Whether you own one semi-truck or a whole fleet, maintaining each one is important. Not only does it keep you and your drivers safe, your vehicles will also drive better and require less maintenance. One of the most forgotten (though most important) part of a maintenance program is the tires. You need good tires on every vehicle in your fleet.
Most people avoid buying new tires due to the cost. As long as you continuously monitor them so you replace them as soon as necessary, you should be alright.
Here are some signs that your truck needs new tires.
Bald tires need to be replaced. Bald tires are dangerous. They are unable to get traction on even the best of roads, let alone in rain, snow, and ice.
When the cords show through the rubber, it is past time to get new tires. These tires can fail and are very unsafe for driving.
Use the penny test. You can easily tell if your vehicle has enough tread by using the penny test. By taking a penny (with Lincoln’s head down), you can place it in your vehicle’s tread. If you can’t see his head, your tread is more than 2/32. If you can see the top of his head, you are going to need new tires.
If you let the tread go below 2/32, water and snow don’t have a way to get away from your tires, decreasing the contact between the road and your tires.
Your tires have passed the warranty. Most tires have a tread wear warranty, meaning that they should last for a certain amount of years or miles. If you have been using them more than that, you need to keep an even closer eye on them because they may need to be replaced in the near future.
Even though replacing tires can get expensive, it is necessary. You need to monitor your tires regularly so that you get the most wear and tear out of each pair. If you wait to replace them until it is too late, your drivers are not going to be as safe. They may struggle to drive in the rain and the snow. It can also wear on your vehicles too!
By having a good maintenance program, your vehicles and drivers will be safer. It is also important to make sure that you have enough insurance to cover any problems. Don’t hesitate to contact us for all of your insurance needs. We provide commercial truck insurance in the states of Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa & Nebraska.
