How to inspect tires?

Here is a step-by-step how to inspect tires, what you need, and how to proceed.

Logiflex is determined to assure that tires on all the vehicles operating under its authority meet the safety requirements.

Here is all the information about how to inspect tires.

Gather the proper inspection equipment 

  • accurate air gauge
  • a tread depth gauge
  • a blunt probe
  • a bulge gauge
  • a box of valve caps 

Your task is to identify out-of-service tire conditions, and tire conditions that require attention but do not need the tire to be taken out of service immediately. Tires with operable tire conditions may remain on the vehicle, and tires that have out-of-service tire conditions must be removed and repaired before the vehicle is moved.

  1. Proper tire inspection begins with a process or checklist. You will want to start your inspection by inspecting the front driver's side tire and work toward the rear of the truck and around to the end up at the front passenger side steer tire.
  2. It begins by inspecting the outside sidewall, the tread area, and the inside sidewall of each tire.
  3.  Look for punctures, snags, exposed cords, and missing valve caps.  Also, make sure that all tires on each axle are radial tires only. Make sure all tires are the correct size.
  4. Assure the air pressure is correct.  Check for abnormal wear patterns on the tire to alert you to maintenance issues such as alignment that may need attention. 
  5. Tread Depth should be more than 4/32-inch on steer tires or 2/32-inch on other axles at any point or any major groove. If the tire tread depth is under the limit, the tire must be taken out-of-service. Minor cuts on the tread surface and sidewall are okay, but if the cords are exposed, the tire must be taken out of service.
  6.  A bulge on the tire that is less than 3/8-inch in the sidewall, resulting from a repair, is in operable condition.  A repaired bulge is sometimes identified by a blue triangular label near the bulge or by a buffed surface on the tire. Use the bulge gauge to determine the height of the bulge. If the bulge is over 3/8-inch and prevents the gauge from touching the sidewalls, the tire must be removed from the vehicle. At Logiflex we don't tolerate any bulges on the side of the tire. In such cases, we REPLACE the bulging tire.
  7. Check to make sure that whether checking of the rubber material – those small cracks that appear with age – do not expose any cords.  If so, the tire must be taken out of service.
  8. Sometimes tires with pre-cured retreads will have a small opening at the edge of the tread or the tire with otherwise have a cut on its surface.  Use the blunt probe to assure that any cuts or openings are less than ½-inch.  If greater, the tire must be removed from the service.

 

It is an everyday driver's responsibility to check the tires of the equipment during pre-trip and post-trip inspections.

Once a week, every driver must perform an in-depth tire check and submit the form by Friday to the Safety Department at safety@logiflexinc.com.