Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

How do you thump your tires?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by A Bug, Jul 24, 2016.

Page 1 of 10
  1. Jul 24, 2016 #1
    A Bug

    A Bug Heavy Load Member

    914
    1,851
    Mar 15, 2014
    Sevierville TN
    0
    I cannot figure out how to find a low air tire by thumping it.

    I have two tires, 1 at 90 PSI and another at 105 PSI. They both make the same sound when wacking it with my hammer.

    What is the secret?
     
    A Bug, Jul 24, 2016
    A Bug, Jul 24, 2016
    #1
    TheDude1969 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jul 24, 2016 #2
    MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

    11,209
    18,924
    Feb 21, 2015
    South Carolina
    0
    Perfect Pitch... ;-)
     
    MidWest_MacDaddy, Jul 24, 2016
    MidWest_MacDaddy, Jul 24, 2016
    #2
    JReding and Mudguppy Thank this.
  4. Jul 24, 2016 #3
    MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    49,175
    229,298
    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    If the difference is that small you won't notice it, but if a tire is flat you'll notice it right away. It will feel and sound spongy when you hit it.
     
    MACK E-6, Jul 24, 2016
    MACK E-6, Jul 24, 2016
    #3
    Highway Sailor, bzinger, albert l and 3 others Thank this.
  5. Jul 24, 2016 #4
    Dumdriver

    Dumdriver Road Train Member

    1,525
    2,138
    Jul 8, 2014
    East Coast
    0
    You need a tire gauge to get exact PSI. The thumper is only to see if it's flat - or almost flat
     
    Dumdriver, Jul 24, 2016
    Dumdriver, Jul 24, 2016
    #4
    TequilaSunrise, Studebaker Hawk, Eeyore05 and 12 others Thank this.
  7. Jul 24, 2016 #5
    TheDude1969

    TheDude1969 Heavy Load Member

    807
    823
    Jun 10, 2013
    Joliet, Il
    0
    There is no secret, when thumping a tire you are only looking for a stiff recoil. That only means it has a majority of its air. Only a super trucker could determine a 90 vs 105psi tire... which would still require an inflation gauge.

    The point of thumping during a pre-trip is that as long as the tire is holding air, you can assume it is safe to drive. When this is done daily, you easily find a problem tire before it becomes a roadside emergency.

    BTW, good question A Bug!
     
    TheDude1969, Jul 24, 2016
    TheDude1969, Jul 24, 2016
    #5
    snowlauncher, Macneil, Lepton1 and 1 other person Thank this.
  8. Jul 24, 2016 #6
    DustyRoad

    DustyRoad Road Train Member

    1,540
    17,104
    Feb 23, 2011
    Gulf of Mexico
    0
    Thumping is good for finding a flat otherwise, trust only a air guage. Low pressure is really hard to determine using a stick or a baton.....obviously!
     
    DustyRoad, Jul 24, 2016
    DustyRoad, Jul 24, 2016
    #6
    pattyj Thanks this.
  9. Jul 24, 2016 #7
    MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    49,175
    229,298
    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    ....Unless you have a good ear. ;)
     
    MACK E-6, Jul 24, 2016
    MACK E-6, Jul 24, 2016
    #7
    25(2)+2 and DustyRoad Thank this.
  10. Jul 24, 2016 #8
    A Bug

    A Bug Heavy Load Member

    914
    1,851
    Mar 15, 2014
    Sevierville TN
    0
    Wish there was an easier way than using the guage with the temperature and all. I just remember at one time hearing a guy on these boards saying he could tell the difference of 5 PSI by thumping it.

    Thanks for the feedback.
     
    A Bug, Jul 24, 2016
    A Bug, Jul 24, 2016
    #8
  11. Jul 24, 2016 #9
    truckthatpassesyouby

    truckthatpassesyouby Road Train Member

    1,876
    6,124
    Jun 3, 2015
    0
    I'm gonna go off on a limb and say that tire thumping was the only way to check for pressure before the invention of a pressure gauge and before dot made strict guidance for tire pressure.
     
    truckthatpassesyouby, Jul 24, 2016
    truckthatpassesyouby, Jul 24, 2016
    #9
  12. Jul 24, 2016 #10
    special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

    1,523
    3,258
    Dec 27, 2008
    Southern Ontario Canada
    0
    You can't really tell that little of a difference. I used to do it more by how far the hammer bounces back rather than strictly by the sound.
     
    special-k, Jul 24, 2016
    special-k, Jul 24, 2016
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 10