Minnesota-based weight and measure supplier Intercomp has unveiled its LTR788 Dual Platform Scale, an NTEP-certified unit for commercial vehicle weight enforcement.
The new release was created for direct measurement of individual tire loading in a dual-tire configuration. While tire failures within dual-tire setups have historically occurred more frequently on inner tires than outer tires, individual tires in a dual-wheel configuration were assumed to carry near equivalent loads because no scale could directly measure individual tire weights.
“It is now possible to identify and correct unequal weight distribution within a dual tire configuration by setting the tire air pressures to properly load both tires,” the company said. “Using this information, operators will be able to increase road safety, avoid many common equipment failures relating to uneven tire wear, and save money through fuel economy and decreased repair costs.”
Intercomp noted that proper load distribution through load balancing increases safety by reducing issues related to uneven wear, tire blowouts and overturning accidents. Overrated tires are not only a major safety concern, but they can also cause a cascade of costly equipment failures by putting stress on the other tires.
“Every mile an overrated tire goes down the road damages all other inside tires, reducing tire longevity. Fuel savings are also a major benefit of proper load distribution that equates to major cost savings through increased fuel mileage,” the company pointed out.
The scale’s platform height is 0.86 inches (22 mm), a design that allows the unit to be easy to move and simple for drivers to position the vehicle.
The scale is battery operated and features a solar panel that minimizes the need to manually charge the batteries.
Fully electronic, self-contained, and low profile, the scales can be used in sets of two to six, or alongside single-platform wheel load scales for commercial vehicle inspection operations.
Source: Intercomp