Drive tires

[belfert]

Since re-caps are on used casings, are busnuts with low mileage going to end up with cracked tires in fewer years than with virgin tires?

Hopefully I have still have four years or more before replacing my tires.  My bus sits mostly out of the sun so my tires will probably last a little longer.

[buswarrior]

Same as virgin tires, check the date code on the sidewall.

The younger the casing....

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[gus]

OK, maybe I can buy the road crown theory but I don't buy the right turn part.

A right turn requires the left tire to travel farther and with the very wide turning circle of a bus I don't see any right tire scrubbing happening. This happens with tandem wheels on trailers because they turn so sharp, often even are dragged sideways,  but I can't see it happen on buses.

Another theory I once heard is that drivers tend to drive faster on left turns and curves because the vehicle leans away whereas in a right turn or curve the leaning is toward the driver and makes one a bit more cautious. Makes sense, but unproven to my knowledge.

[John316]

Gus,

I just found out that the main reason is the punkin (differential), favors the right slightly. That little bit of pushing, on the right, is enough to explain the difference in the wearing patterns (so I am told).

I'm not sure if that explains enough or not.

God bless,

John

[quantum500]

The Bandag Bullet seems to get along just fine with recaps.  16v92 quad turbo. 2200hp or 2800hp with nitrous oxide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoWjcvKnixI

[NJT 5573]

Greyhound quit running caps many years ago when the gators started comming thru the floor boards and killing passengers. A truck can throw a cap clear. A coach can't.

[John316]

I think that we will stay away from recaps for that exact reason, NJT. I shudder to think what a gator would do to the inside of that wheel well. I can just hear it shredding, and not able to come out of there. I can also feel the pain of many hours of hard work, fixing everything...No recaps for me...  I know they don't come off very often, but I see enough gators on the road, I don't believe it will "never happen to me".

Thanks for the info.

God bless,

John

[TomC]

Unbelievable as it may sound, but it is a proven fact that half of the alligators on the road (thrown rubber from tires) are from brand new tires.  I ran recaps on my truck for years during the 55mph days, but when the speed limits went back up, I went back to buying new tires.  The only place I would now run recaps is on a trailer.  The biggest factor to tire life is proper inflation (not to high and not to low, just right Momma bear).  I run 90 pounds all around and every time I stop for a break, the first thing I do is to feel the temperature on the tires.  A hot running tire is usually a low pressure tire.  Good Luck, TomC

[Sojourner]

Amen TomC!
Tire pressure too low is perhaps the biggest cause of tire failure including cap blown off. Always know your tire contact pressure and air up to the recommended pressure and recheck before the day run for the longest life. The following labels are pdf files....allow download time.
Pressure/Weight of Michelin RV XRV

RV Tire Guide

Michelin Truck Tire Data Book

Greyhound quit running caps many years ago when the gators started comming thru the floor boards and killing passengers. A truck can throw a cap clear. A coach can't.

I have seen the result of a bus nut's tag recap tire that damage the fireglass housing, bracket and muffler. It is real! The whipping of a 30+ pounds did the hammering and pulling power effect.

No mather how good the recap brand is, it more chance of the thread coming off than a new popular brands tires.

I used too think it be will OK for the tag and drive wheel (never on steering)...I have change my mind after the bus nut's ordeal. No recap period!

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald