You don’t have to be a trucker to know that a semi truck has more tires on it than a compact daily driver—and the count grows higher for trucks hauling double trailers. With a great big truck comes big responsibilities, including making sure your commercial fleet tires are all in safe condition, at all times—first, because you want to avoid accidents, and also to not have to pay for brand new tires too soon. Every truck driver would prefer for his semi tires to last as long as possible, and remain in good shape. Luckily, there are some simple ways to watch for tire problems on a regular basis without becoming obsessive.
Here’s how to keep an eye out for signs of damage to your commercial truck tires in Ocala, FL.
Check for damage often
A certified mechanic may perform a thorough pre-trip inspection of your rig, checking every part from the headlights to the braking system to ensure you have a safe journey. They will also check your tires. But if getting to your destination is going to take hundreds or thousands of miles, then you can benefit from knowing how to accurately assess the condition of your tires yourself. This is an important skill, as you don’t want to lose travel time due to multiple tire blowouts, or wind up broken down on the side of the road with a busted wheel.
Every day (or at every stop for that matter), you should take a quick look at your rig’s inside and outside tire walls. You are looking for obvious damage, like deep cracks, punctures, balding, low air pressure or worn tire tread. And if you see bulging anywhere on a tire, it could mean it’s close to exploding.
Be aware of low tread
Regardless of whether you are a long-haul trucker or tend to make more local deliveries, you should make it routine to check all your tires’ tread for signs of wear and tear or damage. Monitoring every single truck tire is the key to a safe drive, because monitoring their condition means a greater chance of avoiding a popped tire or having one shred apart while on the road. Furthermore, if there’s insufficient tire tread, then you are more likely to lose traction. You may skid on turns, lose control of the truck or encounter stopping issues.
Stop after running something over
Although the enormous weight of your semi truck is capable of masking the fact you ran something over, there are many times when you did see the object but couldn’t avoid it, or you felt the tires go over it. You don’t need to be driving fast (and the object doesn’t have to be big) for your tires to sustain damage. If you know you hit something in the road, pull over and inspect your tires for damage. Also, make sure no sharp objects are protruding from a tire, as these can fall off later and create a hazard for other drivers.
If you are in the market for new commercial truck tires in Ocala, FL, visit the tire team at J & M Trailer Repair. Feel free to contact us with any questions!