The tire and brake items that put commercial vehicles out of service are predictable and inspectable in advance. Here is what to check.
The tire and brake conditions that create inspection problems are almost all visible on a walkaround. Catching them in your yard costs a service call. Catching them at a roadside inspection costs a truck out of service and a driver stranded.
Tread depth is measured, not judged
Minimum tread depth requirements differ by axle position on commercial vehicles, with steer tires generally held to a higher standard than drive and trailer positions.
Measure at multiple points across the tread and around the tire. A tire that is legal at one point and below at another is a problem, and uneven depth across the tread is also telling you about inflation or alignment.
Sidewall condition
Cuts exposing cord, bulges, and separations are serious findings. A bulge means the internal structure has failed and the tire can let go without warning. There is no repairing a sidewall.
Curb damage on the inside sidewall is easy to miss because you have to look for it deliberately.
Inflation
Underinflation is both a failure risk and a fuel cost. Check cold, against the specification for the load, not against the sidewall maximum.
On dual wheels, a mismatch between the two tires in a dual set puts uneven load on both and is worth checking specifically.
Brake items
- Lining and pad thickness against the applicable minimum
- Rotors and drums for cracking, heat checking and thickness
- Air lines and hoses for chafing, cracking and leaks on air brake systems
- Slack adjuster travel on air brake vehicles, which is a common finding
- Audible air leaks, which are both a finding and a warning
- Parking brake function
- Brake balance — a vehicle pulling under braking has a problem somewhere
The walkaround habit
Most of the above is visible in a few minutes if someone is actually looking. The value of a driver walkaround is frequency, and the value of a scheduled professional inspection is that it catches what a quick look does not — measured thickness, fluid condition, components under the vehicle.
Both, on a schedule, is the arrangement that works.
Where we fit
Elite Tire & Brake inspects and services tires and brakes on work trucks and commercial vehicles across Lubbock and the South Plains. Call (806) 458-2709 — shop or on site.
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Mobile tire and brake service across Lubbock, Wolfforth, Shallowater, Slaton, Idalou and the surrounding South Plains — plus a full-service shop at 13209 Frankford Ave, Suite 29.