Tips for Prolonging the Life of Your Commercial Tires
Your fleet’s tires are designed with durability in mind so they can handle variable driving conditions, roadways and weather. Proper maintenance and inspections can enhance their operation and efficiency. Read our tips for extending commercial truck tire life expectancy.
Regular Inspections and Maintenance
Well-maintained tires provide better traction and handling, reducing the risk of accidents and breakdowns. It’s important to establish and adhere to pre- and post-trip maintenance and inspection routines to potential issues early and address them before they become bigger, costlier problems.
Check out the inner and outer sidewalls for cuts, punctures, bulges and cracks. Driving on damaged tires increases the risk of a blowout and compromises driver safety. Monitor tread depth to verify your tires meet industry standards. Large grooves must have at least a 4/32-inch depth, while driver and trailer tires require at least 2/32 inches.
Here are some other items of inspection to review:
- Valve stems and caps
- Lug nuts
- Brake components
- Suspension
- Wheel alignment
Proper Inflation
Correct inflation is fundamental to extending the service life of your commercial tires. It’s also one of the most common causes of blowouts, so checking air pressure before and after each haul can reduce your risk of breakdowns.
Poor inflation changes the tire’s footprint on the road. Underinflated tires sag more, creating a larger contact surface that can create rolling resistance and heat buildup, resulting in uneven tread wear and decreased fuel economy. Overinflated tires are more rigid and have less contact with the road, inhibiting their ability to absorb impacts and resist punctures.
Automatic inflation systems maintain consistent pressure during operation, but it’s still important to manually check tire pressure before you hit the road. Consult your tire manufacturer’s guide for recommended PSI.
Wheel Alignment and Balancing
Wheel imbalances and misalignments lead to irregular wear patterns on commercial tires, reducing their longevity. Those factors affect how vehicle weight is distributed across your tires, influencing the rate of tread deterioration.
The following patterns may indicate an alignment issue:
- Feathering
- One-sided wear
- Heel-toe wear
- Scalloping
- Flat spots
- Center or edge wear
Scheduling wheel alignments every 10,000 miles enhances handling, reduces rolling resistance and minimizes the stress on your suspension. Potholes and debris can knock your wheels out of alignment, so have your vehicle checked if you encounter those obstacles.
Get your commercial wheels balanced every 5,000 miles or during each tire rotation to improve load distribution and prevent vibrations.
Load Management and Driving Habits
Even weight distribution across each axle can prevent unnecessary wear and stress on commercial tires and mechanical components. You may need to adjust your tire inflation in relation to your vehicle’s load. Single steel axles typically handle up to 6,000 pounds per tire, while dual assemblies max at roughly 4,200 pounds per tire. Properly securing your cargo also supports even load distribution.
Aggressive driving habits are also detrimental to tire service life. Speeding, heavy braking and curbing cause heat buildup and damage a tire’s structural integrity.
Here are some techniques to remember:
- Take slower, wider turns.
- Avoid abrupt steering movements.
- Stay vigilant about changing road conditions.
- Plan efficient routes to minimize frequent braking and idling.
Tire Selection Based on Driving Conditions
Most tires aren’t made to handle paved highways and off-road settings. There are various types of commercial tires that suit specific applications and optimize driving in particular environments. It’s essential to select the right tread pattern to provide the necessary traction, enhance operator safety and prevent unnecessary wear.
Prioritizing Tire Care for Long-Term Savings
Do you need new commercial tires? Are you looking for reliable repairs and retreads? You’ll find all that and more at Bauer Built Tire & Service. We specialize in tire sales and services so you can get in and get your fleet back on the road. Schedule your appointment at one of our locations across the Midwest.
Categories: Bauer Built Blog
