. A tire must be completely deflated by removing the valve core before a rim wheel
is removed from the axle.

2. Tires should be deflated and removed from the rims before repairs are made.

3. Assembled tires should not be welded or cut.

4. Rubber lubricant must be applied to the bead and rim mating surfaces when
assembling the wheel and inflating the tire unless the tire or wheel manufacturer
recommends against its use.

5. If a tire is underinflated but has more than 80 percent of the recommended
pressure, the tire may be inflated while the rim wheel is on the vehicle, provided
remote control inflation equipment is used, and no miner remains in the area of
trajectory during inflation.

6. A tire shall be inflated outside a restraining device only to a pressure sufficient to
force the tire bead onto the rim ledge and create an airtight seal with the tire and
bead.

7. Whenever a rim wheel is in a restraining device, no equipment or any part of a
miner’s body may rest or lean against the restraining device.

8. After tire inflation, the tire and wheel must be inspected while still within the
restraining device to make sure that they are properly seated and locked. If further
adjustment is necessary, the tire must be deflated by removing the valve core
before the adjustment is made.

9. Do not attempt to correct the seating of side and lock rings by hammering,
striking, or forcing the components while the tire is pressurized.

10. Cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged rim components must not be
reworked, welded, brazed, or otherwise heated. Heat must not be applied to a
multipiece wheel.

11. Whenever multipiece rim wheels are being handled, miners should stay out of the
area of trajectory unless the mine operator can show that performance of the
servicing makes the miners presence in the trajectory area necessary.

12. Never add air until each side of lock ring is fully seated. An available end rim
would keep the tire from holding any air since the bead seat would have to contact
the O-ring.


Safe operating procedures for single piece rim wheels:

1. A tire must be completely deflated by removing the valve core before
demounting.

2. Tires should be deflated and removed from the rims before repairs are made.

3. Assembled tires should not be welded or cut.

4. Mounting and demounting of the tire must be done only from the narrow ledge
side of the wheel. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the tire beads, and the
tire must be mounted only on a compatible wheel of mating bead diameter and
width.

5. Nonflammable rubber lubricant must be applied to bead and wheel mating
surfaces before assembling the rim wheels, unless the tire or wheel manufacturer
recommends against the use of any rubber lubricant.

6. If a tire changing machine is used, the tire may be inflated only to the minimum
pressure necessary to force the tire bead onto the rim ledge and create an airtight
seal before removal from the tire changing machine.

7. If a bead expander is used, it must be removed before the valve core is installed
and as soon as the rim wheel becomes airtight (when the tire bead slips onto the
bead seat).

8. A tire may be inflated only when contained within a restraining device, positioned
behind a barrier, or bolted on the vehicle with the lug nuts fully tightened.

9. A tire must not be inflated to more than the inflation pressure stamped in the
sidewall unless a higher pressure is recommended by the manufacturer.

10. Employees must stay out of the area of trajectory when a tire is being inflated.

11. Heat must not be applied to a single piece wheel.

12. Cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged wheels must not be reworked,
welded, brazed, or otherwise heated.