That's a trailer tire, you'd be a moron to put it on the front!
Posted by Ornery_Ads@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 24 comments
I saw a truck pulled over on the side of the highway with a blown steer tire and a spare tire hanging under his trailer. I carry everything needed to change a tire, so figured I could help.
I pulled over and offered to put his spare trailer tire on the steer axle. Save him a roadside call and wasted hours. He responded with, "That's a trailer tire, you'd be a moron to put it on the front!"
No problem man, just trying to help. Bye!
warwgn@reddit
I’ve always been under the assumption that trailer tires are just worn down steer tires.
I see no reason why the guy would not want to use his spare trailer tire.
ashaggyone@reddit
Many trailer tires are worn out steers, yes. Unless the spare is a all position i will be waiting for a steer.
bobmonkeyclown@reddit
If it was a new tire I'd put it on and get to a mechanic asap if its close enough.
But I wouldn't do it for another person, cause I have no way of guaranting that's what they'll do instead of trying to finish the trip.
ursisterstoy@reddit
In this scenario someone blew the steer tire. There’s no finishing the trip. Maybe if it was a drive or trailer tire but that’s a great way to be put out of service by the DOT. I’ve driven 1-2 miles with a blown out dual because it’s cheaper at the shop or at a truck stop than on the side of the freeway where the freeway is also a dangerous place to have a tire replaced. But if it’s a steer tire there’s no going anywhere. Also you’re going to have to mount a tire either way because generally the steer axle rims are built differently. Recap to get off the freeway maybe. Otherwise waiting for a steer tire to be delivered.
bobmonkeyclown@reddit
Usually spare tires aren't on rims. Some people will carry stuff to mount tires with them, some won't.
Logically no one would finish the trip if a trailer tire was mounted on the rim to limp it to a shop, but people do shit that no one would think to do. Only need to sacrifice personal space to carry everything you need (I don't recommend it) to do your own tires roadside.
just_me1969@reddit
Most trailer tires are re-caps. Steer tires have to be virgin tires.
ursisterstoy@reddit
Technically only passenger carrying CMVs aren’t allowed to run recaps on the steer axle but almost nobody runs recaps on the steer axle unless the truck is never going to exceed 55 mph because it’s dumb. You also won’t find a reputable tire mechanic that’ll offer recaps on the steer axle as an option. That said, it’d probably be best to have a steer tire as a spare. It is safe and works about anywhere in all 18 positions, at least temporarily. The drives typically have different blocky tread for traction, trailers often have recaps because they’re cheaper, steer tires are typically virgin rubber.
Commiefornian@reddit
Retreads are only prohibited on bus steers. But no one runs them.
Responsible_CDN_Duck@reddit
It's rare to see a spare trailer tire I'd trust as a steer for any amount of highway driving as a steer.
Your heart is in the right place, but it's the situations like this that tends to bite people in the butt.
Ornery_Ads@reddit (OP)
Really? Every time something of mine needs new tires, I put the new ones on the rims that were the spares, and put the worn out tires in the spare tire holders. Sure, they're mostly worn out, so you still need to put a new tire on when you get back to the yard, but they're still good and fairly recent tires that I'd have no problem using.
otr_trucker@reddit
There are specific grades of tires for semis; steer, drive, and trailer. You can use steer tires in any position, but you don't want to because they cost more. Drive tires can be used as trailer tires but not steer. Trailer tires can only be used on trailers. These tires are made for different specs.
Trailer tires can't stand up to the torque that drive tires can. Steer tires are made to handle the side loading that occurs during turning at speed. Drive and trailer tires can't handle that.
Generally, tires are replaced because they no longer meet DOT specs, so most tires are disposed of when they come off, not moved back. Steer tires might be an exception, but there are only 2 of them while there are 16 other tires.
Also, worn out tires atevsent out to be recapped. So, any of the 16 other tires plus the spare might be recaps. Steer tires can never be recaps.
Nice of you stopping to help, but I wouldn't want anything but a new steer tire mounted and would rather wait for the repair truck to come out.
Ornery_Ads@reddit (OP)
Are you speaking legally or just good practice?
Legally, you can put any tire anywhere you want.
Want 2 recap drive tires on your steers, 8 recap trailer tires as drives, and 8 virgin steer tires on your trailer? Go right ahead and make that abomination, it's stupid, but legal.
The only restriction on recaps is on steer tires for passenger carrying busses. You can legally have recapped steers on a fuel truck if you felt like it. Stupid, but legal.
Also, I haven't been seeing many recaps anymore. My normal tire shop stopped doing them and doesn't even stock them anymore because you can get a virgin Chinesium for basically the same price, so pretty much everyone just gets those. All my worn out takeoffs (that become the spares) are bordering on legal/illegal for tread depth, so yes, likely illegal to run it, but it's a good tire that can get you back to the yard where theres a new tire waiting.
Hot_Falcon8471@reddit
You’re wrong. It is illegal to put recap tires on steers even if they’re new.
Ornery_Ads@reddit (OP)
Care to share your source for this? I'm happy to share my sources, but welcome new information.
My source is CFR 393.75 which says nothing about recaps except:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-393/subpart-G/section-393.75
Also, from the FMCSA:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/taxonomy/term/10571
Hot_Falcon8471@reddit
Ah I see. You’re right, not illegal. Just really dumb.
Dense_Particular3134@reddit
He may be ornery but he is correct
Ornery_Ads@reddit (OP)
From my earlier comment:
You can legally have recapped steers on a fuel truck if you felt like it. Stupid, but legal.
No one is saying its a good idea... just that it's legal
greenchazm@reddit
If I'm the one footing the bill, I'd save the roadside service bill and use the spare to get me to a service center. If it's a spare, it's probably a recap and under inflated, if i was a company driver I'd maybe just get roadside and not risk a blow out on a steer
ursisterstoy@reddit
If it’s me footing the bill and controlling what I keep as a spare I’m keeping a steer tire that’s barely legal as my spare. Good enough for any position to get a tread depth matching style matching tire at the shop. As a company driver it’s just best to call the company and let them call road service. If you can get off the side of the busy street do that. If not put out your triangles and turn on your 4 ways.
ursisterstoy@reddit
It depends. Virgin tires I don’t care where they are put if it’ll get me down the road. Recaps on the steer axle are apparently allowed just never actually done unless the company has no problem with destroying the front of their vehicles on a regular basis and/or killing their drivers. Recaps on the steer axle only when there is no other option or it’s a truck that’s not expected to exceed 55 mph or be in a place that’s hotter than 100° F.
Less dangerous for recaps anywhere else but also anyone worth a shit won’t run recaps on the drives either. Always virgins on the tractor. Recaps on the trailer are fine.
If that’s his complaint I’m with him 100%. Don’t put no recap tire on my steer axle. I’m not trying hard to die. If it’s virgin rubber, I don’t care about the tread pattern. Put it on there. I have places to be. OP didn’t provide enough details but I’m not putting recaps on my steer axle either. It better be winter in Alaska and 9+ hours from civilization. Then I’ll think about it. Otherwise I’d put a drive tire on my steer axle and the recap on my drive axle if I couldn’t get access to a virgin rubber steer tire.
jmzstl@reddit
Bold of you to have enough faith in your fellow trucker to assume a random driver would accept your help.
Nice boost to your karma though, if you believe in that sort of thing.
Confident_Worker3491@reddit
Many a spare tire are recaps too. Totally illegal to run as a steer tire. Always.
Ornery_Ads@reddit (OP)
Does anyone really do recaps anymore? You don't save much, if any, over a virgin Chinesium...
Recaps on steers are definitely not advised, but are completely legal (except on passenger carrying busses).
bloodsoed@reddit
I get paid by the hour during a break down. So my ass is happy to wait.