Tire pressure

**Moosetek13** · 09.05.2012

So I'm sitting here at the TA East in Denver.

I look out my window and notice the truck next to me seems to have low air pressure in the drive tires, and the driver seems to be doing a pre-trip.
Well, he was walking around the truck, and the 4-ways were on.

I go out to mention what I noticed and he tells me that he is running a heavy load, and he thinks it is OK.
I ask, how heavy? He says, around 30k.
I tell him to get his pressure guage out and check.

Heck, I could tell just by looking.

Turns out that one had a pressure of 90, and the other of 70. (outside right tires, and I have no idea if he checked any of the others)

He thanked me, of course.

I only hope he really filled the tires after he pulled out.
Seems he has not thought to have an airline in his tool kit.
Or a tire thumper.
Or even eyes and a brain.

**Balakov100** · 09.05.2012

Tire Thumper, whoever came up with that idea, needs to be 'thumped ' over the head.

**STexan** · 09.05.2012

Does anybody imagine an "airless" vehicle tire in the future? I do, but I'm afraid it will be dealt with like many ideas that come along that threaten oil/gas based energy producers. But, I'll be pushing up daises before they become reality.

**Colorato** · 09.05.2012

A thumper is a great tool if it's not smarter than the operator.

**STexan** · 09.05.2012

Originally Posted by Balakov100

Tire Thumper, whoever came up with that idea, needs to be 'thumped ' over the head.

I take a bit of exception to that notion. YES, all tires should be gauged at the beginning of the day or when you hook up to another trailer. However, there is no need to physically gauge tires 2, 3, or 4 times later on that day during quick stops. A PROPER thumping can detect 90% of low pressure issues once they reach a critical point. Detect 5 lbs low pressure with a thump?? Probably not, but that's why we gauge regularly. Frankly, I'll bet money 25% of gauges out there aren't accurate to within 5 lbs (or more) and what makes that worse is that they tend to begin reading high[er] then they should when they begin to go out of spec.

**Moosetek13** · 09.05.2012

Originally Posted by Balakov100

Tire Thumper, whoever came up with that idea, needs to be 'thumped ' over the head.

Well, I did advise a pressure guage before a thumper.

And a thumper is useful. You can tell by the sound. I found that out with my first mentor.
He told me he knew that 2 of his tires were low, and he wanted to see if I could identify them.
I thumped all 10, and I identified 3 that were low.
He had missed that third one.

People that scoff at thumpers simply don't have an ear for pitch and tone, or even a feel for rebound.

Thing is, I could tell by simply looking that this guys tires were way too low.
He didn't even notice, and tried to justify the flatness with the medium heavy load.

**Moosetek13** · 09.05.2012

Originally Posted by STexan

Detect 5 lbs low pressure with a thump?? Probably not,...

I agree.

But I can usually detect 10-15 pounds under with a thump by both the rebound and the sound.

**TruckerPete1990** · 09.05.2012

I don't use a thumper never will. 5 lbs can make a different on wear and mpg.. I keep my tires at 110

**fr8monkey** · 09.06.2012

I have to say an airline is a life saver.....I recently took trip thru hell canyon in idaho....used a pullout for my break...got ready next morning...and thumped the tires....one was at 30!!!!! no signal on quallcom..coz it was so isolated...used my airline to get air in the tire...wtf else could i do? call onroad? no way.....if u can take care of something yourself...u increase ur value to your company big time.....SWIFT gives u a toolkit if you take the class...includes an air line....crowbar,hammer...all the lights for trl....wrenches...i use it all the time..