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Tire cost is the second largest contractor vehicle expense after fuel, so it makes sense to protect your tires from unnecessary wear and reuse them when you can. The following tips can help ensure your tires are getting proper care, which will result in extended tire life, maximum efficiency, and lower tire costs.

Keep an eye on pressure

"The number one issue for any fleet is inflation pressure," says Al Cohn, technical marketing manager at Goodyear Tire Company. "Air is what carries the load. If you have low air pressure, your tires will run hot, you'll have traction issues, the tires will wear unevenly, and your fuel economy will decrease."

Running a tire with less air than recommended forces a tire to work harder than what it was designed to do. The tire flexes more, overheats, and breaks down internally. This will result in premature removal or even tire failure. Cohn says that running a tire that is 20% underinflated will result in 16% fewer miles to removal.

Underinflation isn't the only pressure-related threat to tire life. Avoid overinflation, too. Tires with high air pressure will give drivers an uncomfortable, bouncy ride and will develop excessive centerline wear, also resulting in early removal.

Guy Walenga, engineering manager for North American commercial products at Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC, has some suggestions for checking air pressure. "You shouldn't kick or hit a tire to check air pressure," he says. "A gauge is what you should use to check air pressure, and the pressure should be checked when the tires are cold, not hot. You want to use an accurate gauge. Stick gauges are relatively accurate, they're inexpensive, and to me they're throw aways. You use them for a while, and when they become inaccurate you throw them away."