regroovable tires

They can be as long as you didn't get down into the steel belting. The reason most places won't accept grooved tires as casing credit is because they won't know if you got into the belt until it gets xrayed at the recap plant. At a tire ship this is weeks after the point of sale. But if you recap your own tires this isn't an issue. In that scenario you nevet know if you got good casings until you get three call from the plant and they say yes, we will cap these, or no we won't cap these tires.

In my opinion the only way to run recaps is by using your own casings. It really limits the risk.

 

I run caps on my drives.
I only buy new for the trailer 17.5. this is why I'm researching regrooving. I think I will do it to my trailer tires.

 

Do not totally agree with you as to my understanding there is buffer or bonding rubber between the belts and the tread rubber. Cutting into that normally causes automatic rejection for recapping. For best capping do not run them to thin. Or just regroove them and run them out.
100% with only capping your own casings. The math and reliability does not work buying casings.
Just my opinion and I appreciate yours.

 

There are some restrictions on regrooving steer tires. It maybe just on bias tires.

 

Just repeating what the tire rep at gcr said to me when i asked him about recapping my own casings. He said as long as i didn't get into the steel it was fine.

Two things to note. First, just cause he said that doesnt mean he was right, tho it is his job to know that. This isn't some truck stop tire shop cashier, he was a fleet salesman/rep for an actual tire manufacturer, and i got the impression he knew what he was taking about. The kind of guy you want to do business with. 2nd thing: i never sent them my tires for capping cause of concerns about the age of the casings. I dont run a lot of miles so by the time my tires are worn down the casings are 6+ years old.

 

If you've never done it before expect a learning curve. You might want to practice on a junk tire first. Also be prepared to have to buy tires right away, those 17.5s run hotter than a 22.5. I have no idea how well they will hold up after grooving. The might do fine just like my 22.5s or they might peel the tread off the first tight turn you make.

Edit to add: also on my flatbed i have plenty of room to do it with the tires mounted on the trailer. On a drop deck you are probably gonna have to remove them, if you gotta pay a shop to do this, i don't think its worth it.

 

I have seen a lot of people do that over the years but mostly years ago. The tool I have has four different heat settings and different width blades are available. The cutting depth is also adjustable. Salesman from Myers Tire said that is what most serious tire regroovers use. I bought that 20+ years ago but try not to be very serious about it. Some people have what looks like an over grown wood burner ( carver ) and do exceptional work. Some just make four straight lines around the tire. I even saw a 10:00-20 trailer tire regrooved to match the XDHT? matting dual. It is a little like painting. Some people just cannot make it work out regardless of the equipment.
To my understanding if a tire is marked as regroovable that means it has 4 or 6/32nds more of tread compound rubber below the bottom of the major tread grooves. That means it can be regrooved with the same expected mileage per 32nd barring irregular wear and such.
From the different companies I have worked with and compiling their information I look at it like this.
It you are recapping tires it is best to pull them before 2/32. In the recap process the casings are chucked up on the beads. Then spun while grinding on the outside truing them up. That little bit of rubber is needed as a buffer zone. If they have been regrooved they are probably not able to be recapped.
Regrooving here is usually limited to flat spots on trailer tires turned 180 and running them out. One shallow groove on a used steer tire for use on an axle that lost a tire. Then run them all out.
11R-24.5 casing are stacking up since recaps are not ran on the new aluminum fender units here. May try grooving some of those and see if the loggers will buy them. No scrap disposal fee that way.

 

I bought the tool today from alstine.
I plan on regrooving my trailer tires.
17.5's to small to recap. Recaps don't do well on the spread axle.
My last trailer had 19.5's. capped tires were ok in the cooler months. Not in the summer.
I will have enough room to work them on the trailer.

Figured i would just do the major grooves. Mostly around the low spots from turning.
My tires only last about 9 months now. Hoping to stretch that a little.

I now have a weight gauge on trailer and I can slide the front axle.
Gonna try to slide more and extend my tires life.
Thanks for the input.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

Looks similar to mine. Some pointers: When you push the blade into the tire it pushes the electrical contacts together inside the tool. That heats the blade and helps cut the rubber. If you stay on it the blade will melt. Use constant steady pressure. Cut a short distance and release a moment to cool. Normally push and turn on the next angle, then repeat. Keep the nose down and do not have your other hand in front of it holding the tire. Excessive smoke means it is to hot by setting and or duration. Requiring excessive pressure means the temperature is set to low and or the blade is dull. The blades can be touched up with a flat and chainsaw file extending their life.
A 17.5 is not to small to recap but what was your bad experience with spread axle caps?