Tire/Wheel Thread

Don't know if there is any real difference in 22.4-24.5's We've always ran 24.5's but now have a few trailers with 22.5's. The tires are a little cheaper but they also spin more times per mile so I don't know if you could really figure any real cost difference.

With a tire you usually get what you pay for. A cheap Chinese tire (roadmaster or double coin) are exactly that, cheap and won't last.

Don't listen to the hype, recaps are fine. We've ran them for over 20yrs in all temperatures and weather conditions and haven't had a cap failure for as long as I can remember. I strongly recommend using your own casings, so you know their life history and use a good tire shop. A good cap on a junk casing is junk. A good cap on a good casing will last as long if not longer than the original tire.

Super singles are good but ONLY if your going for either fuel economy or weight. They are not cheaper than buying duals and they are barely lighter than 22.5LP. If your going to go with SS's you will only notice the improvement if you go all the way. We have them on grain hoppers but they're as light as they can be already so the tires helped a little more. But a normal OTR truck I can't see them ever being worth it. I just bought 8 Continental 16ply drive tires (not cheap) and 4 Michelin X-One's and the 4 X-ones were almost $400 more than the 8 duals and will last about 1/2 as long.

Aluminum is the only way to go. Lighter, and almost zero maintenance. Guys buy steel because they're cheap, but if they would figure the time cleaning and painting just once (local tire shop charges $50 each) the aluminum wheels are barely more. On a new truck or trailer aluminum wheels are a small up charge.

 

I spent some time talking to Tyrone Malone (Bandag Bandit) and his crew awhile back. These guys raced on Bandag recaps and gave me alot of useful info on how it's done.

The main thing is not tire pressure, it's the condition and prep of the casing being recapped. Tyrone's crew went through hundreds of casings to find the ones that would stand up to their extreme use. Bandag used to be real choosy about accepting casings for capping; rejected far more than they used.

Best piece of advice they gave me? Never, never buy recaps out of stock for best life. Recap your own used casings because you know how they've been run and maintained. You can recap a casing twice this way.

Be sure to mark your casings and write down info like serial numbers, etc from the sidewalls. That way you can be sure you're getting your own tires back.

http://www.tyronemalone.net/

 

A 22.5 tires will turn 504.5 revelutions per mile whilea 24.5 only turns 480.0 hence, the 22.5 will wear out earlier.

 

Don't worry about buying USA only tires. You'll probably never find a complete set all made in the same place even being the same brand or model. On one trailer I've seen tires made in 4 different countries and it's a complete matching set all bought at the same time. Some say Brazil, Great Britain, USA ect. The distributor has no control where they come from when they order them from the MFG.

Super singles are great if your application can benefit from their advantages. But a normal OTR truck hauling normal weight loads would probably never see any benefit.

No normal change intervals, you may rotate them on drive axles due to wear but that's about it.

Yea but their slightly cheaper but I don't know if that ever evens out.

 

Heck just rent them, and return them when they get worn out !!!

http://www.rentawheel.com/howitworks.html

 

The distributor might not but I do. The place I buy from wont even show me a tire thats not made in the States. Same way with the parts store that I go to if there is a part thats made here and 1 thats made elsewhere they wont even tell me about other. If I have a choice I chose the USA.

 

I live in south TX. I run AZ in the summer. Only a fool would run caps in my operation. They simply don't handle the heat. Add in 80k lbs al the time and 75mph and it's a disaster. I don't care what any retread company says