How to use a tire thumper

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Redcoat wife, Sep 13, 2008.

  1. Redcoat wife

    Redcoat wife Medium Load Member

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    OK this is probably a dumb question but how exactly do you use a tire thumper? (And no I'm not talking about on somebody's head.)

    Do you hit the tire on the tread? On the sidewall? Does it matter? And what exactly are you looking for? The reaction of the thumper? Or are you listening for a certain sound?
     
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  3. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    Hit the tire anywhere, but I find the tread works best for me.

    Basically you are listening to the sound it makes, and feeling way it reacts in your hand. A properly inflated tire will produce a sharper >>thwack<< sound when hit, and the thumper will bounce back sharply.

    If a tire is *significantly* under-inflated, the sound will be more of a dull thunk, and the thumper will not bounce back so well.

    It's not a good way to tell if the tire is 10 pounds low, but should show easily if the tire is 50 pounds low - that sorta thing.
     
  4. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    I find that 'thumping' works best when the tires are warmed up, I use a 3 lb hammer, other uses for that as well. If it's really cold, thumping won't find a flat tire with certainty.
     
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  5. Donk

    Donk Have a Cup Of Concrete

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    i use another way to quickly check tyres that i know were up.

    i push on the sidewall with my foot. doesnt produce even the degree of accuracy that a thumper does, but we arent allowed them here..

    So i carry a tyre guage!
     
  6. doubledragon5

    doubledragon5 Road Train Member

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    You will know if you have plenty of air by hitting it as hard as you can until it comes back and wacks you in the head.LOL The only way I check for properly inflated tires is with a tire guage...
     
  7. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    I forget what the movie was , it's been a while but I saw one of those truck movies that started having the driver go around the truck thumping the tires - including the front ones . :biggrin_2554:
     
  8. Lilbit

    Lilbit Road Train Member

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    My hubby uses a tire pressure gauge. My tire thumper from when I drove stays in my car, and it has one purpose - protection. That's mainly what it was for when I was driving rig too. I always used a tire pressure gauge.
     
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  9. doubledragon5

    doubledragon5 Road Train Member

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    Mine looks like a billy club, and it is in the car. The wife and daughters use it for protection as well..
     
  10. TrooperRat

    TrooperRat Medium Load Member

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    I just hit the tire tread with my breaker bar or kick the sidewall with my foot. Not an accurate way to tell if tires are property inflated, but definitely will let you know if a tire is flat or near flat.
     
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