DOT Tire Date Code
How to locate and read a DOT tire date code, with careful notes on tire age, condition, and professional inspection.
Tire Inspection
Inspection pages are written for practical walk-arounds and maintenance records, with conservative source notes for safety and compliance topics.
Field Use
A repeatable inspection route matters: steer tires first, then drive duals (outer and inner separately), trailer tires, valves, sidewalls, tread depth at multiple ribs, and any tire with a pressure loss history. Inside duals need deliberate effort — a flashlight and a depth gauge, not a passing glance.
Quick Checks
- Use a tread-depth gauge — not a coin or visual estimate.
- Inspect inside duals with a light at every service.
- Check valve stems and caps on every tire.
- Record DOT date code only as one age clue alongside condition inspection.
- Check current rules or qualified guidance for compliance decisions.
Tread Depth Guide
A practical semi truck tread depth inspection guide with federal minimum thresholds and conservative notes on removal decisions.
Tire Inspection Checklist
A printable tire inspection checklist for truck and trailer tires, covering pressure, tread, sidewall, valves, and duals.
Pre-Trip Tire Checklist
A pre-trip tire checklist for drivers checking steer, drive, and trailer tires before dispatch.
Sidewall Damage Checklist
How to inspect sidewall cuts, bulges, cracking, abrasions, and repairs on semi truck tires.
Roadside Inspection Tire Issues
Common tire-related issues that may draw attention during a roadside inspection, explained conservatively.
Out-of-Service Tire Conditions
A careful reference for tire conditions that may be serious enough to remove a vehicle or tire from service.
Post-Trip Tire Inspection
What to check on semi truck tires after completing a run — a practical post-trip inspection checklist.
Tread Separation Warning Signs
How to recognize early signs of tread separation on semi truck tires before it becomes a highway failure.
Tire Bulge Inspection
How to find sidewall and tread bulges on semi truck tires and why every bulge is a removal signal.
Dual Tire Inspection Checklist
Step-by-step inspection checklist for dual tire assemblies on semi trucks, covering inside tires, matching, and pressure.
Steer Tire Inspection Checklist
A focused inspection checklist for semi truck steer tires, with conservative removal notes and pre-trip guidance.
Valve Stem Inspection
How to inspect truck tire valve stems, identify common failures, and decide when to replace.