Have you checked your tire pressure lately? You should check it at least once a month. However, tire pressure is an important maintenance issue that’s often forgotten.
Why does tire pressure matter? Adequate pressure allows tires to carry their intended load with the best ride possible. Inadequate tire pressure causes a multitude of problems, the worst of which is tire failure.
What is adequate tire pressure? On the sidewall of your truck tire, you’ll see the phrase “Max Load” with the tire pressure right after it. Knowing that number gives you one piece of the answer. It’s not the full answer, though. Running at the maximum tire pressure can be as bad as running at low pressure. A vehicle operating at maximum tire pressure can have problems such as abnormal wear, poor ride quality and damage to suspension components and other equipment on the fire truck.
How do I learn the optimal tire pressure for my trucks?
- Separately weigh the front and rear axles of your fully-loaded truck at a truck scale.
- Get the tire information off both the front and rear tires. You need to note the brand, model, size, and load range.
- Send the front and rear axle weights, as well as the information from the front and rear tires, to service@flsi.net
- The experts at FLSI will calculate your optimal tire pressure and send you the information you need.
The bottom line is tire pressure is critical and should be checked at least monthly.
Tire pressure is just one of the many items we check when performing routine maintenance on your fire trucks. FLSI can also provide tags to install over the wheels with tire pressure information to help anyone checking your truck, call us for pricing.
