Quick Summary:
- Photograph each tyre’s tread, sidewalls, DOT code, and wheel rim.
- Record dashboard warning lights, odometer, and tyre pressure screen before moving.
- Check tread depth with a coin, confirm wear bars are not flush.
- Request a replacement at the booth, show photos, do not exit MCO.
Picking up a car hire at Orlando International Airport (MCO) can feel rushed, especially after a long flight. Tyres are one of the few safety items you can assess quickly with your eyes and phone, and they are also a common source of disputes if damage is missed at pick-up. If the tyres look worn, cracked, bulged, or underinflated, treat it as a reason to pause, document, and ask for a safer replacement before you drive out of the garage.
This guide gives you a practical, repeatable inspection routine focused on tread, sidewalls, and dashboard warning lights. It also explains the quickest way to request a swap while you are still at MCO, when the team can usually replace the vehicle with minimal paperwork.
If you are arranging an Orlando airport rental through Hola Car Rentals, it helps to keep your booking details handy on your phone so staff can pull up your agreement quickly. The most relevant pickup information is on the Orlando MCO pages, including car hire at Orlando airport (MCO) and Orlando MCO car hire.
Before you touch the car: set yourself up for fast evidence
Do a 90 second setup before you start the tyre check. It makes your photos clearer and your swap request faster.
1) Turn on your phone camera, enable date and time, and switch to video mode. A short walkaround video is hard to argue with.
2) Find good lighting. In MCO garages, move a step or two so each tyre is in brighter light. Avoid shooting directly into glare.
3) Have a simple reference tool ready. A US quarter or penny works as a quick tread gauge. If you travel with a small tread depth gauge, even better.
4) Know what “not okay” looks like. You are looking for missing tread, exposed cords, sidewall bulges, cuts, deep cracks, or a tyre pressure warning light. Any one of these can justify a swap.
Step-by-step tyre inspection routine (tread, sidewalls, and rims)
Work in the same order every time, front left, front right, rear right, rear left, then the spare area if accessible. Consistency helps you avoid missing something when you are tired.
1) Photograph the whole tyre and wheel first
Stand back and take a full-frame photo of each wheel showing the tyre and rim. This captures obvious damage, kerb rash, and the tyre’s overall profile.
Take one extra photo from a low angle to show whether the tyre looks “saggy”, which can suggest low pressure. If the car is loaded with luggage already, do this check before loading so the profile is not distorted.
2) Check tread depth and uneven wear
Next, take close-ups of the tread on each tyre. You want to capture the centre and both edges because uneven wear can indicate alignment or suspension issues.
Use a coin to estimate depth. Insert the coin into the tread groove and photograph it. You are not trying to win an engineering debate, you are building clear evidence that the tyre is near the wear bars or noticeably thin.
Also look for:
Wear bars, these are raised strips across the grooves. If the tread is close to flush with the bars, the tyre is effectively worn out for safe wet-weather driving.
Feathering, a sawtooth feel when you run a finger lightly across the tread blocks, often linked to alignment issues.
One-edge wear, inner or outer shoulder worn much more than the rest.
Flat spots, which can cause vibration and longer stopping distances.
3) Inspect sidewalls for damage that warrants an immediate swap
Sidewall damage matters more than cosmetic scuffs because it can lead to a blowout. Crouch and slowly rotate your view around each tyre. Photograph anything suspicious.
Prioritise these red flags:
Bulges or bubbles, often a sign of internal cord damage. This is a “do not drive away” issue.
Cuts or gashes, especially if you can see fabric or cords.
Cracking and dry rot, lots of small cracks around the rim edge or sidewall lettering can indicate ageing.
Chunks missing, any section where rubber has torn away.
Bead damage, tearing near where the tyre meets the rim.
If you see a bulge, photograph it from two angles and add a short video while pressing lightly on the area with a finger. Do not poke hard or try to “test” it aggressively.
4) Photograph the DOT code and tyre size (when visible)
Many tyres have a DOT code on one sidewall, showing the week and year of manufacture. It may face inward, so you might not always be able to capture it without moving the car, which you should avoid if you already suspect a tyre problem.
If the DOT block is visible, take a close-up photo. Also capture the tyre size (for example, 225/65R17) if it is readable. These images help staff confirm they are swapping you into a comparable vehicle and can be useful if there is later confusion about what you collected.
5) Check the rim and valve area
Kerb strikes can damage tyres and rims together. Photograph heavy scuffs, dents, or cracks on the rim, especially if they sit next to a sidewall mark. Also photograph the valve stem area. A bent or damaged valve can cause slow leaks, and it is quick to miss in a casual walkaround.
Dashboard warning lights: what to capture before you leave
Even if the tyres look acceptable, the dashboard can reveal pressure issues or sensor faults. Sit in the driver’s seat and do a controlled start-up check.
1) Turn the ignition on and watch the warning lights. Many lights briefly illuminate as a self-test, then go out. Photograph the cluster during the self-test and again after a few seconds.
2) Look specifically for TPMS, a tyre pressure warning, often a horseshoe-shaped icon with an exclamation mark. If it remains on, photograph it clearly.
3) If the vehicle has a tyre pressure screen, photograph it showing each tyre’s PSI. If one tyre is significantly lower than the rest, or any tyre is very low, request help before driving.
4) Photograph the odometer and fuel level. This is not tyre-related, but it anchors your evidence to the moment you took possession, which can help resolve any later questions.
If your trip includes lots of motorway driving or a fully loaded vehicle, consider a larger class with more luggage capacity so tyres are less stressed. For bigger parties, minivan hire in Orlando MCO can make sense, as long as the vehicle’s condition checks out.
The fastest way to request a safer replacement at MCO
The key is timing. Ask for a swap before you exit the airport rental facility. Once you leave, it can become a roadside or branch visit issue, which usually takes longer.
Follow this sequence for speed and clarity:
Step 1: Do not drive out of the pickup area. If you are already in a lane to exit, pull into the nearest safe bay or return to the inspection area if possible.
Step 2: Gather your evidence in one “set”. Aim for: one walkaround video, four full wheel photos, four tread close-ups, any sidewall defect photos, and a dashboard photo showing warning lights and odometer.
Step 3: Go straight to the booth or attendant with a specific request. Use plain language: “This tyre has a sidewall bulge” or “The wear bars are flush and TPMS is on.” Showing one or two best photos first is usually enough.
Step 4: Ask for a like-for-like replacement vehicle or an inspection by staff. If they can inspect immediately, stay with the car so you can point to the issue. If they agree it is not suitable, ask them to note the reason for the swap on your paperwork.
Step 5: Repeat a quick check on the replacement. At minimum, check the same tyre area that caused the swap and confirm no warning lights remain on.
If your booking is tied to a specific provider desk, it can help to know the relevant pickup page beforehand, such as Hertz car rental at Orlando MCO or, for travellers heading to the parks, car hire for Disney Orlando MCO.
What if staff say the tyres are “within limits”?
Sometimes you will be told the tyre is legal or that the warning light is a sensor issue. You can still stay focused on safety and documentation.
Ask them to measure tread depth in front of you and to confirm that the tyre has no bulges or cuts. If the TPMS light is on, ask them to check and adjust pressure, and to confirm the light clears after a short reset or drive within the facility. If they will not swap the car, request that the condition is noted on the agreement, and keep your photos and video.
In Florida, sudden downpours can turn worn tyres into a real risk. If you are not comfortable, it is reasonable to ask again for a different vehicle, particularly if you can show uneven wear or a sidewall defect.
Extra checks that take 30 seconds, but reduce risk
Listen while turning the steering at low speed. If you are allowed to move slightly within the pickup area, a loud thump or rubbing can point to tyre or wheel issues. Do not take the vehicle onto public roads until you are satisfied.
Look for a matching set. Mixed tyres can be fine, but if one tyre looks dramatically newer or different, inspect that corner carefully for recent repairs or damage.
Check for a spare or inflator kit. Some vehicles have a tyre inflator and sealant instead of a spare. Know what you have before leaving, especially if you are driving long distances.
How to store your photos so they are usable later
After you finish, favourite the best images in your gallery or create an album named “MCO pickup”. Keep the walkaround video and the most important defect photos together. If you need to follow up later, you will be able to find them quickly without scrolling through holiday photos.
Also, avoid editing the images heavily. Cropping is fine, but keep the originals so the metadata date and time remain intact.
FAQ
How much tyre wear is too much at Orlando car hire pick-up? If wear bars are close to flush, tread looks very shallow, or wear is uneven, ask for a swap. Any sidewall bulge, deep cut, or exposed cords is an immediate replacement issue.
What exact photos should I take if a tyre looks damaged? Take a full wheel photo, two close-ups of the defect from different angles, a tread close-up showing depth or wear bars, and a short video showing the location on the car. Add a dashboard photo with odometer and any warning lights.
What if the tyre pressure warning light is on at MCO? Photograph the warning, then ask staff to check pressures and clear the alert before you leave. If the light stays on or one tyre reads much lower than the others, request a different vehicle.
Can I swap the vehicle after leaving the airport? It is usually slower once you have exited, because you may need to visit another location or wait for roadside support. If you spot an issue at pick-up, resolve it in the MCO facility before driving away.
Should I accept a quick repair instead of a replacement car? For low pressure from temperature or a minor valve issue, an on-the-spot fix can be fine if the tyre shows no damage and the warning clears. For sidewall damage, bulges, or very worn tread, a replacement vehicle is the safer option.
