How long before replacing steering tires?

Those steers are outstanding by your description. It blows my mind.

I usually get a full set of virgin tires after first frost or when first ice spins the tractor drives trying to turn, say out of the TA in the Knoxville TN area. Once a year. All 10 tires are replaced regardless of wear. And especially inspected to see how much of a good boy I have been to them.

I think it's time to go ahead and replace those steers with the same ones you are on now despite the little hefty cost. Keep those two as valid spares stored against rot or other degradation. You are pretty much coming into the cradle of winter and need every advantage you can get. And nothing is better than a new set of proven performers.

Before you get into all that take a look @Lepton1's recent tire posts. You might have some food for thought.

 

12/10 32nds?? Shoot Run Em-Check em weekly..You got another 3-4 months- Your not over 11k on the steers all the time either I assume.......

Sounds like a darn good tire- I Wont spend that kinds money tho

 

I got 230,000 miles (370,000 km) out of my first set on Michelin xza3+. I run between 11300-11600. Paid about 1200 cdn for the pair, installed, and with casing credit. Resulting in about 0.005 (C$) per mile in steer tire cost. I ran them until they were I think 5 and 6/32, but were definitely at the point of warranting a closer look if going through the scale.

I wanted to get 400,000 km out of them. Then I thought what is the point in that? They were beginning to dry rot, nothing major. I find time is what causes dry rot, not miles. If dry rot gets bad before tread gets thin I will change them also. I decided the risk is not worth the reward to say I got 400k (250mi) out of them. Also why I will only buy top quality Michelin for steers.

@stayinback what's your cost per mile for steers running whichever tires you run?

Edit/add:
I should also say my long steer tire life I attribute to lower front end weight. My drive tires will cost me more. I would imagine setback steer axle trucks are opposite, longer drive life less steer life. Probably increased steering traction in less than ideal conditions. So I suppose it would only really be a fair comparison if you drive a set forward truck like me.

 

Got 224k on my last set of Michelin's, replaced them at 6/32nd. Good tires.

 

Put em on the inside. Usually it's the right two outside trailer ones that get tore up first.

 

I've played around with steers for 100 years......Tried them all But the overpriced Michelins-Goodyears.
I currently Run Cooper R/m's All position, 150k miles per set.... $282.00 +/- 3% From my tire guy . Great Tire,Longevity for the money.
I Wont get 200k As Im always heavy.

Set lasts me about 2 years

 

Yeah I never had to replace the steer tires on any of my trucks they always lasted the two years I drove them.