Tire Shortfall Forces 'Bias' Against Off-the-Road Radials

摘要

Atight supply of radial tires is forc- ing heavy equipment owners to put on more bias-ply tires than in recent history. The switch could drive up production costs in a time of already-high prices, contractors say. The nuisance is not a catastrophe but it "has caused us to do more homework," says Terry Tomasko, fleet manager for Independence Excavating Inc. The Ohio-based contractor typically sources treads close to home. It now has to go to neighboring states to get tires for its machines. "I've never seen complete tire lines diminish like this," Tomasko says. "Now you look really hard at retreading."