Tires and S&S

[kyle4501]

I see so many "gators" in the road in the warm southern states, it scares me to death.

I can't recall the last time I saw a "gator" that didn't have wires sticking out of it -
Those with wires sticking out were casing failures - not recap failures.

Speaking of trusting the information, I have a good friend who works in management of the design department at Michelin - We have had many discussions over tire failure (long life isn't a problem, early failure is). I will replace my steers prematurely, let my duals go longer, & my lightly loaded tag tires longer still.

Steer tire failure can create the most drama - dual has a spare beside it to limp to safety, tag failure not as likely since so lightly loaded.


We each get to make our own choices. 

[luvrbus]

Now we have tire deal straighten out,do we lubricate or nuts or not 

[Oonrahnjay]

Now we have tire deal straighten out,do we lubricate or nuts or not     

     Only with multi-grade oil -- straight-weight is old, out-of-date stuff!

[B_K]

Personally, I'd rather run 10-12 year old tires than new recaps. I see so many "gators" in the road in the warm southern states, it scares me to death.

I do believe everything has a shelf life but opinions differ what that is.

How many discard milk or other food just because the date is reached?

Those that know me know that I am not adverse to spending money, but I do not scatter it like alfalfa seed.

Tires that have been parked on wood blocks and covered or garaged and had the air pressure maintained are not the same as those that are just parked on the ground or gravel. Learn to inspect your coach regularly and evaluate the condition of everything or pay someone who can.

I left a trailer in Phoenix one summer, with the tire covers on, parked on gravel. I five months when I returned the rubber was eaten off the bottom of all four tires. I parked an old bus for over seven years in Alaska without tire covers on new tires. The tires showed no damage at all.

We all tend to take advice from folks we don't know. (Tire Dealers that are in the business). Unless you know and trust the dealer, get another opinion from someone that uses tires on heavy vehicles that has no dog in the fight.

Joe it's been proven that todays gators are 95% virgin tires that drivers neglected and only 5% bad recaps!
Back in the day when nobody knew better everybody claimed all gators were recaps blown off.
But extensive research has been done over and over and it has been proven that recaps from a reputable "capper" are just as safe as unknown quality used virgin tires! It's all in how the owner/driver takes care of them!
  BK 

[luvrbus]

They have new a word for recaps now call reconstructed tires,I ran caps on my trailers and drive axles without any problems they actually seem tougher on the tread area than a new tire.I know you cannot run 1 on low air pressure or they fly apart we always ran at least 100 psi 

[akroyaleagle]

it's been proven that todays gators are 95% virgin tires that drivers neglected and only 5% bad recaps!

Well, it appears once again, that I don't know what I'm talking about (gators).

I guess my next question would be, if the age of the tire is of concern, why would anyone want to run new caps on old casings?

I stand by my belief that inspections, proper care and diligence should govern the use of tires more than age alone.

I will never run caps on anything, but I am not a commercial operator.

[B_K]

Joe the reputable "Cappers" won't cap just any old tire casing! The FIRST thing they check is the date code.
Next they give it a thorough inspection and if it has any questionable issues it's thrown out!
But you are 100% correct on the belief that inspections, proper care and diligence should govern the use of tires more than age alone.

  BK 

[luvrbus]

I didn't know it till awhile back that a passengers carrying bus is the only thing you cannot run caps on the front axle.I know Brown and Fedx run caps on the front of their trucks.I am still not going to run caps on the bus 

[Jon]

Joe,

I just went through a Michelin recapping plant and if you buy caps you can be assured it is going through a remanufacturing and inspection process that will make you change your opinion. If the tire cannot be recapped and possess the durability and reliability of a new tire it is going in the scrap pile. No old casings are recapped. Keep in mind commercial operators, buses or trucks, do more miles in one year than we do in 5 so they can get about 3 recaps before the casing ages out.

When we did classes on tire forensics it was clear the tires failed, including lost treads, almost exclusively because of a road hazard or failure of the operator to maintain the tire.

[luvrbus]

I saw the testing BridgeStone did on their re manufactured tires in west Texas it was amazing the process they went through but I am still not going to be running caps on the bus

[Jon]

Me either, but if I had an opinion that a recap was a bad thing it got changed after seeing the process.

[DoubleEagle]

I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again, when I had heavy dump trucks hauling severe loads, I used Bandag recaps on the rears and new Michelin's on the front. If the plant accepted the casing after their inspection, they would guarantee it. I usually got at least three caps, and occasionally four or five. Of course, I ground the tread off within a year or so, but I had very few failures, and it was always because of rock cuts in the sidewalls. Time is our problem with the conversions, and most buses would suffer some damage if the tire blew catastrophically and threw flying chucks into the wheel well. So, I put on all new tires because while the retreads worked on my dump trucks, they were not going down the Interstate at 70-75 mph, and I really wonder if certain brands (in certain countries of origin) are built to the same standards of thirty years ago. I think the real test of quality is whether a recap plant would accept the casing. The reject rates for the various brands would show differences.

[kyle4501]

Rubber ages differently depending on environment and use or lack thereof.
While a tire sits, some of the rubber components leach out towards the surface of the tire (that white waxy stuff).
Using the tire works those back inside the tire.

So, a tire in constant use can last longer before the rubber begins breaking down.

[PP]

     Only with multi-grade oil -- straight-weight is old, out-of-date stuff!

I really want to say something about 2-strokes and straight weight oil, but it's probably not appropriate here    For Cliff to even bring it up, he must be into the good wine again.