Putting the Yokohama RR42 to the Test at the Port of Tacoma

With over 95% percent of imported cargo entering the U.S. arriving by ship, ports play a critical role in the global supply chain. It’s at ports where containers from around the world are transferred for further distribution via inland transportation such as rail and truck and vice versa. Ports like Pierce County Terminal in Tacoma, Washington, employ a variety of equipment to keep goods moving, including straddle carriers that depend on tires like the Yokohama RR42 to keep them operating at peak levels of performance.

OTR Tire Tips to Ease Expenses 

In today’s economy, rising costs are top of mind for everyone these days, including construction and mining equipment fleet managers. Building material prices are up almost 20% from April 2021 to April 2022, diesel prices continue to hit record highs, and labor costs are growing. The average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees in construction increased 6.3% from a year ago, the highest gain in 40 years.  

Although there is no silver bullet for rising expenses, application-specific OTR tires offer some simple solutions to those looking to control costs.

How to Extend the Service Life of OTR Tires

OTR tires are designed to not just survive, but thrive, while carrying huge loads, performing difficult tasks, and working in extremely harsh conditions. Because of the robust construction of OTR tires, it may seem as if they can endure anything. However, a little care can decrease wear and tear, lower the chance of downtime, increase productivity, and reduce an operation’s tire spend.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc., introduced an 875/65R29 size of its rugged Yokohama RT41 L-4 radial for front-end loaders, adding the popular 29-inch size to its RT41 lineup.   

Picking Up Straddle Carrier Performance with the Yokohama RR42

About 90% of global trade is carried out over waterways and the quick turnaround of products from sea to the ground, and vice versa, is essential for productive markets. Helping keep cargo moving efficiently is a variety of equipment used to load and unload goods. Straddle loaders are unique pieces of equipment that are particularly adept at transporting containers short distances (such as around a port, terminal, or depot) and are becoming increasingly popular. Driving the adoption of straddle carriers is their ability to fill the roles of multiple pieces of equipment—like a crane, truck, and forklift—along with the flexibility they offer to locations with limited space.

Tires play a significant role in the performance of straddle carriers and the right tires can give their performance a lift while taking a port’s performance to new heights.