Search Tires
Q/A Archives
May 2006
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Apr | Jun » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
Related Experts
Sign-up for RSS
Archive for May, 2006
Recommended Tire Pressure
Posted by Tim on May 25, 2006
What tire pressure should I run on the steer axle of a line haul tractor?
The proper inflation pressure for any tire is determined by the highest load it is most likely to carry. Tire companies publish load/inflation tables. To see these tables for Goodyear tires go to http://www.goodyear.com/truck/tireinfo/safety.html Of course you need to know the load on each tire. With a vehicle loaded, have the truck weighed axle by axle. Divide the steer axle weight by two and any other axles by the number of tires on each axle. If it is difficult to measure just the forward or rearward axle of the drive or trailer axles, weigh the tandem axle load and divide by the number of tires (usually 8). For the size tire you are running, find what inflation pressure corresponds to the load on each tire. When in doubt, round up to the next hightest pressure. It is always better to have too much inflation pressure rather than too little.
Tire Balancing
Posted by Tim on May 22, 2006
People have been trying to tell me that balancing of truck tires is not required and I do not go along with or agree. I have been a heavy duty mechanic for 36 years and have seen plenty of damage due to unbalanced tires, from u-joints, tailshaft bearings,and automatic trans.,not including vibration. What is your take on this?
With the airride suspensions and cushy driver seats, it takes a lot of imbalance for a driver to feel an unacceptable vibration. Our tests have shown that it takes about 20 oz of imbalance for the driver to feel it. But, you are correct, tire/wheel imbalance does take a toll on vehicle components. So, it becomes a value judgement. If I owned one truck and drove it myself, my personal feeling is that I would pay to have the steer tires balanced but not the drive tires.
Wondering RV
Posted by Tim on May 21, 2006
I have a Happy Rambler Endevor RV with a tag axle. I have noticed a large amount of effort to get the rig to track straight and not wonder. Tire psi’s are correct. Would the tires be the cause of the wondering?
I would take it to a good alignment shop and pay particular attention to the result of caster setting check. Caster is the alignment parameter that most effects tracking. Make sure that the setting is with the vehicle manuafacturer's specification.
Finding a Source for 10.00xR22 Tires
Posted by Tim on May 17, 2006
I own and restoring a ‘59 KENWORTH model 923A conventional road tractor..its equiped with the world’s 1st fiberglass foward tilt hood It uses 10.00X R22 tires; inner tubes…can you get these type tires anywhere anymore??
For vintage vehicles, I have a list of potential tire sources: Kelsey Tire in Mo(800) 325-0091, Lucas Automotive in OH (800) 735-0166, Universal Tire in PA (800) 233-3827
Wade Tire in TX (800) 666-8973.
Deep Tread Tires with Objects in the Tread
Posted by Tim on May 13, 2006
How do the new deep treads wear with common objects stuck in the tread, even if there is no puncture? Will we get our full benefit from them?
I think it would take a lot of object stuck in the tread of a tire to effect the performance. The worse case I can imagine is having the tread completely full of mud or snow and loosing traction. As far a effecting the wear, I can't imagine enough "common objects" being in a tire that it would effect wear. At that point, a puncture is going to happen, one way or another.