Most premature tire wear is preventable. With disciplined pressure control, alignment checks, smart rotations, and trained drivers, your fleet can add thousands of miles per casing and reduce road calls. Use this checklist as your maintenance baseline.
Pressure Discipline
Underinflation builds heat and destroys casings. Overinflation shrinks the contact patch and causes irregular wear.
- Set pressures by axle load and manufacturer charts
- Check pressures cold at each yard departure
- Use calibrated gauges and replace them regularly
- Record readings per unit to spot slow leaks
- Consider TPMS for high-mileage tractors and trailers
Load Management
- Balance weight across axles to avoid hot spots
- Verify spread with scale tickets
- Adjust pressure if loads vary widely by route
Alignment and Suspension
- Schedule alignments, especially after impacts or part replacements
- Inspect shocks, bushings, and kingpins; replace before they chew shoulders
- Watch for feathering, cupping, and single-shoulder wear as early indicators
Rotation Strategy
- Rotate by position and tread pattern to even wear
- Swap steer tires side-to-side where patterns allow
- Keep a position history per casing to diagnose recurring issues
Driver Habits
- Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking reduce wear and fuel use
- Avoid hitting curbs and potholes
- Pre-trip checks: tread depth, sidewalls, valve caps, lodged stones or nails
Clean, Inspect, Document
- Clean sidewalls periodically to reveal cuts and bulges
- Pull questionable tires early to save the casing for retread
- Log tread depth and plan changes before legal minimums
Retread Partnerships
- Choose a plant with strong inspection and curing controls
- Track casings by serial number
- Give retreads the same pressure and alignment care as new tires
Seasonal Adjustments
- Heat: check more often and choose compounds that resist heat buildup
- Cold: expect pressure drops and use siped tread patterns for grip
- Chain laws and winter tire rules: plan per route and season
On-Site Maintenance
- Bundle pressure checks, rotations, and replacements in your yard
- Avoid shop queues and shuttle miles
- Keep a predictable service rhythm that dispatch can plan around
Measure and Improve
- Miles per 32nd of tread by position and route
- Road calls per 100k miles
- Retread acceptance rate and second-life miles
- Fuel mileage changes tied to tread selection and pressure control
Liberty Truck Tires Support
- Pressure charts tailored to axle loads
- Rotation calendars and inspection checklists
- Mobile visits with documentation and follow-up scheduling
Next Step
Set your baseline now and stick to it.
Contact Liberty Truck Tires to implement a tire maintenance program and on-site service cadence that extends tire life and lowers cost per mile.
