Question:
Hello Drivers,
Just returned from a trip around Florida, (from Indy) I was job hunting.
I believe I saw more tire casings this trip than in the last 10 years combined.
Are tires getting worse?
Road Temperatures don't seem that high.
Are we checking air pressures enough?
Or, are the state highway clean-up crews slacking off on their jobs?
Just like to know if I am seeing things or not.
I had a couple of scarey moments in heavy traffic trying to dodge some of them.
Take care,
let me know your observations


Answer:
Tires are not getting worse, they just can't handle the 80+ MPH over long distances with all the weight and hot weather. It's getting crazy out here.

Answer:
Most Drivers don't usually take enough time to do a proper Pre-trip inspection. They just "eyeball" the tires to see if one squats more than the other.
I personally check my tire pressure at least once a week.
I run caps on my drives now, but after going through 5 "capped" drive tires last year, when these are wore out, they will be replaced with virgin rubber. (my caps were warranted)
My opinion of caps is;
They're OK for LTL or line haul, but not for OTR where you have the potential of doing 500 or more miles a day. A cap just doesn't hold up to the heat as well.
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)

Answer:
I check my tires Every Other Day.(if not every day.)
I actually have drvrs getting ticked off at me b/c....
I take time to actually Put Air in my Tires.

Answer:
Hello Drivers
Thanks for the answers.
Not being a driver I wasn't sure if "caps" were permissible to run with.Never had a "warranty" on the ones I bought.
I used them on my car when I could, but always blew them out when I needed to be some where.
Ergo, no more "caps" for me.
My concern was the companies cutting costs because of the economy and putting drivers in danger.
Roads are trashy and never seem to be cleaned up.
As far as the 80+mph, I saw very few. Being east I think the limits are lower than out west.
Everyone seemed to be doing safe driving.
Of course with all the constuction and bad weather lately looked like everyone was watching each other pretty well.
Thanks again for answering my question.
Take care,
Lithographer


Answer:
Why would anyone EVER run with caps on steers?? Cost?......uh uh. GOT to go with brand spanking new on those steers man!IMO!

Answer:
caught with caps on steers..it's illegal..
Character: Doin the right thing when nobody's lookin..JC Watts

Answer:
I've seen Mexican trucks with virgin drive tires in their steer axles.
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Cover Your Cans People!!!It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
There's a few companies out there who actually have their own recapping shop. You can only imagine how much unpaid time their drivers spend dealing with tire problems. LOL
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Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
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This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
Running caps on the front of a truck is illegal from class 8s and smaller. Any tire fails virgin or caps it all depends on the maintance the tires see. Low PSI= friction= Heat= Tire damage= Road Alligators the biggest problem is people not paying attention to their tires.
You guys think 80,000lb gross is hard on tires try pulling the super Bs grossing 139,000lbs you have one heck of a rim pull on the drive tires on the tractor.
GL