Retreads on the front axle of a spread axle flatbed?

B.S.

 

Ditto

 

It's not true. However, my carrier's policy is to install only virgin tires on the front axle of a spread.

 

Never had any luck with recaps, and pulling RR trailers, I went through my fair share. If you must, however, have an axle that lifts.

 

BS , turnip truck style.

 

Not illegal but not smart either

 

Waaaaay back in Bias tire days, we had 'full' caps just for the front axle on a spread axle along with strong warnings to not use a regular cap on there...

Radials could/should be different.

 

Old wives tale, just like the guys that tried to say it's illegal to run recaps on a steering axle.

Most truck drivers aren't too bright, never crack a book, and rely on some kind of whisper down the lane method of attempting to know rules and regulations.

No is it a good idea to run them there? Probably not,. Have I done it? Yeah sure I've done it,sometimes you blow tires and that's all you have back at the shop. Nothing illegal about it though

 

I agree, and the reason for this confusion is a misreading of 393.75.

§393.75 Tires.
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated on any tire that—

(1) Has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall,

(2) Has any tread or sidewall separation,

(3) Is flat or has an audible leak, or

(4) Has a cut to the extent that the ply or belt material is exposed.

(b) Any tire on the front wheels of a bus, truck, or truck tractor shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 4⁄32 of an inch when measured at any point on a major tread groove. The measurements shall not be made where tie bars, humps, or fillets are located.

(c) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, tires shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 2⁄32 of an inch when measured in a major tread groove. The measurement shall not be made where tie bars, humps or fillets are located.

(d) No bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels.

(e) A regrooved tire with a load-carrying capacity equal to or greater than 2,232 kg (4,920 pounds) shall not be used on the front wheels of any truck or truck tractor.

(f) No motor vehicle may be operated with speed-restricted tires labeled with a maximum speed of 55 mph or less in accordance with S6.5(e) of FMVSS No. 119 at speeds that exceed the rated limit of the tire.