OTR Tires Tarriff: The Saga Continues

In late January, we posted to update you on recent developments in the world of OTR tires. At that time, we alerted you that Titan had joined up with the United Steel Worker's Union (USW) to protest what they thought to be the unfair pricing and over-subsidizing of imported OTR tires. At the time of our report, they had gone so far as to voice their concerns to the International Trade Commission (ITC), and the ITC had agreed to meet and discuss the issue.

That meeting of the ITC took place on January 29, with both sides of the argument stating strong cases. The thrust of the Titan/USW petition seems to be how the prevalence of foreign-made goods influences their place in the market.

“The OTR tire industry provides high-paying, high-skilled jobs with family-supporting benefits,” Stan Johnson, USW international secretary-treasurer, said at the hearing. “All of that is now at risk because of these dumped and subsidized imports from China, India and Sri Lanka" (Rubber News)

Opponents of the petition argue, however, that Titan's place in the market was affected more by the overall market downturn coupled with the company's own recent business strategy missteps than by imported OTR tires. The ruling is expected to be handed down in February, and we are interested to see how the ITC interprets the data.

Do you have an opinion on this matter? Do you think that these foreign tire manufacturers are dumping their products into US and other Western markets below production costs? Or do you think that Titan and other domestic manufacturers are suffering more from the overall downturn and perhaps their own strategic blunders? Feel free to sound off in the comment section.

As always, 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: European Rubber Journal

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More Positive Developments for the Australian Mining Industry

Is there light at the end of the tunnel for the Australian mining industry?

As most of you know, we have been keeping an eye on the Australian mining industry, looking for clues that the struggling industry has begun to rebound. As we reported recently, positive developments have begun to roll in. We're happy to bring you even more good examples today.

First, while certain sources claim that it is unlikely that the Australian mining industry will fully bounce back in 2016, they also say that the industry is still fully viable and will continue to play an important role in Australia's overall GDP.

Second, Mining Weekly reports that Australian mining companies have begun investing in technologies to improve safety and manage costs. They have time-targeted goals in place to ensure that these improvements benefit their workers soon.

Over the next two years, a significant number of respondents yet to invest were expected to make investments in tyre monitoring, collision avoidance and proximity detection, and remote control and machine automation technologies.

This concentration on moving forward shows that these companies do not plan to go quietly into the night. They plan to keep moving forward, growing, and changing for the good of their employees, their overall industry, and all of the other industries that depend on the materials that mining produces.

We're happy to see signs that those inside the industry are making long-range plans to keep Australian mines viable. We look forwarding to bringing you more stories like these in the future.

Remember that we carry a full complement of big tires for all of your mining needs. We routinely ship tires to numerous mines throughout Australia. Feel free to contact us for the best deals.

Image credit: Paolo Crosetto on Flickr

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Sherp ATV: Russian firm makes one of the coolest ATVs ever!

Sherp was founded in 2012 with a mission to create the ultimate all terrain vehicle, the Sherp ATV. The company partnered with renowned technologist Aleksei Garagashian to develop the Sherp ATV. After three years of strenuous development and testing the Sherp ATV entered commercial production. The company is very confident that this is the ultimate ATV ever manufactured. The company claims that they have used the Sherp ATV to get to places in Russia that a human has never set foot on. From the far corners of Siberian tundra and taiga, to the mountains to Kola peninsula and across the swamps of Yugra. This ATV has done it all and after seeing the video below, I think you'll agree, this tough toy truck will be able to handle anything you can throw at it!

VIDEO: Sherp ATV in Action

A vehicle with performance capability like this won't come cheap. The standard version will cost you a cool $65,000! Being purveyors of off the road tires, you know we were very interested in the unique OTR tires this ATV wears. According to the Sherp website, the tires are patented, tubeless ultra-low pressure 1600 x 600 x 25 tires with a patented inflation system. We'll let you know if we ever get any in stock! ;)

The Sherp ATV is powered by a 4 cylinder Kubota V1505-t diesel engine with a maximum power output of about 44.3 horsepower. The power is transfered to the wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. You maneuver the Sherp with a skid steer system which should make driving in the snow or mud a ton of fun. The Sherp ATV has a top speed of approximately 45 km/h (about 28 mph).

So what do you think? Are you going to add the Sherp ATV to your Christmas list for this year? Or are you going to start saving up for one? Don't forget to check out the vehicle specifications and photo gallery below. For more information or to order your Sherp ATV, please visit: Sherp.ru.

Sherp ATV Specifications

length, cm	3400
width, cm	2520
height, cm	2300
Body	steel
Weight, kg / lbs	1300 / 2866
Engine	Kubota V1505-t
Fuel type	Diesel
Volume, cc	1498
Max. hp	44,3
Gear-box	mechanical, 5-step
Suspension	pneumocirculation
Parking break system	independent
Coupling	SACHS
Clearance, cm	60
Cylindercount	4
A carrying capacity, kg	1000
Seats equipped with belts	2
Sleeping seating / capacity	4

Speed of movement:
Maximal (on a higher transmission), km/h	45
Minimum (on more subzero transmission), km/h	1,5
On water, km/h	6
Tire type	tubeless, ultralow pressure
Tire size	1600 х 600 х 25
Passing through soils	any
Fuel expense (depends on offroad usage), L/h	2-3
Fuel tank volume, L	58
Additional fuel tanks volume	50 х 4
Height of the overcome obstacle, cm	100
An angle of overcome obstacle, °C	35
Maintenance required, motor hours	50

Sherp ATV Photo Gallery

For more photos, see the Sherp ATV Website Gallery.



Image credits: Sherp.ru
(h/t: Jalopnik)

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U.S. Mining Industry Lowers Deaths in 2015

The U.S. mining industry has definitely had its share of ups and downs lately, but one of those downs is actually a good thing. Sources are now reporting that during 2015, the mining industry recorded an all-time low of fatalities. This is fantastic news!

Preliminary data from the Department of Labor says 28 miners were killed on the job, down from 45 in 2014, a 37 per cent reduction. There were 11 deaths in coal mines, another all-time low mark (The Province).

These numbers haven't just dropped due to closures or a shrinking industry, either, as some pessimists suspected. This is perhaps the best news of all. According to Mining Global, the drop in accidents and fatalities has come about in part due to standards enforced by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). MSHA especially credits their CORESafety procedures for making a difference during 2015, since CORESafety is an expandable, organic program that adapts easily to different mining situations.

Certainly some of the credit should go to the men and women actually putting these principles into action, making good choices and keeping themselves and their co-workers safe on a daily basis.

Whatever the reasons behind the shift, we are overjoyed to hear that mines across America are becoming safer. Every mining accident victim represents a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or grandchild, and every time the number drops, more mining families are spared. Better yet, a safe industry is an industry that can grow and change effectively. The safer the mining industry becomes, the easier it will be to recruit young men and women to start careers in the U.S. mining industry.

Remember that we carry a full range of big tires for all of your mining needs. Feel free to contact us to hear about our current deals.

Image source: Wikipedia

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OTR Tire Deals February 10th

We've got some great hump day OTR tire deals to finish the week strong! Please see the following tires we are looking to move.

• 4pc - 45-65R45 Goodyear RL5K - $11,250.00
• 4pc - 775-65R29 Bridgestone VTS - $5,500.00 on Volvo Wheels
• 1pc - 2700R49 Michelin XDTB - $6,200 has a small bead repair
• 1pc - 2700R49 Michelin X-Traction - $6,200.00 has a small bead repair
• 1pc - 2700R49 Michelin XDRB4 - $6,750.00
• 2pc - 2700R49 Bridgestone VMTP - $6,750.00
• 4pc - 2700R49 Bridgestone VRLS (pictured above) - $6,750.00
• 4pc - 17.5R25 Bridgestone VSDL - $2,500.00
• 6pc - 3700R57 Titan MFT - $7,500.00

All prices are per tire in USD plus freight. If you have any questions or would like a freight quote please let us know.

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

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Getting the Most Out of Your Haul Truck Tires

We all know that haul truck tires wear differently from standard tires. This only makes sense. After all, haul truck tires are attached to grander machinery, bear larger loads, and operate on different terrain from standard tires. Knowing the differences between caring for standard tires and caring for haul truck tires is an important first step in getting the most out of your investment.

Standard Tires

On standard tires, tread patterns must be inspected regularly to ensure that the tire is still safe and viable. Regular checks are also important because the way in which the tread wears down could indicate specific problems, such as over-inflation, under-inflation, imbalance, or alignment issues.

Haul Truck Tires

Although standard tires generally spend most of their time on paved surfaces, haul truck tires tend to work in rougher terrain. As a result, separate considerations must be taken into account when it comes to tire life. Haul truck operators must evaluate grades, slippage, road crowns, equipment modifications, and the usage habits of other truck operators (if operation of the vehicle is shared). All of these factors could affect tire wear and tear--for better or for worse.

Of course, it's important that no matter the extenuating circumstances, operators should follow standard protocols and never skip inspections. Considering the size and power of these machines and the sort of damage they can do if they go awry, it never hurts to err on the side of caution.

Do you have personal experience with this topic? Feel free to contribute in the comment section below. As always, remember that we carry a large supply of haul truck tires for all of your haul truck needs, big or small. We can ship these haul truck tires to you any where in the world at great freight rates. Please feel free to contact us for the best deals.

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Brazilian Mining Industry to Go the Way of Australia?

It's no secret to any of us that the Australian mining industry has been stuck in a slump. Although we posted recently about some hopeful signs, we haven't yet seen signs of an overall turnaround. Our newest concern is that the Brazilian mining industry could soon join them in a prolonged slump.

If another downturn comes, it may not be entirely the mining industry's fault. In a recent article titled "When Will Brazil Get Better?" Forbes reports that overall, Brazilian equities have sunk 40% since July of 2015, with buyers "chasing the bottom." Reports of government corruption have been rampant (as we've already cited in other posts), and concerns regarding public safety are on the rise.

Amidst all of these national concerns, the mining industry is facing its own woes. News of accidents and chemical waste spills have been affecting stocks, and these dips have been further compounded by the retreat of the Brazilian real.

Shares of Vale SA are down by 4.64% to $2.78 in early-afternoon trading... as some U.S. traded Brazil-based stocks tumble today due to the decline in the real, which was spurred by the economic distress in China (The Street).

Obviously, all of these factors working together have done nothing to help the mining industry in Brazil grow and maintain growth. If anything, the opposite is true. It's our hope to see these trends turn around in the days to come so that the sort of slump we see in Australia does not repeat itself in Brazil.

Remember that we carry a full complement of OTR tires for all of your mining needs. We routinely ship tires to mines throughout Brazil and the rest of South America. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments that you might have or to hear about our current deals.

Image credit: By Source, Fair use, Wikipedia

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OTR Tire Deals February 1st - Oldies but Goodies!

We hope you are all having a great first day of February. We'd like to make your day and this week even better with a great deal on some older production OTR tires.

Special on Older Production Tires

These tires were all manufactured between 2006 and 2009.

• 4pc - 26.5R25 Michelin X-Mine - $6,500.00 ea. Pictured.
• 1pc - 2700R49 Michelin XDTB - $6,500.00 - Note: has a small bead repair.
• 1pc - 2700R49 Michelin X-Traction RD - $6,500.00 - Note: has a small bead repair.
• 1pc - 2700R49 Michelin XDRB4 - $8,250.00
• 2pc - 2700R49 Bridgestone VMTP - $8,250.00 ea.
• 4pc - 2700R49 Bridgestone VRLS - $8,250.00 ea.

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 subscribe to our OTR Tire Deals & Specials email list here.

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