Fleet managers juggle uptime, safety, and cost control, and tires play a central role in all three.

Managing the lifecycle of your tires means knowing when to rotate, replace, or retire them before they impact performance or cause breakdowns.

Here’s how to build a proactive tire lifecycle strategy that maximizes ROI and keeps your fleet moving.

A tire lifecycle includes:

• Commissioning: New tire is installed and enters service
• Mid-life rotation: Even wear is promoted through rotation or rebalancing
• Wear monitoring: Tread depth, sidewall condition, and heat indicators are tracked
• Replacement: Tire is removed from service based on wear threshold or damage
• Retirement: Final disposal or retreading (if applicable)

Key indicators it’s time to rotate or replace:

• Uneven wear between tires on the same axle
• Visible tread degradation below legal limits (e.g., 4/32” for steer tires)
• Irregular vibrations or pulling during operation
• Increased fuel consumption or poor traction

Rotation intervals vary by vehicle type and usage:

• Solid tires: rotate every 500–1,000 hours
• On load solid tire rotate when the one position is approx. 2 inches difference on the highest and lowest tire.
• Pneumatic tires: rotate every 5,000–8,000 miles or per OEM
• Skid steer tires: may require frequent side-to-side swapping in abrasive work zones

Sentry Tire recommends regular inspections:

• Use tread depth gauges and heat markers
• Record wear data at scheduled maintenance
• Train operators to report ride changes early

A proactive tire management plan reduces emergency replacements, improves fuel economy, and extends the lifespan of your entire fleet.

Talk to us about building a rotation and replacement calendar tailored to your tire type and application.