Maintaining Your Truck’s Tires

Trucking is a great way to explore the country, meet interesting people, and get a solid paycheck, but that’s only if your tires let you. As obvious as it sounds, it’s important to remember to take care of your truck’s tires. We here at California Truck Centers want to help you stay safe and on the road, so we’ve put together a brief truck tire maintenance guide below. To learn more, or to see the trucks we have for sale, contact our stores across California, today!

The Right Tires

First, make sure you have the proper tires for your job. There are plenty of specialized options out there, so consider:

• The average length of your drives
• The maximum load capacity they need to carry
• Weather conditions and terrain you expect to encounter

We’ve all seen shows about trucking through ice and snow. It’s important that your tires be built to handle the terrain and obstacles they’ll face.

Regular PSI Checks

Your tire pressure is one of the most important aspects of a healthy tire. Too high or too low, and you risk impacting your fuel economy, safety, and tire health. Check the tire pressure early in the morning, when possible, for the most accurate reading, but check them again before any drive.

A tire pressure monitoring system is a good addition and will update you automatically if there are any problems.

Visual Inspection

You’ll also want to do a thorough visual inspection before any drive. Check the tread to make sure it’s deep enough, and that it’s wearing down evenly on all tires. Low tread can cause slippage, impacting both control and efficiency, and even a blowout. If it’s worn unevenly on different tires, that may indicate an alignment issue.

You should also look for cracks or other damage to the side walls. Uneven treads and side wall damage are both indications that you need immediate servicing.

Weight Distribution

Another contributing factor to tread wear is how you load your cargo. You should always do your best to stay within your vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), which includes the vehicle, any trailers, passengers, cargo, and supplies. You always need to load your cargo evenly from front to back and left to right in order to avoid putting excess pressure on any particular tires.

Proper Storage

If and when your truck gets a break for extended periods of time, your tires may be at risk. The tread against the ground will bear the truck’s full weight, wearing it on that one spot. If you can’t lift the tires off the ground entirely, make sure to rotate all the tires by about one quarter every week or so to distribute the pressure more evenly. Sunlight can also dry out and crack the rubber, so try to keep your tires shaded.

We hope this guide helps you keep your truck tires healthy! For more information, or to see the trucks and truck accessories we have available, contact us at California Truck Centers. We proudly serve the people of California—let us serve you today!