Did you know that only 9-percent of the vehicles on the road have properly inflated tires? It’s true. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) an astounding 11-percent of vehicles have at least one bald tire as well. This is pretty scary to think about, especially when you consider how important tires are to safety on the road.
No matter what type of vehicle you drive, tire maintenance is one of the most important things you can keep on top of. In the moving and storage industry, this is surely no different. Commercial trucks and vans handle a lot of cargo and are the foundation of your business. With that in mind, last week, we discussed tire regulations as they pertain to commercial vehicles. Once you have the regulations in check however, you need to make sure your tires are consistently operating at their safest – tire checks are essential to that.
When it comes to monitoring and maintaining your tires, you want to keep two things in mind:
- Tire pressure
2. Tire wear
Checking the tire pressure on your vehicle is easy, too. Monthly, check to be sure the tires are inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. To be safe, cross-reference that number with the number we told you about last week that the Department of Transportation recommends, too. The best time to do this is when the tires are cold – before a job is an ideal time.
Remember, changes in temperature will affect the tire pressure. If you find that there are some differentiations, check for any punctures, but keep in mind that New England weather can alter tire pressure fairly easily.
Next, check for tire wear. You can do this when you are checking tire pressure, for consistency. You want to watch for three important things.
- A tire that is worn on the inside or outside edge – this could signal a problem with your tires’ alignment
• Wear in the center of the thread – this could be you have an overinflated tire which could result in poor handling
• Wear in both the inside and outside edges – this usually signals low tire pressure
Driving with tires that are improperly inflated or worn can result in blowouts, tread separation, poor handling and even increased fuel consumption. Additionally, any of these instances can cause an accident and result in a costly claim on your movers insurance.
At Wolpert Insurance, we strive to provide you as many resources as possible for the safety and success of your moving business. If you want a second opinion on the maintenance of your tires, we can certainly recommend some reputable auto repair shops in the New England area – all you have to do is give us a call!