Every year the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) holds a 3-day safety blitz known as the International Roadcheck program. International Roadcheck will be taking place from
June 7-9, 2016. It is expected that over 10,000 CVSA-certified inspectors will perform upwards of 65,000 roadside inspections. A special emphasis is placed on a different violation category every year. This year – they’re focusing on tire safety including tire pressure, tread, and condition.
Why Focus on Tires?
Although ensuring your tires are in good condition seems like common sense – tire related violations are still one of the most common violations! In the 2015 International Roadcheck blitz, tire and wheel related issues accounted for almost 14% of violations!
The good news is – pre-trip inspections and standard vehicle maintenance should prevent tire violations all together! Here are some tips and information on tire safety to keep you rollin’.
Know and Understand the Rules
Tires are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under 49 CFR 393.75. The FMCSA prohibits drivers from operating vehicles with the following tire issues:
- Body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall
- Has any tread or sidewall separation
- Is flat or has an audible leak
- Has a cut to the extent that the ply
or belt material is exposed
Measure Your Tires
Any tire used on the front of a bus, truck, or truck tractor needs to have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 of an inch. This is meant to prevent dangerous driving conditions associated with bald tires such a difficulty stopping, trouble steering, and bursting (§393.7 b). Additionally, no tires can have less than 2/32 of an inch of tread when measured from the tread groove (§ 393.7 c).
W
atch Out for Regrooved Tires
Regrooving is when you carve out the rubber in the grooves to add additional tread depth to a tire. Under the rules, buses cannot operate if they have regrooved, recapped, to retreaded tires on the front. Regrooved tires with a load-carrying capacity of 2,232kg (4,920lbs) cannot be used on the front of truck or truck tractors.
Inspect Your Tires Often
As mentioned in our blog last week, conducting pre-trip inspections can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Make sure to check your tires before you hit the road and conduct any required maintenance. You’ll also want to check tires for damage and inflation along your route.
The BigRoad Mobile App helps to simplify the driver vehicle inspection reporting (DVIR) process – enabling drivers to complete their inspection in just a few taps! Text the free app to your phone now and start making safety easier!
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