Maintaining your fleet is essential to ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance. That’s why we’ve created a handy checklist of tips to help you stay on top of critical wheel maintenance tasks throughout 2025.
It's estimated that between 150 and 400 wheel detachments occur in the UK annually. Of these, three to seven result in fatal accidents, with many more causing serious injuries, so we can't stress enough how important these tips are. Worn tyres can give drivers less control over the vehicles, putting themselves and others on the road in danger.
Before we start, it's important to note that this is merely a guide. While we have used reliable sources such as government documents, it's always best to do your own thorough research as to what is best for your vehicles and equipment.
A thorough tyre & wheel management system ensures:
Tyres are suitable for the vehicle and conditions.
Regular inspections address damage and wear.
Technicians are qualified for inspections and repairs.
Drivers are trained to identify and report issues.
Staff are trained and authorized to act.
Tyres are stored correctly on-site.
Best practices are shared fleet-wide.
The checklist
1. Tyre Selection
Ensure tyres are appropriate for the vehicle type and operating conditions.
Regularly check tyre pressures (when tyres are cold) against manufacturer recommendations.
Use calibrated equipment to ensure accurate readings.
Monitor pressure changes using Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) where available.
Tyres should be reinflated if they are between 0-20% under inflated. Check the tyre thoroughly for damage. If between 10 & 20%, monitor for continuing deflation.
If re-inflating tyres, use a reliable tyre inflation cage.
Check wheel alignment periodically to avoid uneven tyre wear and improve vehicle handling.
Ensure wheels are balanced to prevent vibrations and excessive wear. We recommend using Easy Balance - a wheel balancing compound for balancing truck tyres or bus tyres which can be added to the tyre when fitted. This prolongs the life of the tyre by up to 25%.
Store wheels and tyres in a cool, dry, and ventilated environment away from sunlight and chemicals.
Protect wheels from corrosion by storing them off the ground and in a clean area.
7. Daily Inspections
Check for visible tyre damage, cuts, bulges, and embedded objects.
Inspect wheels for cracks, distortions, or loose wheel nuts.
8. Repairs and Retreading
Only allow trained technicians to repair wheels or tyres.
Tyres should be removed from their wheels and carefully inspected by a qualified tyre technician to determine their suitability for repair.
Replace wheels showing excessive wear, cracks, or damage.
Use manufacturer-approved methods for tyre regrooving and retreading - Only tyres marked as regroovable on the sidewall are legally permitted to be regrooved, whether they are new or retreaded.
9. Wheel Cleaning
Check wheels for layers of grime, dirt, and brake dust which can accelerate corrosion and contribute to premature wear.
Use a dedicated wheel cleaner and brushes, ensuring you're getting the best clean you can. We recommend Vikan brushes, such as the Wheel Rim Brush Head (PVK-5452) combined with BettaShine Wheel Bright (PBS-0221C) for this.
