Legal tire?

I know of d.o.t. officers in my area that would look for a spot like that & gauge it & if it below specs, you got written up. the last time I got inspected the officer placed his tire gauge in several places on the same tire, trying to find a low spot such as in your pic. some d.o.t. may not see it as a big deal. depends on who ya get & his mood or quota, that they don't have, Yeah right.

 

the rule on drive or trailer is "less than 2/32 on two or more adjacent grooves. technically your guys are right. but not to change it is stupid. at least groove the thing with an iron

 

I've hauled many like that. I check depth with my gauge if less than 2/32 I'll report or if on more than one row of tread I'll report it.

 

If you're working for a company that thinks that's ok you need to move on to another job.

 

nope, your understanding is wrong here ya go

Tire/wheel clearance
• Any condition, including loading, causing body or frame to contact tire or wheel assembly at the time of inspection. Evidence of prior contact is not a defect.

Steering axle of power unit
• Less than 2⁄32-inch tread depth at two, adjacent, major tread grooves anywhere on tire.
• Portion of breaker strip or casing ply visible in tread.
• Sidewall cut, worn or damaged, thereby exposing ply cord.
• Labeled “Not For Highway Use” or other marking excluding current application (excluding farm/offroad vehicles briefly on the road).
• Bump or knot suggesting tread/sidewall separation. Exception: Bulge from section repair (sometimes identified by adjacent, blue, triangular label) is not a defect unless higher than 3⁄8 inch.
• Tire has leak that’s felt or heard, or has 50 percent less of the maximum inflation pressure marked on the sidewall.
• Mounted/inflated so tire contacts part of vehicle.
• Tire overloaded, including overload resulting from underinflation. Exception: Does not apply to special-permit vehicle operated at a speed low enough to compensate for underinflation.
• If a passenger-carrying vehicle, regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires.

Other than steering axle
• 75 percent or more of tread width loose or missing, in excess of 12 inches of tire’s circumference.
• Less than 1⁄32-inch tread depth at two, adjacent, major tread grooves at three separate locations around the circumference of the tire at least 8 inches apart. With duals, both tires must have listed defect to warrant Out-of-Service judgment.
• Tire has leak that can be felt or heard, or has 50 percent less of the maximum inflation pressure marked on the sidewall.
• Bias-ply tire with more than one ply exposed in tread area or sidewall, and the exposed area of sidewall or top ply exceeds 2 square inches. With duals, both tires must have listed defect to warrant Out-of-Service judgment.
• Radial tire with more than one ply is exposed in the sidewall, or two or more plies are exposed in the tread area and the exposed area of sidewall or tread exceeds 2 square inches, or damaged cords are evident in the sidewall up to 2 square inches. With duals, both tires must have listed defect to warrant Out-of-Service judgment.
• Bump or knot suggesting tread/sidewall separation. Exception: Bulge from section repair (sometimes identified by adjacent, blue, triangular label) is not a defect unless higher than 3⁄8 inch.
• Mounted or inflated so tire contacts part of vehicle or, in the case of a dual assembly, its mate.
• Tire overloaded, including overload resulting from underinflation. Exception: Does not apply to special-permit vehicle operated at a speed low enough to compensate for underinflation.

 

Skateboardman -- where is that from? Edit: nevermind I found it -- it is the CVSA out of service criteria. You can still be cited for less...


Here is what 49 cfr 393.75 has to say:

Steers:

Others: