Your commercial truck tires don’t come cheap, which means it’s better for business if you can keep them in good shape as long as possible. The less money you have to spend on new tires, the better—as long as they’re still safe to use. The easiest way to keep your tires in great shape is to stay on top of your regular maintenance—which also means fewer visits to your local commercial truck tire shop in Ocala, FL.
Here’s how to extend the life of your commercial truck tires:
- Get the best quality possible: As with many things in life, the better quality tires you buy, the longer your commercial truck tires will last. Look for brands that are not only reputable, but have undergone extensive testing to verify their durability and safety. Even if cheap tires are tempting, you’ll end up paying more in repairs and replacements over the long run. It’s better—and safer—if you invest in good tires at the start.
- Monitor the inflation: Your tire inflation can make a great deal of difference in how often—if ever—you have to deal with flats, blowouts and irregular wear. Poor inflation practices are not only a major safety hazard (for you and everyone on the road), but they’ll wear your tires quickly. If you’ve taken the time and expense to invest in good tires, make sure they’re inflated properly. Underinflated tires can weaken the sidewalls, threaten the structure and wear the shoulders down too fast. Overinflated tires are prone to wearing too quickly in the middle and experiencing blowouts, which can cause accidents. That’s why it’s so important to monitor your tire inflation frequently. They lose pressure over time, especially in cold weather.
- Perform frequent visual inspections: As part of your pre-trip routine, make sure to conduct visual inspections. Look for cuts, bulges or other irregularities in the tire tread, and let your supervisor or mechanic know as soon as you spot a problem. The more vigilant you are, the less likely you’ll have to replace your tires early.
- Rotate your tires on a strict schedule: Finally, it’s crucial to rotate your commercial tires on a regular schedule—no excuses. Commercial tires, especially, get uneven wear and tear depending on where they’re located on the vehicle. To ensure your tires wear evenly—and you get plenty of wear out of all of them—rotate them every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. That schedule stands even if your truck is otherwise in great shape. (It never hurts to get a tune-up, though.)
If you take care of your tires, your tires will often reward you with long life and minimal issues. It’s important for the safety of everyone on the road—as well as keeping your costs lower—that you maintain your commercial truck tires.
For truck service, repair and commercial truck tires, visit the team at J & M Trailer Repair. We’re your local commercial truck tire shop in Ocala, FL, and have been serving our customers with first-rate care since 2002.