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Tire Management Tips For Fleet Drivers

Written by
Published on
August 5th, 2022

It's Tire Safety Week


The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association is excited to promote this year's consumer awareness campaign National Tire Safety Week running from June 27, 2022, through July 3, 2022. According to , "this annual initiative educates motorists about tire care, safety, and maintenance as an important part of road safety."


Tires and tire pressure may not get the street cred they deserve, but here are a few attention-grabbing reasons why you should care. Better tires mean better fuel efficiency, a safer drive and improved stopping ability. For all you fleet drivers that want to save money at the pumps while keeping yourself and others safe on the road, performing maintenance work on your tires is a good start. Here's what you should know about tire pressure on heavy-duty applications.


Uninflated Tires


Improper tire inflation can lead to $600-800 in tire-related costs, and last year, Bendix shared insight into what under-inflated tires also means for drivers. The vehicle giant pointed out that at 20 percent under-inflation, the effects will reduce tire life expectancy by 30 percent and lose miles per gallon. This means more fuel stops and emptying your pocket at gas stations – and have you seen diesel prices? We can't afford to not inflate tires on big rigs!


Fleet Accidents Caused by Bad Tires


According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,000 accidents occur each year due to worn tires on fleet vehicles. Tire blowouts alone are responsible for 75,000 accidents and 400 fatalities per year. This number could have been prevented if truckers performed pre-trip planning prior to long-haul journeys.


What Is the Right PSI For Fleets?


the numbers are up for debate within the trucking industry; however, the consensus in the trucking community is that tire pressure depends on the truck and maximum load capacity. The right PSI for semi-truck tires will also depend on several factors including: Whether they are "steer" or "drive" tires, the brand of tires, and the size of the tires. Typically, heavy-duty steer tire pressure should be at approximately 110 PSI while drive tire pressure can set around 85 PSI. All PSI will be different based on application.


How To Check Tire Pressure


Using a tire pressure gauge is the simplest way to check if tires are at the recommended PSI level. Like on cars and other passenger vehicles, tire gauges are easy to use and can be done in minutes. Remember that drop in temperatures can affect tires and make them underinflated. When performing maintenance work on truck tires, be sure to check tire stem valves and plugs for proper tightness without cracks that can cause air leaks.


Tires and Tire-Related Products


Driving with bad tires is never a good idea and puts drivers, passengers, and nearby motorists at risk of injury. When in need of replacement truck tire parts, turn to some of your favorite brands like , , and .


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