How to Check Tire Pressure in Commercial Trucks

How to Check Tire Pressure in Commercial Trucks

Commercial tires are a major expense. The last thing you want is to replace them more often than you already do. However, there are mistakes you might be making that shave time off your tires’ lifespans.
Chief among them? Not maintaining the correct tire pressure.

Too much, and you might lose traction, roll over, or pop a tier. Too little, and the tire will maintain too much contact with the road, leading you to literally burn rubber.

What does this mean for you? Well, you need to know the importance of monitoring & maintaining your truck’s tire pressure and be careful about it. Here is a quick and simple guide to help.

Know the Recommended Pressure for Your Tires

How much air pressure should be in truck tires? That will vary by make and model but should be based on the type of truck you drive. To find out what your tire pressure should be, you can check in any of the following places:
  • The driver’s side doorjamb (look for a sticker)
  • The owner’s manual
  • On the fuel door
This should be a two-digit number followed by the letters “PSI” standing for pounds per square inch. Whatever you do, don’t use the max PSI listed on the sidewall of your tires. This is not the optimal PSI, but the most the tire can hold before bursting.

Set a Schedule for Checking Pressure

For commercial vehicles, it’s a good idea to check your tire pressure daily. This should be done first thing in the morning when the tires are cold. The warmer the air inside your tires, the less accurate your reading. Semi-truck tire pressure can take a while to check, but ultimately, it is worth it.

Invest in a Reliable Gauge

Tire pressure gauges range from the dirt cheap to the insanely expensive. When purchasing one, look for something on the higher end. Since you need to check a lot of tires on a daily or nearly daily basis, you want something that is accurate, portable, and going to last. It doesn’t need to be solid gold or engraved with your name, but don’t hesitate if you need to spend more than pocket change to get it.

Get to Checking

Your goal is to avoid mobile truck tire repair near Gainesville. That means now is the time to get to checking. Here is how you do it:
  1. Remove the valve cap.
  2. Press the gauge into the valve.
  3. Wait for the pressure reading to register.
  4. Repeat steps two and three one to two more times to ensure an accurate reading.
  5. Inflate or deflate tires to reach the correct PSI.

Of course, even if you are dedicated to monitoring tire pressure, you might require semi-truck mobile repair in Gainesville, GA from time to time. When you do, turn to Road Rescue.

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