Tire Inspection Checklist

A repeatable walk-around sequence reduces the chance of missing a tire. Start at one fixed position — most commonly the left steer — and move in the same direction every time: both steer tires, then drive axle duals working from front to rear, then trailer tires from front to rear. Use a light for inside duals and a gauge for pressure readings. Repeating the same route each time keeps the inspection from depending on memory.

Pre-trip inspection is a federal requirement for commercial vehicle drivers and includes checking tire condition. More detailed maintenance inspections — with tread-depth measurement, pressure records, and inside dual checks — should occur on a regular schedule defined by fleet policy and the vehicle maintenance program. Trailers and equipment that sits between uses need a fresh check before each dispatch, not just at the last service point.

A tire should be immediately removed from service if it shows exposed cord or belt material, a sidewall bulge or separation, a flat or severely underinflated condition, repeated pressure loss without a clear cause, damage from running flat or severely low, or any condition that makes it unsafe to operate. When the condition is uncertain, remove the tire from service until it can be professionally inspected. Do not keep a tire in service to finish a trip when structural damage is possible.

At minimum: a calibrated tread depth gauge (not a coin — it produces unreliable readings on commercial tire grooves), a reliable tire pressure gauge, and a flashlight. A valve core tool is useful for checking cores when slow leaks are suspected. Some technicians carry a wooden stick or gauge for tapping tread blocks to check for hollow sound indicating belt or tread separation. For inside duals, a gauge with a long probe or an extension attachment and enough light to see the inside sidewall are necessary — an inside dual inspection done without adequate light and gauge access is not a complete inspection.

Access the inside dual valve stem directly with a pressure gauge — do not assume the inside tire is at pressure because the outside tire reads correctly. Use a flashlight to inspect the inside sidewall for cracking, bulges, or scuff marks from sidewall-to-sidewall contact. Run a hand along the accessible portion of the inside sidewall to check for anything that does not match the outside tire's feel. Remove any debris — stones, metal fragments — trapped between the dual pair. If valve stem access requires an extension, confirm the extension is sealed and not adding a leak path. Inside dual tires can lose significant pressure or sustain damage with no visible sign from the outside or outside tire.