Tire Management Overview

With Fleetio's Tire Management module, tracking and maintaining the condition and performance of tires is simple! You'll now be able to effectively track tire health, proactively address maintenance needs, improve fuel efficiency, enhance safety, and reduce operational costs.

Parts Category Settings

Fleetio will automatically map any existing tire categories to be considered a tire category in Fleetio. If you would like to assign any additional part categories as a tire category, follow the below steps:

1. Navigate to your Account Menu and select Settings.

2. In the Settings sidebar, click Part Categories in the Parts & Inventory section.
3. Click the More Actions button on the specific row.
4. Click Edit.
5. Check the box to indicate this category should be considered a tire category.
6. Click Save.

Understanding Tire Sizes

Understanding the information on your vehicle's tire sidewall is crucial for maintaining safety and optimal performance. The series of numbers and letters on the tire provide vital details about its size, type, and capabilities. Below, we'll break down each element of the tire size information, explaining what each component means and why it matters. Whether you're looking to replace your tires or simply want to decode the markings on your current set, this information will empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about your vehicle's tires.

Tire Type/Metric

The first letter in a tire size represents the tire type or application for which the tire is designed. It provides information about the intended use and performance characteristics of the tire. Here are some common tire type designations indicated by the first letter:

• P: Passenger Car Tire. The "P" indicates that the tire is designed for use on passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks. These tires are typically optimized for comfort, ride quality, and everyday driving.
• LT: Light Truck Tire. "LT" stands for Light Truck, and these tires are designed for light trucks, SUVs, and other larger vehicles. They often have higher load-carrying capacities and are built to withstand heavier loads and more rugged conditions.
• T: Temporary Spare Tire. The "T" indicates that the tire is a temporary spare tire designed to be used only for short distances at lower speeds. These compact spare tires are not meant for extended use but are intended to get you to a service center to repair or replace a damaged tire.
• ST: Special Trailer Tire. "ST" tires are designed specifically for trailers, such as travel trailers, boat trailers, and utility trailers. They are constructed to handle the unique demands of towing, including higher load capacities and stability requirements.
• C: Commercial Tire. The "C" denotes commercial tires designed for commercial vehicles, vans, and delivery trucks. These tires often have reinforced construction to handle heavier loads associated with commercial use.
• HP/HR/VR/ZR/W/Y: Performance Tires. These letters indicate various high-performance tire categories, often found in performance-oriented cars. For instance, "H" represents high-performance, "V" stands for higher-speed performance, "ZR" indicates a tire with a speed capability above 149 mph, and so on.

These designations help you understand the primary purpose and characteristics of the tire before looking into the rest of the tire size information. Keep in mind that the tire type, along with other specifications like tire size, load index, and speed rating, should be considered when choosing the right tire for your vehicle and its intended use.

Tire Width

Tire width refers to the measurement of the tire's cross-sectional width from one sidewall to the other, expressed in millimeters. It's the distance between the widest points of the tire when viewed from above. The tire width is a critical factor in determining how the tire performs in terms of handling, stability, and grip. Wider tires generally offer better traction and grip, but they can also affect fuel efficiency and ride comfort. The tire width is one of the components specified in the tire size, such as "225/50 R17," where "225" represents the width in millimeters.

Aspect Ratio

A tire's aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the tire's sidewall height to its width, typically expressed as a percentage. It indicates how tall the tire's sidewall is in relation to its width. A lower aspect ratio (e.g., 50) means the sidewall is shorter, resulting in better handling and cornering but potentially a slightly rougher ride. A higher aspect ratio (e.g., 70) indicates a taller sidewall, which can enhance ride comfort and absorb road irregularities. The aspect ratio is the second component in the tire size, such as "225/50 R17," where "50" represents the aspect ratio.

Tire Construction

Tire construction refers to the internal structure and design of the tire. The most common type is radial construction, where the tire's internal layers (ply cords) run radially from the center of the tire. This construction offers improved performance, fuel efficiency, and ride comfort. Other less common types include bias-ply construction, where the ply cords criss-cross diagonally, offering durability but with less modern performance. The tire's construction type is often indicated by a letter in the tire size, such as "R" for radial.

Rim Diameter

Rim diameter refers to the measurement of the inner diameter of the tire, which matches the outer diameter of the rim it's designed to fit on. It's expressed in inches and helps ensure that the tire properly fits the rim. The rim diameter is a critical factor in determining the overall tire size compatibility with a specific vehicle. It's the last component specified in the tire size, such as "225/50 R17," where "17" represents the rim diameter in inches.

Load Index

The load index of a tire is a numerical code that indicates the maximum weight the tire can safely carry when properly inflated. It's a standardized value that corresponds to a specific weight capacity. Higher load index values represent higher weight capacities. Knowing the load index helps ensure that the tires you choose can handle the weight of your vehicle and its load without risking safety or tire damage.

Speed Rating

Speed rating for a tire is a letter code that indicates the maximum speed the tire is designed to handle safely under optimal conditions. It provides information about the tire's performance capabilities at higher speeds. It's important to choose tires with a speed rating that meets or exceeds the speeds you intend to drive, but remember that other factors like load capacity and road conditions also play a role in tire safety and performance.

Factory Tread Depth

The Factory Tread Depth is considered the "new" tread depth reading of a given tire, as specified by the manufacturer.

Minimum Tread Depth

The minimum legal Tread Depth. Review local regulations for more in-depth recommendations.

Life Expectancy

The Life Expectancy or "Warranty" of a tire is the expected meter range, usually measured in miles, of a given tire as specified by the manufacturer.

Add a New Part

Now that you have the correct part categories identified as "Tire Categories," you will unlock new tire management fields when adding a new part. Let's walk through this process now!

1. On the sidebar navigation, select Parts & Inventory.
2. Click Parts List.
3. On the Parts Index, click the Add Part button on the top right.
4. Begin entering a new part as you normally would and select the correct category. You will notice as we choose the Tires category (a) (or any other category that was defined as being a tire category in settings), it will enable additional fields for Tire Management (b).

5. Enter the following information in order for Fleetio to accurately determine the tire size:
   • Tire Metric/Type
   • Tire Width
   • Aspect Ratio
   • Construction
   • Rim Diameter
   • Load Index
   • Speed Rating
   • Factory Tread Depth
   • Minimum Tread Depth
   • Life Expectancy
6. When complete, click Save Part.

You will now see that the tire information is added to the Parts Detail page.

Vehicle Details Page

Through the Vehicle Details page, you can set up the axle configuration for tires. To do this, complete the following steps:

1. On the sidebar navigation, click Vehicles and select Vehicle List.
2. Choose the Vehicle you would like to view.
3. On the Vehicle Details page, click the Tire Management tab.
4. Click Set up axle configuration.

5. On the Set up Axle Configuration modal, you can choose to walk through a guided setup (a) or click I know my axle configuration (b) if you have all the details ready to enter.

6. If you chose to complete the guided setup, let's start by choosing an asset type.
7. Click Continue.
8. Select the amount of wheel positions on the vehicle and click Continue.

9. Select the axle type.

10. Click Save Axle Configuration.
11. Select each plus button of the vehicle to add the tire installation information.

12. Complete the Install Tire form:
    • Select or confirm the tire Position from the drop-down
    • Enter the Install Date. This will default to the current date, but may be backdated.

• Enter the tire Tire Meter at Installation
• Enter the current Tread Depth and tire Pressure
• Select the tire Model or manually enter tire details
• Factory Tread Depth
• Minimum Tread Depth
• Life Expectancy
• Tire Identification Number

13. Click Save.
14. Hover over any of the tires in the Axle Configuration card to view details.

15. On the right side of the screen, you will notice a new card for Installed Tires. Click each tire to expand and view more information (a), or select the More Actions button (b) to edit, Copy tire details to another axle position, or remove the tire entry.

If you would like to copy the tire details to another position, you can select from a list of tire details to copy. Add the selected tire details to all or some tire positions.

Installed Tires

Select the More Actions button in the installed tires card to edit multiple tires. You can rotate tires or remove multiple installed tires from a vehicle.

Each tire may be rotated individually or you can select your preferred rotation pattern from the drop-down menu.

Tire Management Settings

Tire Management Settings are located in your Account Settings.

Go to your Account Menu and select Settings.

In the Settings Sidebar, click Tire Management Settings in the Vehicles section.

In Tire Management Settings you can:

1. Activate Automated Tire Pressure Readings if you're using a compatible Telematics integration.
2. View Standard Tire Rotation Patterns provided by Fleetio.
3. Click + Add Tire Rotation Pattern to create your own custom Tire Rotation Pattern

Add a Tire Rotation Pattern

To add a custom Tire Rotation Pattern:

1. Click + Add Tire Rotation Pattern
2. Complete the Add Tire Rotation Pattern form:
   1. Enter a Rotation Name
   2. Select an Axle Configuration from the drop-down menu
   3. Select the New Position for each tire using the drop-down menus

3. When you're finished, click the Save button.

You can Edit or Delete Custom Tire Rotation Patterns by clicking the More Actions Button in your Tire Management Settings.

Tire Activity Index

Access the Tire Activity index from the Vehicle Details Page, and select the Tire Activity Tab.

The Tire Activity Index contains a record of every installation, removal, tread depth reading, and pressure reading for each individual tire. For customers with Automated Tire Pressure Readings enabled, tire pressure readings will auto-populate daily via Telematics method.

To enable Automated Tire Pressure Readings:

1. Click on your Account Menu in the Sidebar and select Settings.
2. Scroll down to Vehicles, click on Tire Management Settings and click the toggle to enable.

View, Filter, Bulk Update & VIN Decode from the Vehicle Index

View

On the Vehicle Index, you will see columns for Installed Tires and Axle Configuration.

Click the number of Tires Installed to be taken to the Tire Management module where you can view more specifics about the tires.

If you hover over the number of installed tires, you will see the tire types that have been installed.

Clicking the tire types will take you directly to the Part in Fleetio, if the tires were previously added through Parts.

Filter

If you would like to filter the Vehicle Index by vehicles with a specific axle configuration, or by vehicles that are missing an axle configuration, you may do this by clicking filter and choosing Vehicle Axle Configuration.

Bulk Update

After you filter the Vehicle Index, you may want to update the axle configurations for vehicles in bulk. To do this, select the vehicles by clicking the checkboxes on the left, and using the Actions menu to select Update Vehicles.

Select Axle Configuration under the Field Column. Under Value, select Replace with and select the appropriate axle configuration you want to apply to all selected vehicles..

Click Continue to Review and confirm before these changes will be applied.

VIN Decode

If the VIN is added to the Vehicle and Fleetio is able to retrieve this information through the VIN Decode process, you may also Decode the VIN on an individual vehicle basis to add the Axle Configuration.

Viewing Installed Tires in Fleetio Go

Once tires are added to a vehicle in the Fleetio Web app, you will be able to see installed tires in Fleetio Go. To learn more, see View Installed Tires in Fleetio Go.