18 wheeler trailer tire question

[nightmare]

It is legal to run recaps on both the truck drives and the trailer, just not on the steer axle. Recaps of today are very safe if maintained properly ( air pressure & dont reverse rotation ). You can feel a recap begin to separate long before it slings the cap, all it takes is a little attention to your job. I can feel a trailer tire or hear a difference in just the harmonics of the rig, long before it blows, and pull over to check and get it replaced. In over 3 million miles I have only had one tire blow, and that was a virgin steer tire, due to road debris. I personally do a pre and post trip inspection and several in route inspections per day, anytime I get out of the truck I do a walk around and tire check. There are way to many drivers.... I am sorry they are not drivers just steering wheel holders out there, that need to be run out of this industry, and hopefully the new points system will begin to weed them out, and the companies that promote their style of driving.

[jesse]

I agree with Victor, properly maintained tires are the key, not recaps. A recapped tire has been through more inspections than new tires. Most of the tread we see on the road is caused by heat build up, usually caused by low air pressure, New or Recap.
Tires are the second highest expense in the trucking industry following fuel. If all trucks had to run virgin tires we would have a hard time paying for freight. That includes shipping on everything we want and the food we eat.

[wheelie]

As I have mentioned before I work for a very large world wide trash company. The drivers pre and post trip is key to tire safety. I'm out from behind my desk right now filling in as a transfer semi driver. I've never lost a cap and didn't know it. Our trucks all run recaps on the drives and the trailers. In the USA we use Bangag they produce a very high quality recap and we generate our on casings by buying virgin tires and not recapping them to death. I spent three days at their Iowa facility a few months ago. I was impressed with the whole process. Bandag had a 1968 427 Corvette on display that was the only car to ever race and win a sports car race with caps on all four corners. And I have made a few passes in my dragster with recap drag slicks but I do prefer my M/T ET slicks.

[josh]

Unfortunately wheelie, I don't work for WM or any other big company, i work for a very small very ummm shall we say "thrifty" outfit... I have had things written up for years such as marker lights that I know are just never ever going to get fixed....

[Top Cat]

Question;
What is the general price difference between a new tire and a recap?
I realize it would probably depend on size but I'm talking average.

[josh]

New front tires for the garbage truck I drive are $650ish a piece (last i heard) rears, aka recaps are about 200

[wheelie]

Josh I'm not with WM or Republic we are #3 I feel your pain, we were an AW division when I hired in. Even the big dogs have their problems with things like that. I worked for a private hauler for a while he didn't even have VCR's for us to fill out let alone get things repaired. He told me once if you want a light fixed buy one and fix it. This is me at the landfill.

[josh]

Wheelie, I work for a private company, pretty much does the county i am in and thats it. I did just notice your sig tho, I am a Senior DeMolay and my dad is a past master of the lodge. Just figured I would point out that your sig is noticed

[wheelie]

Good the know, I've been WM of our small town lodge so many times I've lost count.