As a semi-truck driver, it’s important to be able to recognize when your tires are under-inflated. Under-inflated tires can lead to a number of problems, including poor fuel efficiency, uneven wear, and an increased risk of blowouts. So the question is, how can semi-truck drivers recognize underinflation?
One of the most obvious signs of underinflation is a decrease in tire pressure. This can be easily monitored by checking the pressure of your tires with a tire pressure gauge. However, tires need to be cold in order to measure accurately. This means the tires need to be stationary and out of direct sunlight for at least three hours.
Another sign of underinflation is uneven wear on the tires. When a tire is underinflated, the sidewall of the tire will bear more of the load. This causes the tread to wear out faster. This can be visually identified by looking at the wear pattern on the tire.
Checking the vehicle’s handling is another way to determine if your tires are underinflated. Under-inflated tires can cause a vehicle to pull to one side or the other, or make it difficult to steer. It can also cause the vehicle to vibrate or bounce, especially at higher speeds.
Utilizing Your Resources
Additionally, semi-truck drivers can use a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to monitor the pressure of their tires in real time. This system uses sensors mounted on the tires to transmit the tire’s pressure information to the driver. Better yet, predictive tire pressure monitoring systems, such as Halo Connect, are able to not just identify under-inflated tires but can spot tire leaks and identify how much safe drive time is left on a tire before undergoing irreparable damage.
By regularly checking your tire pressure, looking for uneven wear, monitoring the vehicle’s handling, and using a tire pressure monitoring system, semi-truck drivers can ensure that their tires are properly inflated, and avoid the problems caused by under-inflation.
At Aperia, we recommend auto-tire inflation for your semi-truck and trailer with Halo, so you never have to worry about tire inflation issues.
