GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE)
Probably not a single capital construction today is complete without concreting. That is why concrete mixers on truck chassis are in great demand. And in order for concrete mixers to deliver concrete to construction sites, properly selected tires are needed. And this short review is about concrete mixer tires.
Why do you need special tires for concrete mixers
But first, let's decide what is special about tires for concrete mixers. Indeed, why not fit these vehicles with the wide range of common truck tires available on the market?
To understand why concrete mixers need special tires, let's imagine for a minute how much this special equipment weighs in medium sizes. The average weight of a car with an empty mixer is 20-25 tons. This in itself is a considerable burden, right? Now let's calculate how much concrete will weigh. Let's say the volume of the tank is 20 m³. Pour about 15 m³ into it. Now, 1 m³ of concrete weighs 2.4 tons. By simple calculations, we find that the mass of concrete in the tank will be about 36 tons.
And this huge weight will mostly fall on the rear axles. By the way, let's not forget that there is still the weight of the car itself and it is rather big! Which tires do you think can handle the combined weight of the vehicle and the concrete? Of course, ordinary tires from such a load will become unusable immediately or after a short period of use. But there are tires that can withstand the load for a long time without negative consequences. One of these tires is GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE).
About tires in general
General Tire's product range includes the GRABBER OA model. This tire model is designed for dump trucks. The WIDE BASE version is similar in appearance to the dump truck model, but it has an increased contact patch with the road surface. Due to this, the load on the tread is distributed more evenly, which results in less intense wear. Of course, agitator tires differ from conventional truck tires not only in their wider width but also in a number of other features.
Features GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE)
- More aggressive directional tread pattern - thanks to this, the tires allow you to drag a container with concrete not only on asphalt, but also on dirt roads, and even over rough terrain. This is a significant advantage since construction work can be carried out not only within the city but also outside the city.
- More technological protector. Thanks to the pronounced radial grooves, heavy machinery is more stable in turns. The transverse chamfered grooves provide better grip, which allows the mixer to be driven not only on dry but also on wet road surfaces.
- Self-cleaning function. Ordinary tires get dirty and remain dirty while driving on the ground. GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) tires can be self-cleaning. To do this, it is enough to develop a speed of just over 30 m/hr. Dirt and stones from the tread will fly out on their own.
- Stronger sidewalls. The concrete mixer, approaching the place of unloading of concrete, regularly rubs and hits the tires on the curbs. General Tire took this into account and fitted these tires with reinforced sidewalls that resist friction, chips, and cuts.
- All-season operation. There are quite a few all-season truck tires, but all of these tires are inferior to season-specific tires in ride performance. GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) handles well in winter and summer. This is largely due to the tread pattern and the composition of the rubber from which the tread blocks are molded.
- Additional lifting capacity. Thanks to the greater strength of GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE), the car will be able to carry 10-15% more cargo than conventional tires. This advantage is due to the tighter wire reinforcement and the use of radial metal belts.
- Resistant to abrasion of the tread. Tires for special equipment are not cheap, and the work of replacing worn-out tires is a troublesome undertaking. Therefore, the manufacturer manufactures GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) tires with a hard and wear-resistant tread. The tread does not wear off for a long time, which means that you do not have to frequently change tires.
- Versatility of application. It's no secret that large trucks and special vehicles use different tires on different bridges. The steering tire is usually installed at the front and the drive tire at the rear. GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) are universal tires that can be installed on both front and rear wheels without compromising the operation of special equipment.
What and how are these tires made?
GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) is an advanced tubeless tire. The main elements in their design are tread, carcass, belt, beads, and sidewalls.
The tread here is made in the form of 4 radial blocks, separated by 3 continuous grooves. Transverse grooves are provided for water drainage and better grip. The tread height is 21 mm, which corresponds to the tires of high flotation.
The rubber-cord base, the so-called frame, is the power part of the tire. In these tires, the carcass is made of 4 layers of rubberized cord. The breaker is made of all-metal and consists of radially arranged strips. The inner layer of the tire is made of high-density elastic rubber. Rubber provides the necessary tightness both of the tire itself and in the area of its contact with the disc.
Before launching GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) into production, General Tire performed many tests. During the tests, cars equipped with these tires moved on various surfaces - both on asphalt and on unpaved roads. Moreover, tests were carried out to identify problems in all-season operations. To do this, cars equipped with GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) have traveled thousands of kilometers across different climatic zones in the United States. And only after the test results showed that the tires meet the required standards, they were put into production.
Reasons to buy these tires
GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) is really durable - their service life is 15-2 times longer than the service life of ordinary truck tires presented in the same price category. In addition, these tires will make heavy special equipment more maneuverable, which is important if the work is carried out in urban areas. A car on these tires handles perfectly in dry weather, rain, and even snow. Finally, one of the most important reasons for buying these tires is their excellent value for money.
Are there any reasons not to buy these tires? The only reason may be the incompatibility of these tires with the rims of the car. However, the standard sizes of these tires are enough to find an option for most modern concrete mixers.
Characteristics in numbers
Load index - L.
The height of the vice-rector is 21 mm.
The maximum permissible speed is 70mp.
Output
GRABBER OA (WIDE BASE) is an excellent tire that is superior in a number of respects to products from other manufacturers. Again, the price is reasonable, and this is a very important advantage. As a result, we recommend buying these tires if you are a private owner of a concrete mixer or the head of a company with a fleet of such special equipment.