legal steer axle Gross weight

Most of the sleeper trucks ran a 275/70 22.5 in load range J, which gave us the same capacity as the tires Speedy mentioned, although we had to run 130psi to get up to 13,880 Lbs. Most of the new trucks are wearing a 295/60 22.5 LRJ, that's good for 14,800 lbs and is also a bit shorter. This is because the dpf trucks are heavier up front, plus the extra width keeps you out of trouble in the states that have lbs/in restrictions off the Interstate. Those wider tires have to go on 9" wheels to get the higher capacity, but the can be mounted on the 8-1/4" wheels to run them out after they come off the steer. They're too short to match directly next to our drive/trailer tires, but close enough a pair could be run out together on one corner of a tandem with no issues.

And the reason we all don't run those 19.5" wheels is that they take a different brake, and when you get away from standard brakes, the price goes thru the roof.

 

Three things.

1 what is the tire rate for
2 what is the axel rated for
3 what is the state reg for axel weight

 

We may have to change this to the Sterling/Mercedes thread ! LOL. Anyway, truthfully, I never had any problems myself with the Benz engine, but far to many co-workers of mine have. It was so bad, I was considering myself lucky, and waiting for my turn, but it never happened. I have one co-worker with a 2009 with the emission burn off system that has cursed the truck since day one. The sister truck to it went to another co-worker who hasn't had a problem at all !! Go figure. My old Sterling was a Benz powered Cottrell high rack and I loved the way it maneuvered.

 

You more senior drivers can have those Sterlings. I'll keep my International with the big tanks and awful turning radius. Lol.

 

I feel the same way about my old Volvo.

 

Yea I'm not a big fan of the newer Volvos. The tractors longer and taller with a shorter trailer. Plus the bump steer is pretty bad.