As part of the support system for a rotary drum, addressing issues with the tires or riding rings is critical to the equipment’s longevity; problems that start in the base naturally affect other components of the drum over time, with the potential to result in serious damage.
In many cases, drum tires can be resurfaced through a process called tire grinding. However, severe tire wear may require replacing the tire. When the time to replace a tire comes, FEECO offers a diverse selection of the industry’s highest quality tires.
It is important to match the tires to the trunnion wheels in both material composition and hardness. Failure to do so can result in premature wear and/or failure. FEECO has a team of aftermarket engineers that can measure existing components in the field and recommend proper replacement specifications.
AVAILABLE TIRES
FEECO can provide a replacement tire to specification, or we can recommend tire specifications such as hardness, size, and material of construction based on our extensive experience. Available specifications are listed below.
| Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Face Width | Materials of Construction | Edging |
| Up to 190″ | Up to 210″ | Up to 32″ | 1045 Steel 4140 Steel 4340 Steel | Beveled or non-beveled |
INDICATIONS THAT A DRUM TIRE MAY NEED REPLACEMENT
A tire in need of replacement exhibits severe wear, such as cracks, fractures, or thin spots. This is in contrast to the minor wear problems that can be addressed through tire grinding, such as pitting, spalling, or timing marks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Tires require replacement only when they exhibit signs of severe wear, such as the presence of cracks. Tire lifespan depends on the specific operating conditions of the installation, but can range from 2-20 years depending on how well the drum is maintained (poor gear mesh and vibrations, improper skewing, and excessive grinding can greatly reduce tire lifespan).
FEECO also recommends that tires be replaced once they are diminished by greater than 10% of their original diameter (either through wear or grinding) to avoid the process implications associated with an altered slope.
Lead time for tires range from 6-14 weeks depending on size.
Yes. Since severely damaged tires render the drum inoperable, tires should be replaced prior to failure to avoid excessive downtime and additional repairs.
Tire replacement is also a good time to upgrade the tire mounting system. Drum tire mounting techniques have advanced in recent years and the new floating tire assembly offers significant benefits over previous designs.
Because the tire is an integral component of the drum’s mechanical stability, a full laser alignment should be performed once the new tire has been installed.
Yes, in the case of superficial wear such as timing marks, pitting, and spalling, tires can be repaired through grinding, a resurfacing process that grinds away wear to reveal the like-new surface below. More significant wear, such as cracks, thin spots, or wear that exceeds greater than 10% of the tire’s original diameter, will require replacement.
If your rotary drum was manufactured by FEECO, contact your dedicated parts person with the FEECO serial number and any changes in specification.
If FEECO did not manufacture the drum, contact us and provide the following information:
- Inside diameter of the rotary drum
- Oustide diameter of the rotary drum
- Face width of desired tire
- Desired material of construction and hardness
- ID (inside diameter) and OD (outside diameter) of the desired tire