According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s critical to maintain adequate tire pressure, monitor tire wear, check for cuts, and having awareness of vehicle load limits. Checking shock absorbers is also important since they can contribute to tire damage over time. Check the King Pin for anything wrong or else they will damage the tire, balancing and alignment; All critical components of your truck. These are the cares that must be taken to drive with safe tires on the road.

Drivers play a critical role in regard to tire maintenance and safety. Their actions can mean the difference between a safe run and dangerous tire failure. To help ensure your tires are in safe operating condition, the following practices should be performed regularly by truckers or mechanics:

1. Air Pressure. Drivers should verify tire pressures every day before going to travel. Low air pressure is one of the main causes of blowouts and fires, along with other tire problems. Furthermore, tires inflated below the manufacturer’s specification can result in an out of service violation.
2. Tire condition. During pre-trip and post-trip inspections, tires should be thoroughly inspected. Items to look for are air leaks, uneven wear, tread or side wall damage, or anything that seems out of the ordinary. All lug nuts should be securely in place and rims should be free of cracks or other defects.
3. Verify tread depth. Using a depth gauge, tread depths should be measured regularly to ensure tires meet the minimum FMCSA standards. If the tread is even with the wear indicator, the tire should be replaced. 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.”
4. Check between the duals. This should be done to ensure that there is no hidden tire damage and to verify that nothing has become lodged between the tires. Also, make sure tires are not rubbing together which could result in an out of service violation.
5. Immediately replace missing valve caps. It is important to replace them to ensure there is no leakage and lower tire pressure that would cause us to be taken out of service.
6. Report problems immediately. If you are a driver and you detect a tire defect, you must immediately report it to your dispatch. If you are independent, you must repair or replace the tire. If the damaged tire violates Part 393.75, it is best to stop in a safe place and call a Road Service to replace the tire and continue a safe journey.
7. Road damage due to poor condition. If you crash or run over rubbish or rocks on the road and feel that your tire is damaged, do not continue driving. Find a good place to stop and check if there was any damage.
8. Always take a look between dual tires. To see if there’s anything lodged in between.
9. Check the vehicle`s owner`s manual. To determine the precise air pressure.

By maintaining your tires, you will be safer on the road. Have a safe trip!