When it comes down to it, there are two reasons why mining customers have to replace tyres: wear rate and premature damage. At most mine sites, significant resources go into sourcing the right tyre compound and rotating tyres to promote even tyre wear. But what if, after all that, the operator hits a rock and the tyre is at only 20 per cent of its life? "That casing could be destroyed, and all that hard work was for nothing, " says Ian Campbell, manager, technical services & projects, Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group, Australia. That's just one of the reasons why Campbell often recommends tackling premature damage before wear rate.