Make Recap Tires Illegal

The ideal of making them illegal is good.. The fact is most likly will never happen..

 

Can I ask/add to your statement there? (Didn't feel the need to copy your entire msg) How many times can a casing be recapped before the sidewalls and steel belts are considered too worn out to be used?

 

I'll tell you what my company has learned after a year of study with recaps. Some are good and some are not so good. The company found a better recap company and stayed with them during the whole test to see where they might be best used. They used that company based from information gained from other companies that were doing the same kind of work and had good results.

You'll need to know the background of our vehicles and how they're used. We haul gasoline to our own stations. In CA and AZ they are the small trucks and only load 8500 to 8800 gallons of gasoline. Either way the trucks weigh close as possible to 80,000 lbs. So in one day the amount of time the truck is loaded it's the same time unloaded. The truck stops for about 2 hours a day.

In NV, OR, WA, and UT the trucks are supertankers and can load between 11,250 to 12,450 gallons a load. They weigh up to 110,000 lbs. Same deal there too, they run all day and night with about a 2 hour break.

The problems the company encountered were from the large trucks running in the dessert. Trucks out of the Las Vegas Terminal never got a break from the heat during the summer unlike most of all the rest of the terminals where it might be hot one day then real hot the next. In Vegas it was always over 100° during the day and it didn't cool all that much at night. So we threw a few caps there. However, we only had one truck that ran duals all the way around. The others used Michelin super singles on the 4 axled trailers but ran duals on the drives. And in the cooler months the results were the same as the other terminals.

The company also learned that when the cap does go it destroys the nice fenders and can rip some of the piping out causing a small spill. Along with that comes the lawsuits looking for deep pockets. So the company went back to new Michelins. Also note when this company does a test everyone gets envolved from the manufacture, head mechanic, treminal supervisor, area supervisor, and the procurement supervisor. There's no short cuts.

Basically the end result was initial savings and recap savings. The company would only used two cases before replacement. The tire didn't last any longer than a new tire in fact it was less in some places. So the last time I heard was that the company uses caps in some places and new tires in others. The main focus that came out of the test was the caps do not do very well in hot areas when the truck is loaded heavy (80,000+) all the time.

 

I agree "Gasman". but I also think that alot of it depends on the casing some of these guys are using to be capped. If you don't start with a descent case your cap's not going to last. Also use a reputiable company like "Bandag" to car your old cases. Also "Gasman" I hope this color works better for you. The other color worked good for my old eyes with my dark blue background, but I can see this one pretty good too. So I hope this works. I apologize for any inconvenience. We old guys have to stick together.

 

In 1.5 million miles I never peeled a VIRGIN, look at the spelling. We were leased to Bowman out of Atlanta in the 80s and we peeled 1 recap a week b/n El Paso and Blythe. Co finally quit Bandag, Sure hate recaps, love the VIRGINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

well according to the FMCSR it is illegal to run recaps on the steer axle period. No exceptions.

 

It works great, thank you so much. I agree the casings must be in perfect shape or your doomed from the start. We would start from our worn out michelins and I know they inspected the cases very closely.

The way I look at it if I was an O/O I'd run good caps except the steer. If I was a company man I'd want new tires, but of course than it wouldn't be left to me to decide.

 

Where does it say that?

10. Tires.
a. Any tire on any steering axle of a power unit.
(1) With less than 4/32 inch tread when measured at any point on a major tread groove.
(2) Has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall.
(3) Has any tread or sidewall separation.
(4) Has a cut where the ply or belt material is exposed.
(5) Labeled "Not for Highway Use" or displaying other marking which would exclude use on steering axle.
(6) A tube-type radial tire without radial tube stem markings. These markings include a red band around the tube stem, the word "radial" embossed in metal stems, or the word "radial" molded in rubber stems.
(7) Mixing bias and radial tires on the same axle.
(8} Tire flap protrudes through valve slot in rim and touches stem.
(9) Regrooved tire except motor vehicles used solely in urban or suburban service (see exception in §393.75(e).
(10) Boot, blowout patch or other ply repair.
(11) Weight carried exceeds tire load limit. This includes overloaded tire resulting from low air pressure.
(12) Tire is flat or has noticeable (e.g., can be heard or felt) leak.
(13) Any bus equipped with recapped or retreaded tire(s).
(14) So mounted or inflated that it comes in contact with any part of the vehicle.


b. All tires other than those found on the steering axle of a power unit:
(1) Weight carried exceeds tire load limit. This includes overloaded tire resulting from low air pressure.
(2) Tire is flat or has noticeable (e.g., can be heard or felt) leak.
(3) Has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall.
(4) Has any tread or sidewall separation.
(5) Has a cut where ply or belt material is exposed.
(6) So mounted or inflated that it comes in contact with any part of the vehicle. (This includes a tire that contacts its mate.)
(7) Is marked "Not for highway use" or otherwise marked and having like meaning.
(8} With less than 2/32 inch tread when measured at any point on a major tread groove.



That only applies to steering axles on buses



http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/appng.htm

Don't believe everything truck driving schools and company trainers tell you. Most of them are just a bunch of brain dead dipsticks. Read for yourself

Anything they tell you has a good probability of being wrong. Check things out for yourself. You have a computer and know how to Google don't you?

 

Well then I guess it's to each is own. IMO I believe if you start with a good casing like Michelin or Bridgestone, and have it capped by a reptiable place they will last as long as the driver takes care of them. Plus if your buyin 8 at a time the cost difference is astromical. P.S. No problem "GasHauler" as I said before I know the problem with old eyes. LOL.

 

Mr. Student could you please give us a reference on that one?