Tires, Brakes, and Fire Prevention
Most of us have had that little twinge of tire anxiety. You’re walking around your rig and notice a steer showing odd wear, or one of your drives looks like it’s got the wobbles. You don’t need a psychic to know what that means: money is about to walk out of your wallet. In a business where every cent per mile counts, tires are where the money literally meets the road.
Tire Safety Tips
Daily Tire Inspection
- Look for uneven tread wear (feathering, cupping, or one shoulder wearing faster).
- Check for cracks, cuts, or bulges in the sidewalls.
- Confirm tread depth: 4/32" on steers, 2/32" on others.
- Remove rocks, bolts, or other debris stuck in the tread.
- Watch for any visible damage.
Inflation Pressure
- Always check when tires are cold, before rolling.
- Don’t trust the “tire thump.” Use a gauge.
- Adjust as needed – low pressure eats fuel and rubber.
Rims
- Only use approved tire/rim combinations. Rigging mismatches is gambling with your safety and paycheck.
Extreme Loading
- Overloaded or underinflated tires = heat + stress + failure.
Speed
- Stay within the tire’s speed rating. Push them past their design and they’ll push back—hard.
Alignment Awareness
Alignment isn’t just about your steer tires — it’s about keeping all three axles working together. A crooked setup scrubs rubber, wastes fuel, and makes your truck fight itself down the highway.
When to Check Alignment:
- Truck pulls left or right on a straight road.
- Steering wheel is off-center while rolling straight.
- Steer tires show feathering or one-shoulder wear.
- Cupping or scalloping in tread.
- Trailer looks like it’s off-tracking in your mirror.
- After suspension/steering work (springs, bushings, tie rods).
- Annually or every 80–100k miles, even if no issues are obvious.
- “Feathered tread = alignment’s dead.”
Why 3-Axle Alignment?
A front-only adjustment might look good on paper, but if your drives aren’t square to the frame, they’ll keep pushing your steers sideways. A three-axle alignment keeps the whole rig working in harmony — less scrub, longer tire life, and straighter tracking.
Brake or Tire Fire Awareness
Brakes can run hot, especially if a slack adjuster is out of spec or a shoe is dragging. In one case, a cabinet door was bouncing against the brake interlock button. At first, it looked like an engine issue until smoke started rolling out. By the time the truck stopped, the brake was on fire.
With extinguisher in hand, it seemed simple—blast it, done. But heat travels. It moved from the liner into the drum, then into the rim, and from there into the air inside the tire. The tire exploded, and minutes later, so did the air bag. Brake fires can spread quickly—keep all controls and panels secured, and be cautious of heat traveling into nearby components.
If You Suspect Fire:
- Get off the road safely – Shoulder or safe pull-off.
- Extinguish – 10-BC minimum extinguisher, aim at the base. Dry chemical preferred.
- Cool it – Water can stop re-ignition once the flames are out (skip if magnesium parts are in play).
- Call for help – If you can’t contain it, call 911.
- Protect yourself – Don’t risk your life for steel and cargo.
What NOT to Do:
- Don’t drive with a burning tire to “blow it out.”
- Don’t stand in front of a hot tire sidewall (they can explode like a bomb).
- Don’t waste your extinguisher spraying from 20 feet—get close, stay low, and keep an escape path.
Tire and brake problems usually give you warning: heat, smell, sound, or steering feel. Alignment issues do too: pulling, feathering, or off-tracking. Pay attention and you’ll catch the problem before it catches you. Preventing wear and fire is always cheaper than fighting them.
