Tire Safety Tips Every Truck Driver Should Adopt

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Whether it’s for safety, fuel economy or increasing their lifespan, you should always keep a close eye on your truck’s tires and always inspect them before every trip. Different weather factors can contribute to excessive tire wear and can sometimes lead to catastrophic events, such as blow-outs. Check out this tire advisory from USDOT.

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Ensure you are maintaining proper tire safety by regularly inspecting them. Here’s what you should look for, as well as the regulations with which you should be familiar:

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—     Air Pressure: Know your company’s air pressure requirements and regularly check the air pressure to make sure it’s at the correct standard. Also, see if the tire is having problems maintaining air pressure. If so, contact your maintenance department. According to truckinginfo.com, under-inflation is, “any pressure less than the minimum recommended for the tire load.” Always check the air pressure when the tire is cold, prior to starting a trip, for the most accurate reading. Low air pressure creates excess heat and is one of the main causes of blowouts and fires.

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—     Condition: During every pre-trip inspection, check the condition of your tires by listening for air leaks, signs of uneven wear, sidewall damage and anything out of the ordinary. Use a wooden bat and hit each tire, listening for sound differences. This will help to indicated if you have a tire that is low on air pressure or flat.

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—     Tire tread: A tire with low tread depth is more likely to blow out when it hits debris. Also, if tread is wearing unevenly, it is a sign of improper air pressure. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, “The minimum tread depth for a steer tire is 4/32 of an inch on every major tread groove.” For more great information on tire depth, take a look at this article from fleetowner.com.

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—     Replace any missing valve caps.

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—     When you run over road debris, find a good place to pull over and inspect for damage.

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—     Check between the dual tires to see if there are any foreign objects lodged in between them or other obstructions.

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Maintaining your tires is not only going to make you safer on the road, but it will help you avoid citations, improve your gas mileage and help your tires last longer. For more information on the regulations and other facts, check out the FMCSA and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s websites.

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If it’s time for a set of tires, think Spartan Tire. Contact us today by email or by calling 1-866-433-0536.