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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: demodriver on June 28, 2011, 04:30:53 PM

Title: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: demodriver on June 28, 2011, 04:30:53 PM
OK whats the most recent opinions?

I know that some of the process to do them has changed and that some are allowed as steers now.

I found a set locally for $100 a piece that will fit my tag axle.

Whats your opinions?

If you reply please give facts to back your opinion.

thanks Eric
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: oldmansax on June 28, 2011, 04:34:52 PM
I used Bandag caps on the drive & trailer axels for years when I owned trucks. Very few problems. Most of those were in the south west desert in summer.

TOM
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: mugsytrpt on June 28, 2011, 04:36:48 PM
Eric,

FWIW I would not put recaps on my bus.  I would find a good virgin used tire before I put on a recap. If and usually when that recap comes apart it can crawl up the side of your bus and do more damage.  I had a rear drive tire, not a recap, blow and part of it come up on the side of my bus.  While no physical damage, It did take a long time to get the marks off the side of the bus.  I know that have made alot of improvments.....but I still see alot of caps laying in the road.

Just my thoughts.  Good luck!
James ;D
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: boxcarOkie on June 28, 2011, 04:37:30 PM

If you reply please give facts to back your opinion.

Gawd .....

Opinion |əˈpinyən|

noun
a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge

"Recaps on a tag axle are no big deal."

I'm writing to voice my opinion on an issue of great importance ... that, in my opinion, is dead right.

BCO
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: demodriver on June 28, 2011, 04:50:22 PM
Quote from: boxcarOkie on June 28, 2011, 04:37:30 PM

If you reply please give facts to back your opinion.

Gawd .....

Opinion |əˈpinyən|

noun
a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge

"Recaps on a tag axle are no big deal."

I'm writing to voice my opinion on an issue of great importance ... that, in my opinion, is dead right.

BCO


I didnt mean to come off as a jerk. Its just that theres so many people who repeat info that they read or hear without ever knowing the reasoning behind it or if its good info.
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: luvrbus on June 28, 2011, 05:04:10 PM
Eric,recaps work ok most of the gators on the hiways are from new tires not recaps just don't use the caps on the steer axle and while we are on the subject your Eagle has bogies axles not tags LOL.
Really you need to slow down and check the wording on your posts the way you are going here as Cole says we will have to put a pork chop around your neck to get the dogs to play with you before long just kidding about the pork chop

good luck
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: demodriver on June 28, 2011, 05:08:16 PM
yes boogies, Im still a dump truck driver at heart I guess.


All of my other tires are nearly new. Just the "boogies" are dry rotted.
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: lostagain on June 28, 2011, 05:10:45 PM
We always ran recaps on the drives of the hockey team's bus. Never had a problem. You have to make sure they are inflated correctly  before each trip like any other tire.

Back in the '70s at Brewster's out of Banff, all we had on the drives were recaps. One came apart occasionally, but I suspect that is because they were underinflated. Nobody checked pressures every day. All we did was hit them with a hammer during our pretrip, all that doesn't tell you anything unless it is totally flat.

I don't see recaps as any worse than virgins.

For my own buses, I look for take offs from a trucker. I have a friend with semis. I buy virgins from him with about 50% tread, 2 to 3 years old for the casing price: $100 each.

I would buy recaps if the price was right.

This is my factual opinion, LOL.

JC
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: harpold700 3 on June 28, 2011, 05:47:22 PM
Where are caps allowed on steer axles?
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: robertglines1 on June 28, 2011, 06:03:50 PM
fact the three tire failures I have had were new tires! The recaps I run on the drivers have yet to fail. I have been told by the local recapper that there are stronger regulations in place governing recapping than new tire manufacturing. I run new on front . All my tire failures have been on front with properly inflated new tires.   Bob
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: luvrbus on June 28, 2011, 06:18:19 PM
Lot of the transit authority in cities run caps on the front may be alright for that but I wouldn't use caps on the front for RV use JMO
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: Chopper Scott on June 28, 2011, 06:51:47 PM
So one could actually state that even though my tires may be 10 years old, they haven't posed any problems and may be safer than new tires? Sometimes opinions on this forum confuse me.
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: Hi yo silver on June 28, 2011, 06:58:46 PM
Yeah, Bob, but you didn't say that your tires on the front were SHOT out as you made your escape! LOL Just kiddin'
Dennis
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: robertglines1 on June 28, 2011, 07:15:55 PM
 ::) only BK knows
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: Busted Knuckle on June 28, 2011, 07:22:42 PM
Eric,
I have never been a fan of caps. But that don't make 'm bad! And as several here have said low pressure causes more virgin tires to blow the tread off that re-caps ever have! It's just a common misconception that all those "gators" one the highway are re-caps.

If you keep a keen eye on tire pressures, you'll almost never have troubles!

I have a friend who runs a pretty large fleet of coaches and they won't run anything but caps on the tag/boogie.
He says that the harder compound of the re-treads makes them last lots longer and has had no issues with them (when pressures are kept correct).
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: demodriver on June 28, 2011, 07:49:54 PM
So does the $100 a piece price sound good?  They are advertised as new recaps.

I have junked a plenty of big tires (driving tri axle doing demolition jobs) but never have had to pay for them. I just had to make a phone call ;D
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: Busted Knuckle on June 28, 2011, 08:16:49 PM
If they are new that is a good price. If used better be darn good tread left on 'm and I'd still learn about the date code for when they were capped!
Again pressure plays more into the life of them than anything, but it don't hurt to know how old they really are either!
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: demodriver on June 28, 2011, 08:18:36 PM
Ya I was going to do some date code research later tonight yet.  I wanted to see how old my spare was also.
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: TomC on June 28, 2011, 08:44:21 PM
A boogey is what you do when you dance.  A bogey is what kind of axle you have.  And a booger is a.....LOL.

UPS runs caps on the steer axles of their delivery cars.  I once saw a Bandag bus running 315/80R-22.5's all the way around with all tires being capped.  On private vehicles, I believe there are no rules or regulations as to whether or not you can run caps on steer axles.  If you run over 65mph, I would not use them, just from my experience, and not on the steer.  Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: Busted Knuckle on June 28, 2011, 11:17:26 PM
ON commercial buses it is against the law to run caps on the steers and even if it weren't you'd never catch me doing it!

But then again I don't/won't run them on any of my buses in any position.

In our business we're only 1 accident away from being out of business!

;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: artvonne on June 29, 2011, 09:24:25 PM
  Regarding recaps.

  Bandag vulcanises strips of virgin rubber onto the casing to build up material, then autoclaves the tire to cure the rubber and bond it to the casing.

  Goodyear (Wingfoot) bond a band of ready made tread to the casing.

  Goodyear claims theirs are better, Bandag says thiers are, but IIRC, Bandag stands behind theirs better???

  Whats the truth???
Title: Re: Recaps on tag axle
Post by: TomC on July 01, 2011, 08:01:08 AM
Bandag is the only recap company I'd use. Most of the blow outs from caps are from the carcas blowing out-not the tread coming off.  And just remember-50% of the tread pieces that you see on the road come from virgin new tires!  Good Luck, TomC