Inflating Tires?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Dye Guardian, Mar 30, 2015.

  1. Dye Guardian

    Dye Guardian Road Train Member

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    While in school, I was told a driver should never attempt to fill tires as it is very dangerous and you run a risk of the tire blowing up as you fill it. My instructor is/was only ever a company driver, so his mentality may very well be different than an O/O. "Just let someone who's certified deal with it, don't touch it". What do you all think? Clearly there are drivers who will fill their tires when needed. Is the danger real here?
     
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  3. Vilhiem

    Vilhiem Road Train Member

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    I'm a company driver...carry a sledgehammer, and tire pressure gauge.

    If you overfill, sure there can be an issue. If you're under filled, again an issue...

    Carry a tire pressure gauge and don't inflate them more than they are rated for. As for needing an expert... Well, if you can inflate your car tires and know where your valve stems are, if you need a certified person to do it, then you may be certifiable yourself.

    P.s. There's a great deal of company drivers who have the mentality of, "let the company handle it since they pay." Don't go and fill your own fuel tank, but if you have a problem that you can resolve...solve it. (As long as you know what you're doing.). If it costs you something, ask to be reimbursed. If they won't reimburse it, find a new company.
     
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  4. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    Nothing to worry about, just dont put more then 100 lbs of air pressure, give or take. But If you see a big bubble forming then run!
     
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  5. Ubu

    Ubu Road Train Member

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    There’s a “certification” for inflating a tire?

    I guess it’s possible, probably from the same origination that certifies wiping your butt or breathing.
     
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  6. KW Cajun

    KW Cajun Road Train Member

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    Wait for a "certified" tire filler?? That's simply ridiculous and untrue.

    Now there was significant danger back in the days of the old split rims, when reinstalling the rim ring and inflating the tire.
    But today's modern tires are much safer to fill, unless you see any damage to the tire (sidewalls especially, but also tread).
    It's far more dangerous to travel with a severely deflated tire than to inflate it to it's proper psi.

    The main caution would be not to inflate a low tire that has just come off the road and is still hot/overheated.
    Allow it to sit awhile and cool, before inflating, just to be safe.

    Here's a link to a good tire article and one to an online tire pressure "calculator", btw.

    http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/maintenance/article/story/2013/08/the-magic-number.aspx

    http://www.yokohamatire.com/air_pressure_calculator#
     
  7. G.Anthony

    G.Anthony Road Train Member

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    At my company, we drivers are lucky that we have the Hendrickson tire inflation monitoring/inflation system for our trailers.

    As for our tractors, All i have to do when I get to my location, is my pre-trip, and if a tire is under-inflated (on the tractor), I take it 1/2 a mile to Penske, where they have the air hose. I have a heavy duty truck tire "pencil style" air gauge, and I check my tires on the tractor weekly, and thump them several times a night at my stops. Never know when I'll be picking up a nail, butter-knife, piece of wood, etc,etc.

    Always check tire pressures when the tires are either stone cold (before you start), or most certainly when they have had a chance to cool, for about ( I think) 4 hours?

    And NEVER let air out of a tire, when it is warm,( the tire being warm, not the ambient air outside) as the air inside the tire expands as it warms up while driving, and when it cools, it will go back to a normal reading.
     
  8. ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    Does sound like a hold over from the old split rim days--and since it was in training it may have as much to do w/that places insurance etc....
     
  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Hi Dye, every once in a while a thread comes along that REALLY makes me wonder, who is driving America's trucks with an attitude like that. I'm baffled to be even commenting on this, but if you're afraid to fill a tire, (or too lazy, which sounds like your instructors case) you shouldn't be in a truck. Tires have always been the FIRST thing to check, there's 18 of them, for heavens sake. If there's a low one, get it right BEFORE leaving. I had an air hose that I coupled to my glad hand on the truck, and always made sure my tires were full. I only had 1 split rim let go near me in all my years of trucking, and never a tubeless.( although, I'm sure it happens) It's a good time to look at the tires too, nails, sidewalls. I know tire technology has come a long way, and it's easy to forget about your tires, but coming from a time where 1 or 2 flats a week was normal, I just always made sure my tires were right,,,,,certified tire inflator, of course, why didn't I think of that?:biggrin_2559:
     
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  10. G.Anthony

    G.Anthony Road Train Member

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    Although none of us were there to hear the comment, "certified", I have to wonder if the former trainer was referring to a certified mechanic? Or at the very least someone in the garage, that can sign off the job work order? I think if memory serves me, and ONLY as an example, we are told not to adjust our brakes, unless we are certified to do so, so maybe the former instructor was also referring to that as well? You know, lump it all into one category?

    Just thinking out loud here.
     
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  11. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

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    I carry a pressure guage and an inflation hose kit on a cable reel. I'm certified according to some but not for tire inflation.
     
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