steer tire blow out?

I almost blew a steer tire in the 1970s. While hauling bags of chemical to Midland, MI, I could feel something like a wheel balance problem. There was no visible problem with the any of the eighteen tires, no bulges, no cracks. The sidewall of the left steer tire was warmer than the right steer tire. I had a couple of drive tires that were ready to trade in as recappable casings, so I stopped at a tire store in Zeeland where personal checks were accepted from Key Line owner-operators. They installed two new steer tires while moving my old steers to the drives. Within fifty miles, my former steer tire blew out tearing off the mud flap at the back of the tractor.

 

I think with the power steering in the trucks of today the paranoia factor can come down a little. You've just got to hold on tight and steer straight until you're slow enough to pull over. Just don't panic and hit the brakes hard.

But years ago without the power steering you could blow a steer and you were at the mercy of the truck. That's why some old timers will tell you to never put you arm through the steering wheel. That practice was done to help shift the twin sticks with the old 5X4's or whatever.

 

I've lost a couple of steers, one regular on a Super-B and one super-single on a very heavy (~60,000 lbs.) straight truck. Neither one resulted in any drama.

 

what happens if you cant steer straight, cuz the tire wraps around the axle and makes you unable to steer straight.

 

You hold on and counter steer the best you can. Slow to a stop, but don't jam on the brakes. I've had 2 go on me. Last one I was in the middle lane on a 3 lane interstate. Passenger side blew and the truck took off for the center wall. Lots of bumping and banging. Curled the rear of my fender up. Was lucky, I've seen a number of trucks loose half a hood due to a steer tire blowout.

 

yeah , when you cant counter-steer, then you are in trouble. we had a left steer blow and tire wrapped around axle and we went up a bank and rolled on to the interstate in opposite direction and had the front part of the truck torn off by a truck coming at us.

 

Use the Johnson bar to put moderate pressure on the trailer brakes and gently give fuel to the engine while slowing down.