5 Tips for Tire Care: Prepping Your Tires for Winter

Winter brings its own set of challenges for your fleet, and when temperatures drop, your tires are on the front line. From icy roads to freezing temperatures, keeping your tires in top condition is critical to ensuring safety, minimizing downtime, and maintaining the performance of your rental trucks.

Proper tire care isn’t just a seasonal task—it’s a key part of winterizing your fleet to stay ahead of the elements. Here are 5 tips to make sure your tires are prepped and ready to tackle winter conditions.

One of the most important elements of tire care is keeping an eye on your tread depth. Proper tread depth ensures your tires have the grip they need to handle icy or snowy roads, reducing the risk of skidding or losing control.

If your tread is too shallow, your tires won’t be able to channel water, slush, or snow effectively, increasing your risk of hydroplaning or sliding while driving.

We recommend a minimum of 5/32 tread on all tires for winter traveling, an all-season tire for highway-use vehicles, and an all-terrain tire for off-highway primary-use vehicles. Please call Field Service at 844-221-0420 ext. 3 for tires.

Cold temperatures can cause tire pressure to drop, which can impact both performance and safety. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, your tire pressure can decrease by about 1 psi. Underinflated tires not only reduce traction but can also lead to uneven wear and increase the likelihood of a blowout.

Make sure to check your tire pressure regularly, especially as the temperature fluctuates, and inflate them to the manufacturer’s recommended levels, typically 36 psi. This will help ensure your tires maintain maximum contact with the road, improving grip and extending their lifespan.

Tire rotation is a critical step in winterizing your fleet. Regularly rotating your tires ensures even wear, which helps improve traction and extends the life of your tires. Since your front tires tend to wear out faster than your rear ones—especially if your vehicles carry heavy loads—rotating them every 5,000 miles is a good practice.

PTR’s Field Service team is here to assist you in scheduling your tire rotation appointments. Email us directly at fieldservice@rentptr.com to connect with our tire experts.

If you’re consistently working in areas prone to harsh winter conditions, utilizing winter or all-terrain tires can be a game-changer. Winter tires are specifically designed to handle cold temperatures and icy roads, offering superior grip and flexibility when compared to standard all-season tires.

All-terrain tires are also an excellent option for projects that require driving on snow-covered or rough terrain. These tires are built to provide enhanced durability, making them perfect for off-road environments where snow or ice can easily affect performance.

Winter conditions can be unpredictable, and having a spare tire ready to go is essential for any fleet. Make sure your spare is in good condition, properly inflated, and ready for action in case of emergencies. It’s easy to forget about the spare until you need it, so include it in your regular maintenance checks to avoid being caught off-guard.

Tire maintenance is critical to keeping your rental fleet running safely and efficiently in winter, and PTR is here to help. Our Field Service team has tire specialists who provide support with tire care and can help coordinate tire service appointments. Whether you need help rotating your tires, checking tread depth, or ensuring your tires are properly inflated, PTR’s experts will keep your fleet winter-ready and minimize downtime.