Just some of the stupid things I see

A regrooved tire is NOT the same as a recapped tire.

If you don't want to drive a truck with a recapped steer, that's your decision...you can always seek employment elsewhere if that's what the truck owner chooses to run on his trucks....but there is no law saying you can't run recaps on the steers, and certainly no excuse for a driver to intentionally damage a tire that is perfectly legal just because he doesn't like it.

If you want to have a say in the purchasing decisions, buy a truck of your own and you can choose to buy & run whatever tires your little heart desires. When it isn't your truck, though, it isn't your decision. As long as the tire is legal, you either drive the truck or seek employment elsewhere.

 

Okay, my bad. I misunderstood regrooved tires to be the same as retreaded tires. However, when you find a tire manufacturer who retreads steer tires, let me know, will ya? Not that I'm in the market for tires. I just put virgin rubber all the way around. I'm just curious who would retread a tire and be able to maintain the steer tire rated load capacity of 6,175 pounds.

 

Again, reGROOVED is not the same as reTREADED. The tire ratings on the sidewall of the tires are the same for retreads as they are for virgins, because the case construction is what determines the weight rating, not the tread that is wrapped around it.

 

I am Medicine Man had a drive tire on his steer axle. Whether retreaded or not, it did not have the load capacity required for a steer axle. He was correct in his refusal to move the truck on public roads, even if his method left a little to be desired.

 

Tires aren't rated based upon the tread wrapped around them, but rather by the construction of the case.

For example, I run 11R24.5 LRH Michelin XZE2 steer tires. They are rated 7160 single, 6610 dual. I run 11R24.5 LRH Michelin XDE M/S* drive tires, also rated 7160 single, 6610 dual. There is ZERO difference in load carrying ability.

 

Point taken. I run Dunlop SP384 on my steers and Kelly KDA on my drives. All are 295/75 R22.5. You are right. The weight rating is the same.

Now. Where are our resident gendarmes for this discussion?



Most of us are taught by CDL mills that only new, virgin rubber tires are allowed on the steers.

 

Never went to a CDL school... had mine CDL since 1987... still don't want recaps on the front. Too critical.

 

393.75 only prohibits the use of regrooved tires. I think the problem is after a couple of years folks don't remember that retreads are only prohibited on busses (part 398.)

That being said, my own preference is for new tires with properly maintained air pressure. I wouldn't want to increase my chances of having a steer blowout by using retreads there.

 

Here in Maine it is illegal for you to have recaps on your steers.

 

How about a statute?

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec1917.html

I don't see anything stating it is illegal to run recaps on your steers....

This one deals with regrooved tires specifically....and only bans them (sale & use) unless originally manufactured with extra undertread material.

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec1918.html