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Singling out a dual tire position drive axle

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:51 AM.

  1. Nov 21, 2025 at 10:51 AM #1
    Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    Anything technically or mechanically wrong with doing this if you don’t need the weight capacity of 8 tires back there? Ugly/heavy steel inner wheels I want to scrap pile anyway, then maybe save the 4 inner tires and swap those back on when the 4 on the outer aluminum wheels are dead. Could imagine some free HP/MPG gains out of this as well as shaving some serious weight off the truck. (1000 lbs maybe?). They are pretty standard 295/75 22.5 drive tires.
     
    Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:51 AM
    Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:51 AM
    #1
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  3. Nov 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM #2
    Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Legal and GTG if weight is not an n issue.
     
    Big Road Skateboard, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM
    Big Road Skateboard, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM
    #2
    Deezl Smoke Thanks this.
  4. Nov 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM #3
    Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    okay thanks. Neighborhood Tire place next store was giving me flack about it and I just politely said thanks and left. They’re kind of cornballs though. I know T/A locations have told me they’d single out a drive position if I didn’t want to replace a bad tire that day, and I know they don't do anything sketchy for liability reasons. Each of those tires is good for something like 6500 lbs in single position so that’s 26,000 lbs worth of tire already just running 4 if I’m mathing right. A typical full load I haul wouldn’t have me anywhere near that. 15-16k maybe.
     
    Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
    Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
    #3
  5. Nov 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM #4
    xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Leave 4 tires on one axle and take the other axle off to save more weight. If it is a long term solution.
    One axle can carry 20,000#
     
    xsetra, Nov 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
    xsetra, Nov 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
    #4
    Deezl Smoke Thanks this.
  7. Nov 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM #5
    Deezl Smoke

    Deezl Smoke Medium Load Member

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    This is a very viable option as well. Remove the power divider axle completely,.....that is IF,...this fits a budget.

    Running single 295s on two axles is quick, cheap and simple. Only issue that I do know of as I have experienced it, is on rutted roads, with light weight, the handling will be washy. This not a big deal once used to it, unless,.......you have that blasted collision avoidance radar. The computer knows exactly where your steering wheel is pointed, and when your truck's backside starts wondering even a small bit, TC is activated and you can't turn it off. You'd have to get through the ruts, then pull over and shut down for a short period to de-activate the TC.
    Carry a good tire plug kit with you that is made for truck tires, and an air hose long enough to get to the rear most tire. You have no safety net running singles.
     
    Deezl Smoke, Nov 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
    Deezl Smoke, Nov 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
    #5
    Brandonpdx Thanks this.
  8. Nov 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM #6
    xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    OP, My mistake, I was thinking about trailer axles. Even thou your title reads drive axle. Oh well.

    I have removed drive axle from tractor when I was pulling Power Only.

    Your solution is much easier, quicker and cheaper.
     
    xsetra, Nov 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
    xsetra, Nov 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
    #6
  9. Nov 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM #7
    Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    Elkhart, IN
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    That opens up a can of worms mechanically I’d probably never care to deal with, but true enough. I was just looking for a cheap/easy/free mod.

    I may also ditch the 295/75’s at some point and drop down to an ultra low pro two-fiddy-five Continental all-position to counteract those tall ### 2.79 rear gears and pick up some cruising RPMs

    792A6A34-6A7D-4D59-B341-7C05AD7D3B92.jpeg
     
    Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
    Brandonpdx, Nov 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
    #7
  10. Nov 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM #8
    larry_minn

    larry_minn Light Load Member

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    Expect people to freak out. Decades back I was pulling GNFB behind 1 ton pickup. Rear axle brakes locked up. Me wanting to get home. I removed tire/rim. Then jacked up axle, chained it up. So empty 32’ GNFB two axles, 3rd chained up. People blowing horn, pointing. “Yes I know”. If cell phones had been common I expect Police would have been called.
     
    larry_minn, Nov 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
    larry_minn, Nov 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
    #8
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