2-4-or 8 drive tires delema

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Ezrider_48501, Jul 6, 2013.

  1. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    iv got 4 recap drives on my rear drive with 85-90% tread left.

    i was hoping to get them down close to 50% before i was needing to pull my front set. and swap all 8 to 11r22.5's however the rubber is kinda dry on the front set. then last week hauling out of a scoria pit with a really nasty hill i spun tires a little trying to make it up the hill and tore some pretty good hunks of tread out of one of my front drives.

    so now i have a delema. i tried to find a used matched pair to replace the bad tire but no luck finding anything available. so my choices are pull all 8 now for some 11r22.5's and try to resell my almost new lp 22.5 caps or put more lp's on when I'm wanting to get rid of the lp's to start with.

    i don't really want to spend the money on 8 tires right now. but it seems not cost effective to be throwing more lp's at the truck. and if i throw 2 at it now ill probably end up throwing 2 more (4 total) on it later and then have to run them all out before pulling them for 11r's that would probably put me into next year before i get to put 11r's on the truck

    throwing 4 lp's is probably most cost effective as i would be able to run all tires all the way out before replacing but i could really use the extra ground clearance of 11r's

    if you were in my situation would you replace 2-4 or 8 drive tires.
     
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  3. coastie

    coastie Road Train Member

    I once knew an owner of a Trucking company who would put 8 on to have them all matched. He never worried about the cost for it all came out even at the end. He also never put used tires on his trucks or trailers. Tread got to 50% they came off and new went on. Sold the used tires to Logging trucks. But that was some 30years + back. That company is out of business but not cause he did not make it. He sold out to retire, and Shelton bought the company for then the hauling rights and closed the company. Then DeRegulation happen
     
  4. Wolfyinc

    Wolfyinc Road Train Member

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    If you can afford it or find the cash somewhere I would just swap them all, I know you will be spending a good dime but in the long run its the better choice, my buddy who is an o/o usually does half a set then the other half a few months later but you want to completely change what you have.
    Do you set aside a good maintenance account to pay for this kind of stuff?
     
  5. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    iv got enough to pay for it but i just got threw 30 days of running with no money coming in and the checks are just starting to come in and i just put some money back into the truck on some other issues.

    basicly in other words my company still has money but i was hoping to be able to write myself a paycheck soon but instead i may be putting it into drive tires...lol

    another couple weeks and i will be in a better position to spend that kinda cabbage on tires
     
  6. paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

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    If only 1 tire was hurt why not just replace that one with a used tire then replace 4 or 8 at a time that is better for you?
     
  7. Container Hauler

    Container Hauler Light Load Member

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    Droid RAZR m
     
  8. Boka

    Boka Light Load Member

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    I would also suggest putting all 8 new virgins instead throwing more money on recaps. I remember when i first started driving a truck i had almost all different caps on since they were blowing up every week, so one day my boss calls a guy to put all 8 new recaps on (he figured they were blowing up because of uneven thread and different make). Anyhow i started driving and sure enough 100 miles down the road i had a flat tire(well wasn't even flat just a good chunk of a thread got unglued and fell off), so i called my boss to tell him that and he was pissed as hell. He also told me to find a first truck stop and put all virgin tires on and call him for a bill to pay lol

    Sorry i kind of wrote too much lol but i think you'll make a good call as what to do
     
  9. paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

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  10. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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    I don't like replacing tires less than 4 at a time either, or at least two like you are saying. However, in your situation, it sounds like what you really want is to switch to 11R's. Maybe the best thing is to just find any old low pro 22.5 to replace the damaged tire and run awhile like that. put your used ones on ebay and get the 11R's in a few weeks or months. Those back 4 will still be a nice matched set for somebody, just a bit less tread, you won't be out much over switching now.
     
  11. 15 over

    15 over Light Load Member

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    I only put tires on 4 at a time, I do each axle or nothing. However I also despise recaps and will never have them on any of my trucks or trailers. Spend the couple extra bucks and get you a good set of tires, it will actually save you money in the long run, by not having tire issues all the time.
     
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