Tyre failures are a lot more common than you might think. However, a blowout or tyre delamination is more than just an inconvenience. It’s a major road safety risk, especially if you’re carrying a heavy load or travelling at speed.

There are some easy steps and checks that you can make to reduce the risk of a tyre failure.

Our video guide explains why a quick walkaround inspection of your truck’s tyres should never go amiss.

Using a tread wear indicator is one of the most effective and easy methods of checking whether your tread is worn down to the 1mm legal minimum. If the wear indicator is at the same level as the tread, the tyre must be replaced. 

When you’re inspecting each tyre on your vehicle, look for any cuts that could turn into something worse. Keep an eye on small cuts, but for any deeper cuts that expose the metal cords, a tyre replacement is in order.

Another tell-tale sign to look out for is localised wear on your tyre. This indicates that the tread is separating from the rest of the tyre. Watch out for nails in your tyres, too. If a nail hasn’t penetrated the tyre’s casing, and taking it out doesn’t cause a leak, the tyre can stay in service. If air is leaking, the tyre needs replacing.

If you notice that the sidewalls on your tyres are beginning to separate, or if the tyre’s beads are cracking, you must remove these tyres from your vehicle. Irregular wear patterns can show the truck has mechanical issues, or they could suggest that the tyre hasn’t been kept at the correct inflation pressure.

Ask yourself this: When driving, does the sidewall flex a lot? Or is there excessive shoulder wear? Both are a sign of low inflation pressures.

Make sure to also look out for excessive scuffing to the tyre’s sidewall. This is caused by repeated contact with kerbs, and it can rub off the tyre markings. You must be able to read these on at least one sidewall of every tyre.

While driving, pay attention to how your vehicle handles. Is the vehicle pulling to one side? Are there vibrations and if so, where are they? Vibrations can lead to rapid or irregular wear and shorten the life of the tyre. It’s the same story if the truck is wandering on the road.

Remember, tyres that are cared for last longer, give better handling, are safer and can improve fuel economy. Carrying out an all-around inspection of your tyres before each journey is arguably the simplest precaution to take for a stress-free and smooth point-to-point journey.