Truck Wheels

Maintaining truck wheels is necessary to keeping roadways safe. Worn truck tires can shred, blow out, or come off and cause an accident. Uneven wearing can be caused by not balancing tires or having a truck that is not aligned properly. Tires should be checked for faults and uneven wear, and changed as needed. Approximately nine percent of all multi-vehicle accidents that are caused by tractor trailer trucks are a result of tire or truck wheel malfunction.

Inspecting Truck Wheels

Truck wheels should be inspected prior to operation of the vehicle. If the truck is used frequently, a pre-trip inspection system should be established, and the driver should be made aware of exactly what to look for when inspecting truck wheels. Truck drivers should also be instructed on what to do in the event of a truck wheel malfunction.

Checking Tire Tread

A quarter can be used as a guide for checking the wear on the tire of a truck wheel. A new tire will have about 28/32 of an inch of tread, so a quarter will nearly be buried in the tread of the tire. A tire that is seventy-five percent worn will have about 7/32 inch of tread, and show approximately seventy-five percent of the quarter. Manufacturers typically recommend replacing truck tires if the tread is 6/32 of an inch or less, especially if the truck will be driven in inclement weather conditions. The tire should also be replaced if there are bulges or cracks visible.

Replacing Tires on Truck Wheels

The best way to change truck tires is to bring the vehicle to a service station or garage, or have a certified truck mechanic come to the site of the vehicle break down. Since tractor trailer trucks are typically set up with two wheels side by side on each side of each axle of the trailer, a single blow-out or flat tire will not totally disable the vehicle in most cases. If the truck can drive to a service station, lifts and air guns will be available to ensure that the tire is replaced and mounted properly. A loose tire can be more dangerous than a flat, so mounting is of the utmost importance.

Truck Wheel Related Roadway Accidents

If a loose or defective truck wheel has caused an accident, an attorney can help determine who is at fault for the accident. In many cases, it is the fault of the company that owns the vehicle, as trucks are expensive to maintain and many companies cut corners and push truck wheels past the point of safe usage. An attorney can provide guidance on the best course of action to receive compensation for damages caused by truck wheels.

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Sources:

“Code of Federal Regulations.” Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 01 Dec 2009. Web. 13 Oct 2013. <http://ttmanet.org/>.

“Large-Truck Crash Causation Study: An Initial Overview.” NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. U. S. Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 13 Oct 2013. <http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810646.pdf>.

“Truck, Tractor, and Trailer Quick Reference Guide.” Vehicle Valuation Services. Vehicle Valuation Services, 03 Feb 2000. Web. 13 Oct 2013. <http://www.vvsi.com/training/TrainingGuide.pdf>.