T/A and tire prices

I have priced tires at my normal tire shop and T/A for several years and just about every brand and tire number I have looked at I was able to get them at almost $100, give or take, less at my tire dealer than at T/A. And I get better service where I go as well. T/A is ok on an occasional basis for a quick repair, but I avoid them when I can.

 

Since your on the subject tires, what kind of mileage are getting from a set there's only 18 of those cheap rubber bands on those who have a trailer in tow? Steers and drivers must be accounted for, yet nobody seems to talk about it in the post? Anybody got an opion

 

Always check the date the tire was manufactured it will be on the side. I bought two Michelin drive tires two years ago and didn't look at the date and they must of been lost in the warehouse for awhile because they were three years old at the time of purchase. Six months later they started to crack on the sidewalls and I noticed the date and went back to the dealer and raised hell but the dealer nor Michelin doesn't give a crap and would not stand behind it so no more Michelin tires for me.

 

Steers...120,000+ Then I run them out on the trailer.

Drives...175,000 to 200,000 (Virgin tires)

Trailer...(spread axle) It depends on whether they're runouts or fresh (I DON'T RUN RECAPS!) Runouts will usually go 20,000 or so and virgins will go 150,000 or so.

Keep'em aired up and watch what you're running over so you don't wreck them prematurely.

 

Wow, knock me over. I had heared stories but thought it might be b/s. I've ran dumps for years and never got even close to that, even if they managed not get destroyed. so much more twisting and turning i'm sure. Thank's I did'nt have a clue. I may have to become a real truck drive don't you know! lol
Thanks diggerGreg

 

I got about 18 months out of my last set of tires. Could have gone 2 years on them if things had been different, but the alignment got knocked out and chewed up one of the steers, and the drives still had a little life left on the outsides (6/32), but due to some bad rims, the insides were toast. So, since I bought 'em all new, I sent the steers in for caps...then bought 4 used tires. I put the used tires on the right side, and rotated the outside drives over to the left. When I got the steers back from the tire shop, I dropped off the 4 inside tires to get capped. I just got them back last Friday and put them on the left side Saturday morning and got the last 4 drives over to the tire shop to go out on Monday's trailer to get capped. When I get them back, they'll go on the right side where the used tires are, and I'll give them to the tire shop to resell as used or send in for credit on the cases.

I suppose I shouldn't complain...still managed around 130,000 out of the original tread....11R24.5 Michelin XZE2 LRH on the steer, and 11R24.5 Michelin XDE M/S* LRH on the drives. I do MOSTLY dump work, with some pneumatic tank loads thrown in just for spice...even a dry van every once in a while, with the possibility of flatbed, liquid tank, and side dump, too. If it's a trailer and the load pays, I'll hook to it and pull it. I'm home most every night, but I'm apportioned in most of the lower 48 (No CA, NY, or points beyond) and will run anything anywhere if the pay is right.

 

As an aside on the tire milage questions, the life is quite dependant on the area one runs. Running Florida and back is not conducive to great tire life, due to the heat.

 

where do you find tire shops that deal with truck tires? I cant say i've ever seen one besides a dealer and a truckstop?

 

Sullivan Tire here in Bow NH.

 

Most of the tire shops around here do truck tires....farm tires too.