Why Truck Fleet Managers and Owner Operators Should Know Tyre Pressure
The right tyre pressure isn’t just a box to tick - it’s one of the most useful, yet overlooked, ways fleet managers and owner-operators can cut costs and improve safety. Whether you’re managing a national transport fleet or your own truck, tyre pressure directly affects fuel consumption, tyre wear and overall safety on the road.
This article breaks down why tyre pressure matters and what can go wrong when it’s ignored.
Proper Tyre Pressure Saves Fuel
Fuel is one of the biggest operating expenses for any fleet or owner-operator. What many don’t realise is that tyre pressure plays a direct - and surprisingly large - role in how much fuel a vehicle uses. Even a small drop in pressure can increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder and burn more fuel to maintain the same speed.
In fact, for every 10% a tyre is under-inflated, fuel consumption can increase by 1–2%. Multiply that across dozens of tyres, hundreds of kilometres per day and an entire fleet - you’ll see the wasted fuel adds up fast. For trucks that travel long distances, this can easily mean $1,500 to $2,000 or more saved every year per truck.
When tyres are inflated to their correct levels, rolling resistance decreases and engines are able to operate with optimal efficiency. Ensuring the correct tyre pressure is one of the simplest ways to achieve meaningful, long-term fuel savings without changing routes, staff or vehicles.
Proper Tyre Pressure Extends Tyre Life
Tyres are one of the most expensive and critical components of any vehicle. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is one of the simplest ways to protect this investment and get the most out of every set of tyres.
When tyres are under-inflated, the contact patch with the road becomes larger than intended. This causes excessive heat build-up and uneven wear. Over time, this can lead to premature tread damage hence causing the tyre to wear out quicker. Conversely, over-inflated tyres wear more in the center of the tread - reducing traction and also shortening the tyre’s overall lifespan.
If there is inconsistent pressure between the tyres, it results in uneven wear and tear which affects also handling in addition to cost.
Properly inflated tyres can increase tyre mileage by 15% effectively giving you a 15% discount every time you get new tyres.
Tyre Issues: The Leading Cause of Truck Breakdowns
Tyre issues are the most common cause of truck breakdowns. For fleets and owner-operators, unplanned downtime is more than an inconvenience - it’s lost revenue and frustrated customers.
Under-inflation, over-inflation, punctures and high temperatures all increase the risk of tyre failure. Even seemingly minor issues can escalate quickly on the road. Slow leaks can turn into a blowout, worn treads can reduce traction and a structurally compromised tyre can fail under heavy load.
By monitoring tyre pressure and condition proactively, operators can prevent the majority of these breakdowns.
Time Cost of Manually Checking Tyre Pressure
As the old adage goes, time is money. Regularly checking tyre pressure manually might seem straightforward, but the process is time-consuming and tedious. Consider a standard heavy-duty truck with 14 tyres. Using a manual gauge, at 2–3 minutes per tyre, a proper check on a single truck can take 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Multiply that across a fleet of 10, 20 or more vehicles and the time quickly adds up to hours.
The alternative is bar hitting on the tyres which is quicker but much less reliable and accurate.
Tyre Pressure and Safety: Protecting People
Safety is non-negotiable for fleets and owner-operators. Improperly inflated tyres compromise vehicle handling, braking performance and overall stability - all of which directly impact the safety of the driver and other motorists and pedestrians on the road.
Conclusion
While tyre pressure might seem like a small detail, for fleets and owner-operators, it has major implications for cost, safety and efficiency. Properly inflated tyres improve fuel economy, extend tyre life, reduce the risk of breakdown and - most importantly - keep drivers and others safe on the road.
