OTR Wheel Engineering operates a wheel inspection and recertification program to inspect, repair and recertifity rims and wheels.

1. Wheel Safety, Maintenance
and Inspection

2. HISTORY
• Heavy equipment over the years have been scrapped
or sold as surplus.
• Many useable parts or spares, such as wheel
assemblies remained in the inventory.
• Rim failures began to be noticed in 1990’s.
• Rims from the late 1960’s and 1970’s were still in the
inventory.

3. Plan to Reduce Rim Failures
• Remove all rims manufactured prior to 1985,
immediately!
• Visually inspect all rims, before returning to service.
• Identify all rims by manufacturer (design).
• Stamp serial number and track all rims.
• Begin NDE testing and maintenance program.

4. Why Track and Maintain Rims?
There is no such thing as a SMALL Accident
when it comes to Rim Failure!

5. The Hazard Defined
26.5 x 25 tire at 90 psi has
373,650 ft/lbs of stored energy.
For example, released “instantly” it packs the
power equal to move a 200 Lb man
1,868 feet in one direction.

6. The bigger the tire and wheel –
the more stored potential energy!
27.00R49 tire at 102 psi has
1,309,800 ft/lbs of stored energy. Which is
equal to moving a 200 Lb man
6,549 feet in one direction.
(Note: All stored energy calculations courtesy of Goodyear Tire OTR Engineering Department, August 2009)
36.00R51 tire at 102 psi has
2,805,500 ft/lbs of stored energy. Which is
equal to moving a 200 Lb man
14,027 feet in one direction.

7. The bigger the tire and wheel –
the more stored potential energy!
40.00R57 tire at 102 psi has
3,681,500 ft/lbs of stored energy. Which is
equal to moving a 200 Lb man
18,407 feet in one direction.
59/80R63 tire at 102 psi has
7,458,000 ft/lbs of stored energy. Which is
equal to moving a 200 Lb man
37,740 feet in one direction.

8. Wheel I.D. location
•All rims are branded directly in line with the valve hole. On rims that
have the centre plate in the mid section of the wheel the front brand # is
stamped onto the inner part of the gutter section. In the case that a rim
has a centre plate flush to the top the brand is directly stamped on the
face of the plate.
Rim Brand
Valve Hole Rim Brand
Valve Hole
Rim Brand Cross Section of Rim
Front View of Rim

9. Responsibilities – Tire Shop
•Inspect wheel and wheel components for any defects
•Any rims without brand #’s automatically are sent out
for a complete inspection (if requested by customer)
•No tire is to be mounted on a wheel that has not been
branded (if requested by customer)
•All wheels with brand #’s must be verified in the Rim
Tracking System ( Contact North Shore) to see if an
annual inspection is required (if requested by
customer)

10. • Field/ Tire Shop Inspection
• Preliminary Inspection –
– Visual inspection of rim assemblies should be
done every time it comes in to your shop
– All rim base(s) which have been dismounted prior
to their annual Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE)
inspection shall be visually inspected for defects

11. Points to Consider
• Hardware is considered as consumable product.
• Hardware is defined as:
• Bead Seat Bands
• Rim Flanges
• Locking Rings.
• Hardware, which is suspected of having defects or
distortion, shall be discarded.
• All hardware shall be inspected by Field and Tire
Shop Personnel prior to its' reuse.

12. Visual Rim Inspection Criteria
• Gutter section
• Back section
• Puller nuts
• Stud holes
• Bolting plate weld
• Rim base welds
• General condition
• Rim Components
(lockring, flange and
beadseat)
• Run flat
• Check last NDE

13. Lock Rings
Sprung / Stretched Good
Locking Ring - The locking ring shall be visually inspected for wear,
“sprung”, corrosion, flat spots, ovality and warping misalignment
(sprung).

14. Gutter Inspection
Go-No Go
gauge
Lock ring
groove
•Lock ring grooves are inspected using a go no
go gauge for wear & damage

15. Worn Lockring Groove
Non-consistent lock ring groove

16. Back Section/Bead Seat Inspection
Go – No Go gauges
Bead Seat Band - The bead seat band shall be visually inspected for
cracks, wear or corrosion in the area in contact with the locking
ring flange, rim base or any weld. A wire brush may be used to
clean the dirt prior to the use of the Go No go gauge. (See below)

17. Worn Back Section
Worn out flange mating surface

18. Lock Ring groove problems
 Washed out lock ring
grooves
Non Pressure
 Stress fatigue Pressure Zone –
fractures Zone Extreme Danger
 Caused by:
 Friction welding
(Fretting, Galling)
 Aggregate
 Corrosion
 Great reasons for
doing a safety
inspection of the rim

19. Rim Components
Proper Improper
OTR can provide charts to match rim components to ensure the
proper hardware is put on to the right rim base.

20. Hardware
Worn Side ring Good Side Ring
When conducting a visual inspection, do not only look for cracks and damage
But also look at the hardware to make sure you will achieve optimal tire
performance.

21. Stud Holes
elongated
Elongated or worn stud holes can lead to improper torque, which in
turn can lead to the wheel coming off the piece of equipment. This
can be repaired by re-facing or re-placing the center plate.

22. Damaged Gutter Section

23. Run Flat

24. Responsibilities – OTR
•Visually inspect all wheels and wheel components
•Track rims with database
•Issue a report for each individual wheel
•MPI test wheels when needed (annually or when
damaged)
•Repair or replace any wheel or wheel component when
needed

25. Tire Size 21.00x25
When this wheel failed it killed 1 mechanic and seriously injured
the second. The crack on this wheel was in the lock ring groove
above the pressure zone.

26. Tire Size 17.50x25
This tire was aired with the lock ring not seated properly and
when the lock ring let go there was enough force in this tire
that it pulled the axle out of the housing.

27. Tire Size 10.00x15
Tire flew 50 ft from the machine when the wheel failed

28. Rim Tracking
• All wheels inspected are stamped (branded), recorded and
tracked in our database.

29. Rim Tracking
The Rim Tracking software allows us to track the number of wheel assemblies
held by each customer, where they are located, (ie, at the site, out for repair etc)
and what repairs have been done to date.

30. Rim Tracking
Each wheel is assigned a specific number. This way we can track the repairs done
on each wheel along with the cost of the repairs, and issue a detailed report to our
customers when requested.

31. Criteria For MPI Testing
• Test all rims within one year of service to
determine warranty claims and annually
thereafter.
• Test any rim prior to major repairs (centre
plate change, reface).
• Visual damage (run flat, rim impact).

32. Shot Blasting
• The next stage of inspection requires the wheel to be sent
out to be shot blasted to remove all rust, scale & paint.

33. MPI (magnetic particle) Inspection
• After the wheel is shot blasted & passes visual & gauge inspection
it is MPI tested for fatigue cracks that are not clearly visible.

34. Refinishing - Paint Line
• Once the wheel has passed inspection it is repainted to OEM
or Customer preferred colors.

35. Thank you
From your partners in safety and Service
OTR Wheel Engineering, Inc.