Irrespective of how carefully you drive your vehicle or how cautiously you choose your routes; you have to replace your existing tires. If you are an owner-operator, you know that this is a costly event. Similarly, you need to take time to choose the right brand, type, and design of tire that satisfies your usual driving experience.
The type of car or any tire that you use should design for your type of driving. Also, you have to consider the truck or trailer’s position for the tire. Typically, three positions are possible and they are tagged as an all-position tire, a trailer axle tire, or a drive axle.
Furthermore, since these tires can be used for various types of vehicles they are also classified for regional, long haul, on/off-road, urban, and off-road. A tyre machine manufacturer might have different designations; however, they will relate to the same purpose.
Steer Tires
Steer tires are for the farming tractors. They are for easy handling and create a smooth ride. These are among those tires that help you turn and corner while retaining good grip and traction on the road. Steer tires can be used in every position. However, they should be installed in those all-important front tractor tires.
The treads of steer tires are also unique. The treads are always designed to push water away from the tire in a ribbed kind of channel design. This aids in keeping the tire on a road during cornering.
Three Signs of Heating Replacement Change
Drive Tires
These tires are workhorses and they require a design that provides outstanding traction while also being durable. Drive tires, unlike trailer tires or all positions, should be used on the torqued axle for optimal efficiency and the best fuel economy.
However, if you are driving on extreme or hard surfaces, like dirt, never on soft gravel, snow, or sand and if you drive on dry road conditions; you might ignore these specialty tires and use all position options.
You need a range of options from block patterns or lug to rib radials. Again, for a bit dry driving conditions, rib radials are adaptable and among the efficient choices. Rib radials contain a lower rolling resistance. It means they permit you to go far without any requirement to use fuel to keep going.
Normally the drive tires will wear the quickest of the multitude of tires on the truck. The reason is the force and the power that they apply making a course to get the apparatus going. This is unquestionably not the arrangement of tires you need to hold back with regards to quality.
Trailer Tires
Trailer tires are manufactured for free roll and resist the friction and pressure during the application of the brake. They are designed too with thicker sideways to diminish the risk of damage because of rubbing on the curb as you pull up to park. Trailer tires are not designed for torque or traction and should be kept away from the steer or drive positions for safety purposes.
Several top suppliers of trailer tires are now designing tires to be puncture-resistant. They are also giving construction options that help them resist to contact pressure, resist heat better to minimize the degradation of the tread over the miles. They also can prevent the tire from becoming extremely rigid in extremely cold weather.
Puncture-resistant trailer tires are also a consideration and are used by several large fleets as a time and cost saving option for long routes as well as short deliveries.
Maintaining Tires
While this appears obvious as it is crucial to ensure that every tire is the same size on your trailer and truck and that they are considered for the load size that you are carrying. It is highly recommended that on a tandem axle if a tire goes flat or requires replacement, don’t wait to change it out with the other side. The reason is when one tire flattens, the remaining tire on the opposite side carries all the weight. This potentially results in structural weakness, which might not be obvious from the outside but can lead to another flat down the road.
Always read the inflation recommendations given on the tires and fill when the tires are cool, prior to driving the trailer. Do not run with tires that are not abiding by the recommended pressure. Because standard pressure is considered by tire experts to be the major cause of tire failures on the road.
Last Word
Since there is zero hard and fast rule, several truckers will find that every tire will need a change after every three to five years. While you can measure this by the wear and tread it is a good idea too to track the miles and change out tires proactive.
Remember that the cost of a flat on the road, especially in road conditions and bad weather, can inflate your tire budget. Always consider your safety on the road by using the best tires possible on your car or truck.
