FMCSR 393.65C: Flat or Leaking Tires — Driver Q&A

Yes, there is a significant risk. Across our inspection records, 74.7% of 393.65C violations result in an out-of-service order. That's far above the average FMCSR code, which carries a 31.4% OOS rate. Out of 245 all-time citations in our database, 183 resulted in immediate OOS placement. This means an inspector finding a flat or audibly leaking tire will likely ground your truck until the tire is repaired or replaced and re-inspected.

This violation carries a severity weight of 8, which feeds into your BASIC scores under the Safety Management and Vehicle Maintenance categories. The exact CSA point count depends on when the citation was issued (the multiplier varies monthly), but 8 is the base severity assigned to this code. Check your FMCSA PrePass or carrier compliance portal for your specific point total, as the 30-day rolling calculation is complex. Your fleet manager can also pull this from your carrier's audit.

Do this right now:

1. Get the tire repaired or replaced — do not operate the vehicle until it passes re-inspection.
2. Request a Level I or Level II re-inspection from the same or nearby jurisdiction to clear the OOS order.
3. Document the repair receipt — keep a copy in your vehicle record.
4. Check for related violations — our data shows 393.65C often co-occurs with maintenance issues like brake defects (393.48A) and inspection documentation problems (396.17C), so a full vehicle walk-around is wise.
5. Notify your dispatcher and carrier — they may require immediate incident reporting.

Yes, this is notably serious. The 74.7% OOS rate for flat or leaking tires is substantially higher than peer maintenance violations. For example, inoperable lamps (393.9) carry a 6.9% OOS rate, and windshield defects (393.78) only 0.3%. Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 393.65C ranks #1165 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, but its OOS severity puts it well above average. Tire issues are treated as immediate safety hazards by roadside inspectors.

Yes, you can submit a DataQS (Data Quality System) challenge to dispute the citation directly with FMCSA. DataQS is designed for drivers and carriers to contest roadside inspection findings they believe are inaccurate. Since 393.65C is an equipment observation (the condition of your tire at the moment of inspection), you would need to argue either that the tire was not actually flat or leaking, or that the inspector misidentified it. Gather photographic or repair evidence and submit within the DataQS window. Your carrier's compliance team can help file.

Over the last 180 days, Texas leads by a wide margin with 48 citations and a 64.6% OOS rate. Illinois follows with 10 citations (70.0% OOS rate), and North Carolina with 5 citations (80.0% OOS rate). Texas accounts for roughly half of all recent 393.65C citations in our database. If you operate in the Texas corridor, tire maintenance and pre-trip inspections should be a top priority to avoid this violation.

Extremely urgent — you cannot legally operate. The 74.7% OOS rate means your truck will almost certainly be placed out of service, and you must repair the tire and pass re-inspection before moving. Over the last 90 days, we logged 26 citations, with a surge in October 2025 (27 citations). This suggests heightened enforcement activity. Do not delay repair: every hour your truck is grounded costs your carrier revenue and damages your safety record. Flat or leaking tires are non-negotiable safety defects.

Both. The citation affects your vehicle maintenance safety record (which your carrier carries) and contributes to your driver file under the FMCSA Safety Management and Vehicle Maintenance BASICs if you are the owner-operator. For company drivers, the violation is primarily attributed to the carrier's safety profile, though repeated citations can impact your hire ability. Carriers track driver-level violations too. Either way, this code will appear on inspections tied to you or your vehicle in PrePass and FMCSA systems for 36 months.