Product Overview

Summary: This Fleet Management Tyre Maintenance SOP sets out a clear, step-by-step process for inspecting, servicing and replacing tyres across your vehicle fleet. It helps Australian businesses reduce on-road incidents, extend tyre life, and demonstrate robust WHS due diligence for drivers, contractors and the public.

Tyres are a critical safety component for any vehicle fleet, directly affecting braking distance, vehicle stability, fuel efficiency and the risk of catastrophic failure on the road. For Australian businesses operating cars, utilities, trucks, buses, plant or trailers, unmanaged tyre maintenance can quickly translate into blowouts, loss of control incidents, roadside breakdowns and regulatory scrutiny. This Fleet Management Tyre Maintenance Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible system for how tyres are inspected, recorded, rotated, repaired and replaced across your fleet.

The procedure sets clear standards for tread depth, tyre age, pressure ranges, damage criteria and matching of tyres by size and load rating, aligned with Australian conditions and WHS obligations. It defines who is responsible for daily pre-start checks, scheduled workshop inspections, mobile tyre services and contractor controls, and it embeds tyre management into broader fleet safety systems, including fatigue management, load management and journey planning. By implementing this SOP, businesses can reduce unplanned downtime, improve driver confidence, and show regulators, insurers and clients that vehicle safety is being actively managed rather than left to chance.

Designed specifically for the Australian market, the SOP recognises harsh local conditions such as high ambient temperatures, long-distance highway work, remote operations and mixed on-road/off-road use. It supports compliance with heavy vehicle national law duties, chain of responsibility expectations and WHS legislation by providing documented processes, inspection checklists and record-keeping requirements. The result is a practical, easy-to-implement framework that lifts tyre maintenance from an ad hoc task to a controlled safety-critical process.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of on-road incidents, blowouts and loss-of-control events by standardising tyre inspection and replacement criteria.
• Extend tyre life and optimise whole-of-life costs through consistent pressure management, rotation schedules and damage assessment.
• Demonstrate WHS and chain of responsibility due diligence with documented tyre maintenance processes and records.
• Improve driver confidence and vehicle handling by ensuring tyres are correctly matched, inflated and suited to the operating environment.
• Minimise unplanned downtime, breakdown call-outs and schedule disruptions through proactive, planned tyre maintenance.

Who is this for?

• Fleet Managers
• Transport and Logistics Managers
• Workshop Supervisors
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
• Light Vehicle Mechanics
• Operations Managers
• WHS Managers
• Owner Drivers and Subcontractor Drivers
• Bus and Coach Depot Managers
• Civil Construction Supervisors
• Mining and Resources Vehicle Coordinators
• Local Council Fleet Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Tyre blowouts at speed leading to loss of vehicle control
• Reduced braking performance due to insufficient tread depth or uneven wear
• Vehicle instability and roll-over risk from mismatched or under-inflated tyres
• Manual handling injuries from incorrect lifting or handling of wheels and tyres
• Crush and pinch injuries during wheel removal, fitting and torqueing
• Exposure to traffic hazards during roadside tyre inspections or changes
• Heat build-up and tyre failure from overloading or incorrect pressure
• Use of incorrect tyre types or load ratings for the vehicle or operating conditions

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Manufacturer Requirements
• 5.0 Tyre Selection, Load Ratings and Suitability for Use
• 6.0 Pre-Start and Daily Driver Tyre Inspection Procedure
• 7.0 Scheduled Workshop Tyre Inspection and Service Intervals
• 8.0 Tyre Pressure Management and Adjustment Guidelines
• 9.0 Tread Depth, Tyre Age and Replacement Criteria
• 10.0 Tyre Rotation, Matching and Positioning Requirements
• 11.0 Tyre Repair, Retreading and Disposal Controls
• 12.0 Safe Work Method for Wheel and Tyre Removal and Fitting
• 13.0 Roadside Tyre Failure and Breakdown Management
• 14.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Measures
• 15.0 Contractor and Mobile Tyre Service Management
• 16.0 Inspection Checklists, Records and Reporting
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 18.0 Monitoring, Audit, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and harmonised state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Chain of Responsibility provisions (where applicable)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• AS/NZS 1596: The use and handling of LP Gas (for relevant fleet using LPG vehicles)
• AS/NZS 4457 series: Earth-moving machinery – Tyre and rim maintenance (for off-highway and earthmoving fleets)
• AS 1973: Pneumatic tyres – Passenger car, light truck and truck/bus – Retreaded
• Manufacturer tyre and vehicle specifications and service bulletins