Are your tires ready for inspection? If not, you could face some hefty fees this month. 

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has announced that its 2022 International Roadcheck will be held May 17 to 19. And this year, they’re focusing on wheel ends.

CVSA is a nonprofit created to improve commercial vehicle safety throughout North America. In the U.S, CVSA works with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by advocating for and enforcing FMCSA regulations. 

The International Roadcheck is a 72-hour period of high-volume CSVA inspections throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Trucks or drivers found to be in violation could be ticketed or pulled out of operation. 

Those citations will be extra painful this year due to inflation. The FMCSA adjusts its fines for inflation every year. However, this will be the highest jump since the agency’s founding in 2000.

Before you head out this month, it’s time to take a good look at your tires.

What to Expect at the International Roadcheck

CVSA inspectors will be checking 15 different wheel end items. You can see the full list here. Of these items, nine relate to your tires:

1. Tire and Valve Stem Leaks: FMCSA regulations state that no motor vehicle may operate on a tire with an audible leak. 

2. Proper Inflation, Cuts and Bulges: Inspectors will look at all tires, including the inside tire on a dual set. Proper inflation is vital for carrying a truck’s full load and for preventing damage, both internal and external. Cuts and bulges are signs that that damage has already occurred.

3. Regrooved Tires on Steering Axle: Regrooved tires can’t be used on the steer axle of a truck if the tire load capacity is equal to or greater than 4,920 pounds.

4. Tire Tread and Major Tread Groove Depth: According to FMCSA regulations, front tires require a tread groove pattern depth of at least 4/32 of an inch when measured at any point on a major tread groove. Other tires must have a depth of at least 2/32. CVSA has more lenient regulations here, requiring depths of 2/32 and 1/32 respectively. If your violations are minimal, this may help you. However, if CVSA pulls your truck out of operation, you should expect to face FMCSA fines as well.

5. Improper Repairs: Improper repairs include rubber-coated cord or cured rubber plugs in your tire’s sidewall.

6. Exposed Fabric or Cord: A tire isn’t long for this world when its body ply or belt material starts to show through its tread or sidewall. 

7. Tire Contact: Tire contact with each other or any other part of the vehicle can wear on tires, create cuts along the sidewall or damage other parts of the vehicle. It can also make the vehicle more difficult to steer. 

8. Marking on a Tire that Exclude its use on a Steering Axle: Inspectors will look for tires labeled “Not for Highway Use” or other markings that exclude a tire’s use on a steering axle.

Debris Between Tires: Solid items lodged between a set of dual tires can cause damage to the interior sidewalls.

A Solid TPMS Keeps You Moving

If you want to avoid fees or being pulled out of operation, you must spot any issues before a CSVA inspector does. One of the best ways to do that is by installing a quality TPMS.

The Doran 360^TM TPMS continuously monitors tire pressure and temperature data. Wireless sensors are installed on every valve stem and communicate with an in-cab display. 

Our “Green Means Good^TM” at-a-glance indicator light gives drivers confirmation that all tires are properly inflated. Drivers can also see each tire position’s pressure at the push of a button. And in case of emergencies, our system has alerts for low pressure, high temperature and fast-leak events.

But a good TPMS isn’t just about spotting immediate issues like leaks or low pressure. It’s about preventing long-term damage, too. 

Underinflated tires create excess friction. That increases wear on your tires, which leads to tread separation and internal breakdowns and even blowouts. Doran 360^TM TPMS alerts you to low pressure as it’s happening so you can safely pull off and refill your tires. 
A variety of issues can lead to high tire temperatures at the wheel end. Doran 360^TM TPMS provides an early notice before tires reach critical temperatures that can cause tire fires.  With localized data, it’s easy to find and fix problem areas.

Pass Your CSVA Inspection with Doran TPMS

We’d love to help you get your trucks ready for every CSVA inspection you have throughout the year. Send us a message to learn more about Doran’s TPMS solutions today!