How to Properly Maintain Your Commercial Truck Tires

Proper tire maintenance is an easy way to cut down costs and keep your fleet on the road. Even if you have quality tires, ensure you’re getting the most from them with these helpful tips for truck tire maintenance.

TIRE ALIGNMENT 

Misalignments can shorten the life span of tires and trucks. Irregular tire wear is a key indicator that tires are not properly aligned. Commercial vehicles should go in for a wheel alignment every 80,000 to 100,000 miles, which is also roughly the same frequency for replacing steer tires.

TIRE TREAD

Checking tire tread should be part of your commercial truck maintenance routine. Tires that have uneven wear and improper tread depth can shorten the life span of your tires, lead to avoidable issues on the road, and put drivers’ safety at risk. Retreading tires is a proactive way to prevent issues associated with low tread and tire treads should be routinely checked during pre and post-trip inspections.

WEATHER PREP AND AIR PRESSURE 

Cold temperatures can gradually decrease tire pressure, which impacts your fuel economy, tread life and overall safety on the road. When using a tire gauge in below-freezing temperatures, ice can form on the valve core, producing slow pressure leaks; a valve cap can prevent this from happening.
Regardless of the temperature, underinflation and overinflation can cause unnecessary stress on your vehicle’s frame and other components, so it’s important to have the correct tire pressure for the axle load. A weekly tire pressure check is a realistic routine for most fleets.

TIRE INSPECTION 

A tire inspection can go a long way when it comes to extending the life of your tires and vehicles, and should be done before every trip. Checking the road readiness is a simple way to prevent hazardous situations on the job. Learn more about quick tire assessments and other proactive tire maintenance tips you can perform to save money here.
Need help identifying the right service plan for your semi truck? Contact your local GCR Tires store today.