{"id":40979,"date":"2026-01-13T12:28:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/?p=40979"},"modified":"2026-01-13T12:28:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:28:03","slug":"how-to-check-truck-tyres-for-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/how-to-check-truck-tyres-for-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"How to check truck tyres for safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tyres must be checked before every trip as part of your pre-trip inspection. Tyre failures on a steer axle can cause loss of control, while tyre failures on twin-tyred axles can wipe out suspension components and leave debris on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Check tyre pressures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visually and audibly (by hitting them with a mallet or similar) check all steer, drive, and trailer tyres for signs of under-inflation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Periodically use a pressure gauge or tyre monitoring system where fitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure tyres on the same axle are evenly inflated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recheck pressures if the vehicle has recently been off-road or on rough surfaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you need to inflate the tyres, you&#8217;ll need a specialist for this because they need to be in a cage when inflated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tyre-inflation-cage-740x555.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tyre-inflation-cage-740x555.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tyre-inflation-cage-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tyre-inflation-cage-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tyre-inflation-cage-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/tyre-inflation-cage.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Inspect tread condition and wear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confirm tread depth is above the legal minimum across the full tyre width.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for uneven wear, feathering, or cupping, particularly on steer and drive axles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspect <strong>inner tyres on duals<\/strong>, including trailer axles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/truck-tyres-740x555.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/truck-tyres-740x555.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/truck-tyres-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/truck-tyres-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/truck-tyres-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/truck-tyres.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Inspect sidewalls closely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check for cuts, splits, bulges, cracking, or exposed cords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay extra attention to sidewalls after site work, as kerbs, rubble, and debris can cause hidden damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any sidewall damage is a defect and must be reported.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Check for foreign objects and damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look for nails, screws, stones, wire, or other debris lodged in the tread.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check between dual tyres for trapped material that could cause heat build-up, failure, or become a missile if it dislodges while the tyre is spinning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Inspect wheels and rims<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check for cracked or damaged rims, loose or missing wheel nuts, and rust streaks indicating the nuts are coming loose. If you use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-are-the-yellow-plastic-indicators-on-truck-and-bus-wheels\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"16308\">wheel nut indicators<\/a>, this is more obvious.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure rims are free of excessive mud or debris, particularly after worksite access.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/wheel-nut-position-markers-600x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/wheel-nut-position-markers-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/wheel-nut-position-markers-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/wheel-nut-position-markers-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Check valves and valve caps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Valves must be straight, undamaged, and fitted with caps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listen for air leaks, especially on trailer axles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dual-wheel-and-tyre-740x555.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dual-wheel-and-tyre-740x555.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dual-wheel-and-tyre-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dual-wheel-and-tyre-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dual-wheel-and-tyre-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dual-wheel-and-tyre.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The valve is on the bottom left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Check trailer tyres and condition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do not focus only on the tractor unit \u2014 fully inspect all trailer tyres.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check for mismatched tyre sizes or significantly different tread depths, which can affect stability and braking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Post-worksite check (if applicable)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After leaving a worksite, recheck tyres for damage, debris, or pressure loss before continuing the journey at road speeds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If in doubt \u2014 do not proceed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Any tyre defect, damage, or pressure issue must be reported and rectified before travel or site entry. Never enter or leave a worksite with a known tyre defect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tyres must be checked before every trip as part of your pre-trip inspection. Tyre failures on a steer axle can cause loss of control, while tyre failures on twin-tyred axles can wipe out suspension components and leave debris on the<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/how-to-check-truck-tyres-for-safety\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40982,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-heavy-vehicle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40979"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40983,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40979\/revisions\/40983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}