Introduction

Heavy machinery, known by the other terms: Engineering/construction equipment, earth movers, heavy equipment or just plain equipment, are machines,vehicle machines, in the most basic form, are compound machines composed of simple machines. These components make up the five equipment systems: implement, traction, structure, power train, control and information. Through the mechanical advantage of a simple machine, the ratio between input force applied and force exerted is multiplied. Currently most equipment use hydraulics as a primary source of transferring power. The use of heavy equipment has a long history. Vitruvius a 1st century B.C. engineer gives detailed descriptions of Roman heavy equipment and Roman cranes in his treatise De Architectura.
Heavy equipment requires specialized tires for various construction applications. While many types of equipment have continuous tracks applicable to more severe service requirements, tires are used where greater speed or mobility is required. An understanding of what equipment will be used for during the life of the tires is required for proper selection. Tire selection can have a significant impact on production and unit cost. There are three types of off-the-road tires, transport for earthmoving machines, work for slow moving earth moving machines, and load and carry for transporting as well as digging. Off-highway tires have six categories of service C compactor, E earthmover, G grader, L loader, LS log-skidder and ML mining and logging. Within these service categories are various tread types designed for use on hard-packed surface, soft surface and rock. Tires are a large expense on any construction project, careful consideration should be given to prevent excessive wear or damage.