Fresh Front End Loader Hijinks

Longtime readers of this blog know that from time to time, we like to highlight a fresh wave of crime from the world's front end loaders. Despite their seeming inability to keep out of trouble, these majestic machines hold a special place in our hearts.



Although we're used to hearing about front end loaders being used in bank robberies and ATM heists, this is the first time we've heard of a front end loader being used to rob a car wash. Early in December in Western Australia, thieves used a front end loader to smash their way into the building, making off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Although it's unclear how much the thieves made off with, it's been estimated that they did upwards of $100,000 worth of damage in the process.

Speaking of damage, one front end loader was recently implicated in drug-addled shenanigans. In Battle Creek, Michigan, this unlucky loader was lifted from a lot and driven around town by a 29-year-old male under the influence of narcotics. Although it seems that the loader was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, it still doesn't look good for the reputation of front end loaders in general.

Meanwhile, one hapless front end loader up in Saskatoon, while trying to do a good deed and clear some snow (it's Canada after all), snagged some power wires and shut down the city's morning commute.

Luckily no one was injured but police had to close the 33rd Street between Seventh Avenue and Spadina Crescent for repairs (News Talk CK-Com).

We'd like to take this time to remind the owners of front end loaders to practice wise ownership and keep their machines out of trouble when they can. The world thanks you for your diligence.

Remember that we carry a full load of big tires for all of your farming, mining, and industrial needs. Please feel free to contact us for our current deals.

Image credit: Twitter: @cunninghamscott

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OTR Tires: A Winter News Roundup

As plummeting temperatures keep us all donning our warmest wool socks and cozying up to the fireplace with our hot chocolates, the world of OTR tires marches on. In this post, we bring you the latest developments in the OTR tire world, allowing you to read them at your leisure and in your warmest, coziest location.

OTR Tires: A Winter News Roundup

• "Titan, USW Seek Duties on Imported Off-road Tires" - Along with the United States Steel Workers's Union, Titan International, Inc. is once again claiming that OTR tires are unfairly priced and overly-subsidized. They've sent petitions to several agencies to require official investigation into this matter.
• "U.S. Body to Study Duties on Imported OTR Tires" - In related news, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has called a convention on January 29 to discuss issues raised by Titan and the U.S. Steel Workers' Union. We will work to keep you apprised of their findings.
• "Triangle Tire Names Cicero as CEO" - The new U.S. subsidiary of global tire makers Triangle Tyres has named its CEO: Manny Cicero. Cicero is a well-known, experienced executive with a history in the industry.

According to the company, Cicero, who has held leadership positions at several tire manufacturers, will lead the charge in Triangle Tyre Group’s goal to become a major player in the U.S.

Each of these developments is interesting in its own right; together, they set the stage for possible shake ups in the spring and summer of 2016. We look forward to sending news of developments your way.

Remember that if you're in the market for fresh OTR tires, you've come to the right place. We carry a full lineup and are ready to meet your needs. Please feel free to contact us for the best deals.

Image credit: European Rubber Journal

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Tire Deals for January 20, 2016: Michelin XZA2 295/80R22.5 tires and more!

We've got some great mid-week OTR tire deals for you today!

126 Michelin take off tires just removed from new trucks. They are Michelin XZA2 295/80R22.5 tires. You can have them at $340.00 each delivered on 8 or more FET in!

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Also for consideration:
4pc - 45-65R45 Bridgestone VSDL - $16,500.00 ea
4pc - 33.00R51 Michelin XDR2B - $17,000.00 ea
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About the Michelin XZA2 295/80R22.5 Tires

Fuel-efficient, all-position radial designed for long life steer axle service in line haul applications.

• Unique intermediate rib design helps combat the onset of irregular wear in highway service.
• Exceptional handling and responsiveness through optimized shoulder design.
• Traction and lateral control offered by miniature sipes and variable groove angles.
• The 295/60R22.5 is an ultra-low profile and a full 4" shorter than the 275/80R22.5 with over 1,100 lbs of additional carrying capacity in single fitment.
• Approved for use on EPA SmartWay® certified equipment and meets California's CARB requirements.

Michelin XZA2 295/80R22.5 Tires Specifications

Load Range H
Loaded Radius 19.1 in
Overall Diameter 41.3 in
Overall Width 11.8 in
Approved Rims 9.00, 8.25
Min. Dual Spacing 13.2 in
RPM 503 rpm
Tread Depth 16/32
Max Speed 75 mph
Max Load Per Tire Single 7830/120 lbs/psi
Max Load Per Tire Dual 6940/120 lbs/psi
Tire Weight 126.3

Click here to download the Michelin 295/80R22.5 XZA2 Truck Tires product sheet

Unless noted otherwise, prices are per tire USD, and are plus freight. Please contact us to secure the tires you want. We can also provide you with a freight quote.

If you would like to get OTR tire deals like this delivered to your email inbox, then click here to subscribe to our OTR Tire Deals & Specials email list.

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Will Prison Death Taint Relations Between Canadian and Mexican Mining Industries?

While working in the Mexican mining industry, Canadian citizen Bruce Vigfusson became entangled in a violent crime in September of 2012 when he defended himself during a home invasion. Recently, while serving a four-and-a-half year sentence resulting from his involvement in that event, Vigfusson died. Vigfusson's son Colt was alerted of the death not by official channels, but via one of his father's fellow prison inmates.

According to an initial report into the cause of death given to Colt, his father died of pulmonary edema (a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs) and cardiomyopathy (a condition where the heart muscle is abnormal) (CTV News Winnipeg).

Vigfusson's family, who live in Manitoba, have requested that the body be sent home for a proper autopsy.

Obviously, this story raises all kinds of concerns for Mexican mining industry workers. Joint-venture projects between Canada and Mexico are common, and with concerns over drug-related cartel violence already gumming up the works, stories like these do nothing to alleviate anybody's fears.

It's our hope to track this story and bring you fresh updates as we can. In the meantime, we reiterate our hope that Mexico's government can get a handle on the situation, and not just for the sake of mining industry workers. When justice prevails, everyone benefits.

Remember that we carry a full line of OTR tires for all of your mining needs. We routinely ship throughout North and Central America, and we'd love to extend our services to you. If you have questions or comments about our services, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to serving you.

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Terex Line of Rigid Haul Trucks Cited for Support to Zimbabwe Mining Industry

Recently, Terex rigid haul trucks were cited as some of the main factors for the overall success of Zimbabwe's Bulawayo and Harare mines. Including two TR45s and two TR60s, the fleet of trucks working those mines sounds as if it's kept very busy indeed.

The machines are hauling approximately 80,000 tonnes per month of stone products, 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, with the robust TR45 maximum payload of 41 tonnes proving ideal for the job at the Bulawayo quarry (New Zimbabwe).

Further praising trucks in the Terex line for being reliable and cost-effective, mining officials also cited the ease with which these trucks are able to haul heavy loads uphill: a necessity in the rugged Zimbabwean landscape.

This is all very good news, and that's not the end of the story. Zimbabwe's recent strides in mining are about to have a direct impact on the country at large.

Sable Mining's coal mining power plant has just recently announced its intent to develop a coal-fired power station that will largely avert the country's ongoing power shortages.

“Considering the energy deficit in Southern Africa and increasing importance placed on energy security worldwide, the (Sable) board believes the development of a coal-fired power station in Zimbabwe would be a major step forward in tackling this crisis and one which would receive governmental support.

“With Zimbabwe and the wider southern Africa region experiencing a power deficit, Sable Mining has identified an opportunity to address the shortage as a potential coal producer and in respect of power plant development,” said [Sable Mining Chairman Jim] Cochrane.

A boost in power supply would greatly enhance the country's overall economic security, not to mention other industries and infrastructures.

We look forward to keeping an eye on this story and alerting you to developments. It's our hope to see Zimbabwe's mining industry become an economic leader both within its own boarders and within the broader African mining industry as well.

Remember that we carry a full line of OTR tires for all of your mining needs. Feel free to contact us for the best deals.

Image credit: Terex Trucks

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Good News from Down Under: Some Positive Developments for the Australian Mining Industry

If you're a frequent visitor to our blog, then you know that for quite some time, the Australian mining industry has been in a decline. Unsurprisingly, this decline has been damaging to the country's economy, especially for Western Australia. Although there isn't exactly a definite sign of a large-scale turn-around for the Australian mining industry yet, several recent stories from Down Under give us hope that the tide may already be shifting.

First, Jindal Steel has announced its intent to recommence its coal mining operation in New South Wales. Working through one of its subsidiaries, Jindal will soon have the mine functioning again.

Wollongong Coal has signed a two-year contract with Delta SBD, one of the largest contract mining companies in the Australian underground coal mining industry, to oversee and manage the recommencement of operations at Wongawilli (Business Line).

Even more encouraging is the report that the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) recently predicted a price rebound for coal during 2016. According to AMMA, thermal coal should increase "about $US62 a tonne (from $US52) and metallurgical coal to $US96.50 a tonne (from $US72)." Considering that AMMA's also predicting similar rises in iron ore and crude oil during the coming year, many people are hoping that this will be the year in which the Australian mining industry turns around.

Others, however, are more skeptical. With AMMA also forecasting that energy and other commodity prices will bounce around, the industry could still be in for a bumpy ride.

As always, we look forward to more positive developments for the beleaguered Australian mining industry. It's our hope to see men and women getting back to work and supplying the world with the commodities they need to keep business running.

Remember that we stock a full supply of OTR tires for all of your mining needs. Feel free to contact us with questions or to hear about our current deals.

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All Hail the Front End Loaders, Winter's Unsung Heroes

Considering that we like to highlight the hard work of front end loaders every year around this time, perhaps calling them "unsung" is a bit of a stretch. Still, when you consider how much work front end loaders do each winter and how little acclaim they receive for their pains, I'm sure you'll catch our drift.

Long after shovel-wielding homeowners have flaked out and gone inside for a cup of hot chocolate, the mighty front end loaders will still be out and about, braving the cold to clear the highways and byways.

To make sure that you get our drift, allow us to offer a few examples.

As the winter of 2014 began to release its fury on North America, emergency responders knew just what to do. In the Northeast, the New York State Thruway Authority sent out total of 237 plow operators, 116 plow trucks, 21 front end loaders, 4 large truck-mounted snow blowers, and 35,000 tons of salt. Although the plow trucks, snow blowers, and salt are all helpful, they wouldn't be nearly as effective without those 21 front end loaders.

Front end loaders are vital to the snow-removal process, and when working in conjunction with dump trucks, they can keep roadways, parking lots, and other large-scale structures from total snow obstruction.

So the next time you look out after a storm and spy a front end loader clearing the snow, don't forget to say thanks. These majestic machines deserve all the praise they can get.

Remember that we here at Buy Big Tires carry a full stock of OTR and loader tires for all of your big-rig needs. Please feel free to contact us for information on our current deals.

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Welcome, 2016: Big Tires, Big Resolutions

If you own, operate, or service a machine that runs on big tires, you know that keeping them in good repair is important. Machines that run on OTR tires heft a lot of weight, meaning that when things go wrong, they can go wrong in a truly big way. Therefore, to mitigate danger and prevent disaster, be sure to ring in 2016 with a fresh resolution to practice good tire maintenance.

The Basics

Although these points are basic, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention routine checks of tire pressure and tread depth. If your tires are consistently losing pressure, or if they display significant tread wear patterns, it's time to replace them.

Don't forget that tread wear patterns can also be indicators of wider problems that you should address; namely, that your wheels are out of alignment or over/under-inflated. Over-inflation carries its own specific dangers with OTR tires, since these tires routinely carry extremely heavy loads over tough terrains, and are therefore more susceptible to bursting.

Special Considerations

Location and climate have an influence on the life cycles of your tires. Everything from altitude, humidity levels, and temperature fluctuations influence tire maintenance procedures. Be sure to examine your maintenance protocols to ensure that they take these variations into consideration, especially as one season gives way to another.

Enforcement

Having a good checklist is one thing. Making sure that all employees follow it is another. If you've been lax in this area, know that your entire operation could be at risk. Remember, you're only as stable as your most lax employee. Make 2016 the year in which you tie up loose ends and institute any necessary monitoring mechanisms to be sure that procedures are followed.

Know that we care about more than just providing you with a stock of quality OTR tires. We hope that the new year brings you increased safety, security, and productivity. For more information on our line of OTR tires, please feel free to contact us.

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