TM 5-3805-260-24
TOO MUCH HEAT CAN CAUSE A TIRE
TO HAVE AN EXPLOSION (SUDDEN BREAK)
WARNING
Explosions of pneumatic tires have resulted from heat-
causing gas combustion inside the tires. The heat,
caused by welding or heating rim components, fire, or
too much use of brakes, can cause gas combustion.
A tire explosion is much more violent than a blowout.
The explosion can throw the tire, rim and final drive
components as far as 460 m (1500 ft. ) or more from the
machine. Both the force of the explosion and the debris
can cause personal injury or death, and property
damage.
Although an explosion is not probable, the hazard
(danger) is very great, especially with large tires used on
wheel tractor-scrapers.
All personnel must know of this danger and the actions
to take to keep the risk at a minimum.
Heat from any source can be sent to the tire.
This causes deterioration (decrease in quality) of the
bead. Normally, the burned bead causes loss of air,
and the tire goes flat without danger to anyone in the
area.
A bead that is burnt can result in the release of
an explosive mixture of gas inside the tire. It is possible
for the mixture of gas inside the tire to burn. The fire
inside the tire causes a rapid in- crease in pressure. The
result is a violent tire explosion. The explosion causes a
blowout at the tire bead which throws the tire, rim
assembly and final drive components far away from the
machine.
When a wheel is in rotation, the movement of
air around the tire helps in cooling the tire. There is
more danger of a tire explosion after the machine stops,
because of the loss of this cooling effect.
If smoke, too much heat, the smell of burning
rubber or hot brakes, or other indications of bead
burning are noticed, take action to prevent personal
injury.
Move the machine to a remote area, but only if it
can be done without danger to the operator or
other personnel in the area.
Remove all personnel in the area of the machine.
WARNING
APPROACH AREAS. Do not get within 460 m
(1500 ft. ) from the side or within 15 m (50 ft. )
from the front, rear, or above a tire.
Do not go near any tire on the machine if there is
a brake fire, burning rubber or other indications that the
brakes have caused too much heat. This heat can have
an effect on all other tires on the machine, even though
the visual indication is only at one tire.
If there is an indication of a brake fire or the
smell of burning rubber, do not go near the ma- chine.
FIGHT (put out) THESE FIRES FROM A REMOTE
LOCATION. (Many times, the immediate action to a fire
caused by tires or brakes, is for people to use a hand
fire extinguisher and run up close to the machine to help
put out the fire. ) Keep away from the machine until the
tires cool (temperature decreases). Permit at least eight
hours for the tires to cool before a person goes near the
machine.
Keep personnel out of the area, and at least 460
m (1500 ft. ) away from the side of the tire and 15 m (50
ft. ) away from the front or rear of the machine.
A small fire caused by debris on the machine is
not a hazard. This type of fire can be put out with a hand
fire extinguisher. A burning (smoking) tire or fire in the
brake area is hazardous. These are sure indications of a
hot tire. There is no completely safe way to get near a
machine to put out this type of hazardous fire. Go near
only at the front or rear of a machine and use a large
bulldozer as a shield.
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