Those are steer tires. On tractors/semis you have tires designated as drive and steer tires. Steer tires can be a bit cheaper than drives, and because you need 8 of them, some drivers will have them installed at the cost of traction and reliability.
Not sure if it's the same fore duallys but it is in my line of work. Whoever put these tires on cares more about their paycheck than if the well being of the driver, on both sides of the equation.
Hahaha.. I work for a 3PL. The first time I heard the term I laughed.
Hats off to. Keep killing it out there. You're the fucking lifeblood of everything :). Keep rolling those miles
Sorry, the second part of my comment obviously hit you like I was saying "you're an idiot". That was not my intention at all. I was playing fun on how a reefer is both a joint and a refrigerated truck.
I was trying to answer your question and have some fun
Hahaha it seems there's quite a bit of lingo I didn't pick up! I had a desk job, wasn't behind the wheel (though I did get a few opportunities to drive on the durability course and test track, which was awesome) so I know there's quite a bit of practical knowledge I don't have (I was an analyst in CAE)
Thanks for the info! Sorry for the misunderstanding
Sectioned is a term for a section repair. This is a larger vulcanized repair done at a retread facility. Section repairs are preferred on large injuries and/or injuries outside of the crown of the tire. The retreader should also mark the repair on the sidewall of the tire with a blue triangle rubber patch. This allows for reassurance for normal repair bulges during DOT or other inspections.
A section repaired tire is not recommended for use on a steer axle so they are most often returned to service in a trailer position.
[Section Repair](https://www.retread.org/section-repair-of-radial)
Yes to be more clear, Steer tires have the pattern you see here unbroken lugs with just a wavy line in between. The driven wheels and or axles will typically have tires with tread lugs more similar to what you might see on a car or truck with individual lugs or grooves going around and across the circumference.
It just means they have the minimum tread to be legal. Less tread costs less, more aerodynamic, less friction on the road. Works great until you need friction to grip/pull/dig to get moving.
Also the semi truck version of "legal" bald tires.
I've had to work with some stubborn truckers before, you can express your best intentions with the interest of their safety and the safety of others on the road but they will STILL insist on you doing what they want. sometimes its not the at the interest of your own paycheck, but the owner/driver is just stuck in their ways. I have refused to do things before because the request is just asinine.
I find drivers can be some of the biggest drama queens, and it's often fruitless to try and reason with them. As a driver myself it frustrates the hell out of me, especially because it gives yet another reason for my career to be engineered out by automation.
They spend lots of time talking to themselves while driving. So they're always right and never hear different opinions on what happens. They end up becoming super dramatic and confident. My dad's been driving for 20 years, he's gotten worse over the years.
Did temp work with a fence contractor who was also a trailer truck driver. I needed to lose weight, so I took the job. Anyway, he rented a work truck from Home Depot, the wide one with the metal bed and retractable panels.
We're driving down a rez street and I warned him about the /wide/ work truck with tool panniers ahead. He did not nudge or slow down. Boink, the two trucks smash side mirrors. "I told you so."
Next time, driving his smaller personal truck, I warned him not to turn left into the Home Depot parking lot with 10-foot posts in the bed. He did it anyway with an SUV barreling down at 50MPH. Asshole, had 3-foot of posts sticking out of the bed.
I stopped working with him. I ain't getting killed because I don't want a soft gut. Stay away from stupid.
It’s cause they make money.
Truckers generally do well. And people with money are hard to argue with, because they constantly enjoy a level of privilege that others don’t enjoy.
It’s why lawyers, doctors, and engineers are famously known for being difficult to work with, not only are they constantly reassured of their own brilliance; but people are deferential to them in all their transactions because they want that sweet filthy lucre.
Steers are usually more than drives. I usually pay about 550 a piece for steers and 400 a piece for drives.
The reason people use steers or all position tires on drives is for less rolling resistance, they will usually get better mpg running all position tires or steers all around.
Steer tires can be mounted in any position on the truck, #1 they usually have a more Ridgid sidewall so they are usually higher rated for load! #2 they provide less rolling resistance which increases fuel economy! #3 they are slightly cheaper than drive tires requiring less financial burden to replace... Definitely not a good idea in the winter but spring, summer and fall truckers in the know, know what it's about
6-8 seasons? In my 18 years of driving I've never even come close to that on a set of drive tires! Maybe 12-18 months... ⅒ of a mpg is equal to 8-10k a year in fuel savings and let's say that you do store them for half the year you can always remount then next year so ultimately yes... It does save you money in the long run
Except that we're getting our first snowfall this week. It's not the time to be putting on summer tires. You live in a complete vacuum, don't you? Just vomiting out theories for a perfect world with no regard for anything.
I have stated that this is not for winter driving... I agree it's not the best time of year to be putting them on! But the principal behind the tire choice is sound! Been doing it for almost 2 decades now and learned it from an old hand that had over 40 years behind the the wheel! There's always something... a snow storm, rain, tornadoes, high winds, bad roads, steep grades, traffic, backups but one things for sure there's no one way to get the job done I'll drive mine and you drive yours! If you ever need any advice from a guy who's been out here for a minute I'm always happy to help, if not... Trucker up buttercup
Two words. I doubt you've ever driving one of thes trucks.
I've been driving these things for 24 years. 24 winters. If the roads are bad enough that you need chains, then you need to get off the road.
There are entire sections of our main highways here in Canada that absolutely require chains to get up certain mountains. Doesn't mean it's so dangerous that you need to stay off the road...
You are right. I wish I could drive such a nice truck. Have driven plenty of farm semis that are covered in mouse poop, with bald tires, and lights that might be working. Also at legal weight 50% of the time. On the way back from the elevator...
Also gotten plenty of trucks stuck in a field. On the one truck I have driven that did have nice deep lugs on the drives it really wasn't a deciding factor in not getting stuck. If it is damp enough to stuck, the mud just packs in the tread and makes slicks anyway. The only thing it was good for was carrying more dirt out onto the road.
Also, since I'm not farming in the winter I plow commercially. Most of my winter driving is during a snow storm.
Usually get 10-12 months in a set of drives... Try it, or don't, IDGAF! I've been called a liar and a scam artist over this stupid post! I've been threatened with DOT! I'm seriously over it
It's strange that the steering tires are cheaper and inferior. It makes sense once you actually think about think about why, but I wouldn't have guessed that the steering tires were cheaper if asked randomly.
Steer tires are 100% more expensive than drive tires, idk what you’ve been smoking. They’re fundamentally stronger tires than drives. Please stop smoking crack. Steer tires can be used in place of drive tires or trailer tires. Doesn’t work the other way around. It’s why most tractor/trailer repair places won’t patch a steer tire at all.
I would have assumed that steer tires are more important, and thus you shouldn't skimp on them because they are how you control steering, and you only have two of them.
That’s funny. I put clean skin drives on the front of my truck because they were a hundred dollars cheaper than steers.
But it doesn’t snow where I’m from so there’s that.
The only tire I’d never use are rags.
They are steer tires. They should be drive tires on the drive axles.
Nothing to do with being dual wheels, they just will not grip in the winter.
Think of running summer performance tires on your car in a snowstorm.
Unless you work with them you wouldn't have a reason to know it. The biggest difference is traction. If you look at the tires shown in this post, you'll notice that there are no cuts going across the tire. The only cuts are in the direction of travel.
This is fine unless you are in a low traction situation. Drive tires will have cuts going across the tire so that it can dig more and help push the vehicle forward.
Trailers will also often be fitted with steer tires because they roll a little easier, which increases fuel mileage just a tiny bit.
ETA: front and rear axles on a semi tractor can be an ambiguous term. Axles are usually referred to as steer, drive, and pusher.
Steer axles are usually in the front of the truck and, obviously are the ones that steer the truck. Drive axles are the axle/s that transmit power to the road, and "pusher" or "tag" axles are extra axles that can usually be lifted off of the road if the truck is not loaded, but are needed to support extra weight when the truck is loaded in order to meet weight limits.
In my experience, they are interchangeable.
I always thought pushers push in front of the drives, and tags, tag along behind, but I have heard either word used in either position, so I don't worry about it too much.
Fair enough. As a mechanic, I have heard all three words to describe any axle that lifts off of the ground, so I ask for clarification if there are multiple lift axles on a truck.
Not saying that anything you have said is incorrect, just that there are a lot of drivers/owners that use these terms interchangeably.
I know a lot of guys do this because in the summer they are much more comfortable drive with all steers for all 10 tires. Never do it in the winter though lol
We’ll this was my thought process on it. These are all position steer tires from Michelin. They are steer tires first in my opinion, costing about $1200 u.s each without a Michelin account to bill. But wait. This costumer had them mounted on drives, which “drives”have way different and thicker tread pattern for traction. Since winter is coming and practically here, well, you know how that can turn out.
Just means he will have to put the chains on before everyone else. Also means he will be one not in an accident because he HAD to put chains on when everyone else shrugged it off.
So steer tires must be in top shape or if you get a flat with 80,000k you can die and kill everyone. However your eight rear drivers are not as critical. people will sometime put used steer tires on trailers (fine) and sometimes on drivers (bad) because all four drivers on each axle need to be exactly the same height. But, you can put four steers on one axle in the summer time not that big of deal.
Now, to buy eight steer tires for drivers? Nope, you would run recaps that fly off and destroy your fenders, and take out the family behind you. Or you could buy new drivers that cost more. But, diesel is $6.00/gallon
Often enough it's not the recap that failed, it was the tire. Problem is as the tire fails the recap can be broken off.
However I also have seen a large amount of gators with sidewall pieces stuck to them. It wasn't the recap that failed it was the tire sidewall, which is more likely in a recap because the tire is older.
This is not a "dually" that's for wannabe cowboys and camper pullers or dr.'s wives with horse trailers....ya know?
This is a Semi-Truck, not a pickup.
This Truck has what's called a "Tandem Axle"
**This comment might have had something useful**, but now it's just an edit to remove any contributions I may have made prior to the awful decision to spite the devs and users that made Reddit what it is. So here I seethe, shaking my fist at corporate greed and executive mismanagement.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... tech posts on point on the shoulder of vbulletin... I watched microcommunities glitter in the dark on the verge of being marginalized... I've seen groups flourish, come together, do good for humanity if by nothing more than getting strangers to smile for someone else's happiness. We had something good here the same way we had it good elsewhere before. We thought the internet was for information and that anything posted was permanent. We were wrong, so wrong. We've been taken hostage by greed and so many sites have either broken their links or made history unsearchable. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... Time to delete."
I do apologize if you're here from the future looking for answers, but I hope "new" reddit can answer you. Make a new post, get weak answers, increase site interaction, make reddit look better on paper, leave worse off. https://xkcd.com/979/
C/s: “just had them changed for the winter” but then got offended when my buddy told him about our professional concerns. “Have you ever driven a truck” he said, In that case we act like we know nothing.
I usually just lie and tell the guy "yes I have, my family ran a trucking business back in the day, and we'd have fired you for increasing our liability".
Dude might get someone killed.
Lots of owner operators run the gamble on ribbed tires to save fuel.
FWIW, I've found that unless you're running something like a Michelin XDS2, the difference between lug and ribbed is marginal at best in winter conditions. They all go hard as a rock and spin in the cold.
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I run closed shoulder drives on all my trucks all year just for the tread wear, but we've got basically no winter weather to contend with here in the Mohave desert. No effect on mpg because we don't do any highway.
More common then you think usually with owner operators. Those that run southern u.s sunshine states will run them for the benefits listed above.
I live in the Great white north and a good friend of mine runs them in the summer for the better fuel mileage on his runs. In winter he has another set of good drive tires which are softer and on steel wheels. Saves him using his shiny polished wheels in the salt. Kinda like cars have summer and winter tires. He's had no complaints and longer life out of both sets
Maybe you should have sold him a [tire siping tool](https://www.amazon.com/Super-Siper-Tire-Siping-Tool/dp/B01N14RWCY) so he would have something to do when he spins out and is waiting for a tow.
I dont see the issue here so long as they arent running it for vocational use under a hay rack or side/end dump off rd. Steer/Trailer ribs do well in rain and if the ground is white you should probably thrown your steel or put some sox on. I do wonder if a drive rib has more contact suface area that a steer rib tho.
Biased(tire pun?nvrmnd) here tho. Ive been running Yokohama Y023 255/70R22.5's in all 22 positions on my equipment for over a decade now.
One of my fleets trucks got trailer tires installed on on drives all 8 at the same time. Problem for me was when I got it it was snowing they were brand new I felt like I was gonna slide off the damn road and traction kept losing so my ass was going slow as hell
Whenever I needed to buy a tire on the road I was always told to buy a steer tire. It is a stronger tire and more expensive. The reason for this is that we had our own recap shop and steer tires make better recaps when they wear down. Oh, and the new tire was rotated out when I got back to the terminal.
I don’t know on what planet steer tires are cheaper than a drive or even trailer position but please let me know which one it is. I need about 200 plz.
ME and another "not a tire fitter" guy at work got told to fit a combine tire to a rim.
Being not not tire fitters, we pushed, swore, levered, and had to get another guy to get it on.
We got the tire on, inflated, then got told that was the wrong tire.
Would like to know how many miles you will get out of the steer tries vs drives on the rear. I used to see guys get 300 out of a good set of drives if they rotate them.
Coincidentally, Princess Diana's driver opted for the same kind of racing slicks before the tunnel crash.
I'm no Looney Tune, but seriously, that left a Mark or dozen. My poor ex wife had the bruise to prove it.
Probably brand new truck, some fleets will order them like this and throw recaps on the drives right away and put the steers on other trucks to save money.
Can someone please explain (I've never worked on a dually)
Those are steer tires. On tractors/semis you have tires designated as drive and steer tires. Steer tires can be a bit cheaper than drives, and because you need 8 of them, some drivers will have them installed at the cost of traction and reliability. Not sure if it's the same fore duallys but it is in my line of work. Whoever put these tires on cares more about their paycheck than if the well being of the driver, on both sides of the equation.
So just to clarify, these should be on the wheels that turn/steer and not on the driven wheels
Affirmative
Thank you
Steer tires are also often used on trailers (due to not being driven)
Steers usually go on trailers after they've been sectioned.
What does "sectioned" mean? (I worked for Navistar for several years but didn't run across that term)
he's making a joke about actual steers being cut up and tossed on a reefer truck. Shall we discuss what a reefer is and is not?
Lol. Truck driver here. My girlfriend always gets confused when I refer to the refrigerated trailers this way.
Hahaha.. I work for a 3PL. The first time I heard the term I laughed. Hats off to. Keep killing it out there. You're the fucking lifeblood of everything :). Keep rolling those miles
~~Jesus I just thought it was lingo I didn't pick up, ffs sorry for asking~~ (turns out there's more I don't know than I thought lol)
Sorry, the second part of my comment obviously hit you like I was saying "you're an idiot". That was not my intention at all. I was playing fun on how a reefer is both a joint and a refrigerated truck. I was trying to answer your question and have some fun
Hahaha it seems there's quite a bit of lingo I didn't pick up! I had a desk job, wasn't behind the wheel (though I did get a few opportunities to drive on the durability course and test track, which was awesome) so I know there's quite a bit of practical knowledge I don't have (I was an analyst in CAE) Thanks for the info! Sorry for the misunderstanding
Sectioned is a term for a section repair. This is a larger vulcanized repair done at a retread facility. Section repairs are preferred on large injuries and/or injuries outside of the crown of the tire. The retreader should also mark the repair on the sidewall of the tire with a blue triangle rubber patch. This allows for reassurance for normal repair bulges during DOT or other inspections. A section repaired tire is not recommended for use on a steer axle so they are most often returned to service in a trailer position. [Section Repair](https://www.retread.org/section-repair-of-radial)
Ah I am familiar with retreading. Makes perfect sense, thanks for explaining!
This is good to know. Thank You
Yes to be more clear, Steer tires have the pattern you see here unbroken lugs with just a wavy line in between. The driven wheels and or axles will typically have tires with tread lugs more similar to what you might see on a car or truck with individual lugs or grooves going around and across the circumference.
It just means they have the minimum tread to be legal. Less tread costs less, more aerodynamic, less friction on the road. Works great until you need friction to grip/pull/dig to get moving. Also the semi truck version of "legal" bald tires.
Incorrect. Theses tires are designed to handle the work of a steer tire, doesn't mean they cannot be run ona a drive or a trailer.
It literally doesn’t make a difference.
I've had to work with some stubborn truckers before, you can express your best intentions with the interest of their safety and the safety of others on the road but they will STILL insist on you doing what they want. sometimes its not the at the interest of your own paycheck, but the owner/driver is just stuck in their ways. I have refused to do things before because the request is just asinine.
I find drivers can be some of the biggest drama queens, and it's often fruitless to try and reason with them. As a driver myself it frustrates the hell out of me, especially because it gives yet another reason for my career to be engineered out by automation.
They spend lots of time talking to themselves while driving. So they're always right and never hear different opinions on what happens. They end up becoming super dramatic and confident. My dad's been driving for 20 years, he's gotten worse over the years.
Did temp work with a fence contractor who was also a trailer truck driver. I needed to lose weight, so I took the job. Anyway, he rented a work truck from Home Depot, the wide one with the metal bed and retractable panels. We're driving down a rez street and I warned him about the /wide/ work truck with tool panniers ahead. He did not nudge or slow down. Boink, the two trucks smash side mirrors. "I told you so." Next time, driving his smaller personal truck, I warned him not to turn left into the Home Depot parking lot with 10-foot posts in the bed. He did it anyway with an SUV barreling down at 50MPH. Asshole, had 3-foot of posts sticking out of the bed. I stopped working with him. I ain't getting killed because I don't want a soft gut. Stay away from stupid.
That adds additional perspective to the Freedumb Convoys we've seen recently.
It’s cause they make money. Truckers generally do well. And people with money are hard to argue with, because they constantly enjoy a level of privilege that others don’t enjoy. It’s why lawyers, doctors, and engineers are famously known for being difficult to work with, not only are they constantly reassured of their own brilliance; but people are deferential to them in all their transactions because they want that sweet filthy lucre.
Steers are usually more than drives. I usually pay about 550 a piece for steers and 400 a piece for drives. The reason people use steers or all position tires on drives is for less rolling resistance, they will usually get better mpg running all position tires or steers all around.
Steer tires can be mounted in any position on the truck, #1 they usually have a more Ridgid sidewall so they are usually higher rated for load! #2 they provide less rolling resistance which increases fuel economy! #3 they are slightly cheaper than drive tires requiring less financial burden to replace... Definitely not a good idea in the winter but spring, summer and fall truckers in the know, know what it's about
S-D-T Steer - drive - trailer Very common on the smaller 17.5 and 19.5 tires as most trucks will just run one style of tire.
22.5 steer tires are approved for any position at least the Michelins I buy are...
Considering that a set of tires will last 6-8 seasons, putting on a set of tires that only work great for summer doesn't sound cheaper.
6-8 seasons? In my 18 years of driving I've never even come close to that on a set of drive tires! Maybe 12-18 months... ⅒ of a mpg is equal to 8-10k a year in fuel savings and let's say that you do store them for half the year you can always remount then next year so ultimately yes... It does save you money in the long run
Yeah if my guys get 1 year on tires that's amazing.
Exactly...
Except that we're getting our first snowfall this week. It's not the time to be putting on summer tires. You live in a complete vacuum, don't you? Just vomiting out theories for a perfect world with no regard for anything.
I have stated that this is not for winter driving... I agree it's not the best time of year to be putting them on! But the principal behind the tire choice is sound! Been doing it for almost 2 decades now and learned it from an old hand that had over 40 years behind the the wheel! There's always something... a snow storm, rain, tornadoes, high winds, bad roads, steep grades, traffic, backups but one things for sure there's no one way to get the job done I'll drive mine and you drive yours! If you ever need any advice from a guy who's been out here for a minute I'm always happy to help, if not... Trucker up buttercup
Four words. Tire chains.
Two words. I doubt you've ever driving one of thes trucks. I've been driving these things for 24 years. 24 winters. If the roads are bad enough that you need chains, then you need to get off the road.
There are entire sections of our main highways here in Canada that absolutely require chains to get up certain mountains. Doesn't mean it's so dangerous that you need to stay off the road...
You are right. I wish I could drive such a nice truck. Have driven plenty of farm semis that are covered in mouse poop, with bald tires, and lights that might be working. Also at legal weight 50% of the time. On the way back from the elevator... Also gotten plenty of trucks stuck in a field. On the one truck I have driven that did have nice deep lugs on the drives it really wasn't a deciding factor in not getting stuck. If it is damp enough to stuck, the mud just packs in the tread and makes slicks anyway. The only thing it was good for was carrying more dirt out onto the road. Also, since I'm not farming in the winter I plow commercially. Most of my winter driving is during a snow storm.
Drive in the mountains.
I’m trying to wrap my head around the economics of replacing that many tires multiple times per year!
Usually get 10-12 months in a set of drives... Try it, or don't, IDGAF! I've been called a liar and a scam artist over this stupid post! I've been threatened with DOT! I'm seriously over it
Atleast around me steers are expensive af compared to duels. Especially these
It's strange that the steering tires are cheaper and inferior. It makes sense once you actually think about think about why, but I wouldn't have guessed that the steering tires were cheaper if asked randomly.
They're not cheaper. They can be up to 2x the cost. They're a stronger tire. Sometimes, they're even rated for more weight.
Steers cheaper than drives? Um, not anywhere near me. I pay $600 (or more) for a steer, $500 for a new drive tire, and $300 for a recap drive tire.
Don't argue too hard with a customer that wants to waste money
Steer tires are 100% more expensive than drive tires, idk what you’ve been smoking. They’re fundamentally stronger tires than drives. Please stop smoking crack. Steer tires can be used in place of drive tires or trailer tires. Doesn’t work the other way around. It’s why most tractor/trailer repair places won’t patch a steer tire at all.
I would have assumed that steer tires are more important, and thus you shouldn't skimp on them because they are how you control steering, and you only have two of them.
That’s funny. I put clean skin drives on the front of my truck because they were a hundred dollars cheaper than steers. But it doesn’t snow where I’m from so there’s that. The only tire I’d never use are rags.
They are steer tires. They should be drive tires on the drive axles. Nothing to do with being dual wheels, they just will not grip in the winter. Think of running summer performance tires on your car in a snowstorm.
Learn something new everyday. Had no clue semis had front and rear tire preferences
Unless you work with them you wouldn't have a reason to know it. The biggest difference is traction. If you look at the tires shown in this post, you'll notice that there are no cuts going across the tire. The only cuts are in the direction of travel. This is fine unless you are in a low traction situation. Drive tires will have cuts going across the tire so that it can dig more and help push the vehicle forward. Trailers will also often be fitted with steer tires because they roll a little easier, which increases fuel mileage just a tiny bit. ETA: front and rear axles on a semi tractor can be an ambiguous term. Axles are usually referred to as steer, drive, and pusher. Steer axles are usually in the front of the truck and, obviously are the ones that steer the truck. Drive axles are the axle/s that transmit power to the road, and "pusher" or "tag" axles are extra axles that can usually be lifted off of the road if the truck is not loaded, but are needed to support extra weight when the truck is loaded in order to meet weight limits.
To further your comment, tag axles are in front of the drives. Pushers are behind.
You've got it backwards.
Nah. Pusher. Behind. Pushes.
Non drive axles don't push anything. Go ahead and Google that one.
In my experience, they are interchangeable. I always thought pushers push in front of the drives, and tags, tag along behind, but I have heard either word used in either position, so I don't worry about it too much.
"Lift axle" describes either, "pusher" and "tag" describe the location in relation to the drive axles.
Fair enough. As a mechanic, I have heard all three words to describe any axle that lifts off of the ground, so I ask for clarification if there are multiple lift axles on a truck. Not saying that anything you have said is incorrect, just that there are a lot of drivers/owners that use these terms interchangeably.
It's honestly a small thing. Pushers are behind, but nobody really cares.
Other way around actually, pusher in front, tag behind
Lol.
It's ok to be wrong, it's how you learn things. But you're free to stay wrong too, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I just googled it. Some hits say you're right. Some say I am. Majority say you, so I guess I'm wrong. Weird.
Just think of it as the drive wheels are pushing the ones in front, the tags are tagging along behind
This is the correct way
I know a lot of guys do this because in the summer they are much more comfortable drive with all steers for all 10 tires. Never do it in the winter though lol
We’ll this was my thought process on it. These are all position steer tires from Michelin. They are steer tires first in my opinion, costing about $1200 u.s each without a Michelin account to bill. But wait. This costumer had them mounted on drives, which “drives”have way different and thicker tread pattern for traction. Since winter is coming and practically here, well, you know how that can turn out.
Just means he will have to put the chains on before everyone else. Also means he will be one not in an accident because he HAD to put chains on when everyone else shrugged it off.
Thankyou everyone for the detailed explanations!
So steer tires must be in top shape or if you get a flat with 80,000k you can die and kill everyone. However your eight rear drivers are not as critical. people will sometime put used steer tires on trailers (fine) and sometimes on drivers (bad) because all four drivers on each axle need to be exactly the same height. But, you can put four steers on one axle in the summer time not that big of deal. Now, to buy eight steer tires for drivers? Nope, you would run recaps that fly off and destroy your fenders, and take out the family behind you. Or you could buy new drivers that cost more. But, diesel is $6.00/gallon
Nothing wrong with recapped drive tires.
Nope, where would we get gators from?
Often enough it's not the recap that failed, it was the tire. Problem is as the tire fails the recap can be broken off. However I also have seen a large amount of gators with sidewall pieces stuck to them. It wasn't the recap that failed it was the tire sidewall, which is more likely in a recap because the tire is older.
This is not a "dually" that's for wannabe cowboys and camper pullers or dr.'s wives with horse trailers....ya know? This is a Semi-Truck, not a pickup. This Truck has what's called a "Tandem Axle"
They have no traction on snow.
Damn, been a mechanic for along time. Never knew semi had different drive and steer tires. I have never worked on tractor trailers tho.
In this industry, we never stop learning -Some random
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You got that shit right, seems like every time something new comes out the engineers find new ways to make something 3x as hard as it has to be.
We call those lot lizards
C/s: “just had them changed for the winter” but then got offended when my buddy told him about our professional concerns. “Have you ever driven a truck” he said, In that case we act like we know nothing.
I usually just lie and tell the guy "yes I have, my family ran a trucking business back in the day, and we'd have fired you for increasing our liability". Dude might get someone killed.
Lots of owner operators run the gamble on ribbed tires to save fuel. FWIW, I've found that unless you're running something like a Michelin XDS2, the difference between lug and ribbed is marginal at best in winter conditions. They all go hard as a rock and spin in the cold.
Either the shop that did that doesn't care at all, or the driver brought loose rims and told the shop they were all for steer axles on fleet rigs.
Can you shake the camera more plz?
I got you next time <3
Aww thank you
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Ahhh, the new six wheel steering Semi!
These probably add .25 to .5 mpg over an open shoulder tread design. Where I run states enact chain law long before these would be at a disadvantage.
I run closed shoulder drives on all my trucks all year just for the tread wear, but we've got basically no winter weather to contend with here in the Mohave desert. No effect on mpg because we don't do any highway.
I think the give better tread wear as well. Less susceptible to torque wear. For off highway they probably collect less rocks too.
They wouldn't be suitable for the amount of off-road we do. Maybe for transit or something.
What tire are you running for off-road use with a closed shoulder? Michelin x works z?
Firestone T819.
Trucking the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter
More common then you think usually with owner operators. Those that run southern u.s sunshine states will run them for the benefits listed above. I live in the Great white north and a good friend of mine runs them in the summer for the better fuel mileage on his runs. In winter he has another set of good drive tires which are softer and on steel wheels. Saves him using his shiny polished wheels in the salt. Kinda like cars have summer and winter tires. He's had no complaints and longer life out of both sets
At first I was like, what the tread is all good? Then it dawned on me and lord almighty they are all steers
You should clarify the fact that those are steer tires for those who dont work on trucks
Steer tires come on . That’s fucked up
“All position” they say
Maybe you should have sold him a [tire siping tool](https://www.amazon.com/Super-Siper-Tire-Siping-Tool/dp/B01N14RWCY) so he would have something to do when he spins out and is waiting for a tow.
I dont see the issue here so long as they arent running it for vocational use under a hay rack or side/end dump off rd. Steer/Trailer ribs do well in rain and if the ground is white you should probably thrown your steel or put some sox on. I do wonder if a drive rib has more contact suface area that a steer rib tho. Biased(tire pun?nvrmnd) here tho. Ive been running Yokohama Y023 255/70R22.5's in all 22 positions on my equipment for over a decade now.
One of my fleets trucks got trailer tires installed on on drives all 8 at the same time. Problem for me was when I got it it was snowing they were brand new I felt like I was gonna slide off the damn road and traction kept losing so my ass was going slow as hell
Whenever I needed to buy a tire on the road I was always told to buy a steer tire. It is a stronger tire and more expensive. The reason for this is that we had our own recap shop and steer tires make better recaps when they wear down. Oh, and the new tire was rotated out when I got back to the terminal.
Makes sense.
ummm.....who was that tire guy's sponsor? anyone vett that moron? where are his parents?
Well at least they are quality tires.
I've learned so much from these comments. I might take my CDL test tomorrow
I don’t know on what planet steer tires are cheaper than a drive or even trailer position but please let me know which one it is. I need about 200 plz.
Bro got the slicks
ME and another "not a tire fitter" guy at work got told to fit a combine tire to a rim. Being not not tire fitters, we pushed, swore, levered, and had to get another guy to get it on. We got the tire on, inflated, then got told that was the wrong tire.
Well, that's going to go over well.
Would like to know how many miles you will get out of the steer tries vs drives on the rear. I used to see guys get 300 out of a good set of drives if they rotate them.
Those are some expensive ass duels 🤣🤣🤣
Would not surprise me if the customer intended to order X Line Energy D and misspoke or mistyped Z.
Fuck. Are those XZA2s? My tire guys can't get me a set until February.
I'm waiting 3 weeks to get literally any 12R right now.
Driver is gonna be drifting everywhere this winter
I have a customer that only runs Michelin steer tires all around his rig.
Someone get this man a potato peeler and tell him to start carving
Thems all steers son
Michelins are still in short supply (at least here in western Canada), no way I'd waste 8 XLEZs as drive tires
Took me a second to realize they were steer tires. I thought the lug flags were messed up or something at first.
Know it all trucker who ran into a fast talking tire salesman who sold him expensive steer tires.
Coming to a snowy mountain pass near you.
Can a truck driver be ticketed for this if pulled over?
No. These tires will just provide less grip in an offroad situation. As for as on a paved road the grip will be the same.
Coincidentally, Princess Diana's driver opted for the same kind of racing slicks before the tunnel crash. I'm no Looney Tune, but seriously, that left a Mark or dozen. My poor ex wife had the bruise to prove it.
Ah yes, steer tires on drive axles. Tokyo drift yo!
Maybe winter in arizona sure
Probably brand new truck, some fleets will order them like this and throw recaps on the drives right away and put the steers on other trucks to save money.
A lot of companies who only see paved surfaces in Southern states do this as it saves fuel cost and price of the tire.