Baby needs new shoes!

tknight

Veteran Expediter
It's time, after many miles it's time to put on new drives, as I travel around, where would be the best and most honest place to get new drives, I have 1st time retreads on now, with over 175k on them and winter is fast coming down now, like 8" so I want to get a good bite on the road, suggestions who's got the best deals ?


24' s/t frightliner m2
 

highway star

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
You only got 175k out of a set of drives? My first suggestion is to get something other than what you have now. If you're in the IN/OH/MI area Schrader Tire is good.
 

jjoerger

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
US Army
Check T/A and Petro. Also Speedco has a good discount program for FedEx. We got our last set of Firestones at T/A. The old ones lasted 250,000 miles and were only half worn out. We replaced them because we had a couple of lugs break out.
 

Slo-Ride

Veteran Expediter
As many tires as I have bought over the years I have never saved anything by driving around and pricing them. Best thing I found is pick 3 or 4 places in your area or somewhere you know will honor warranty nationwide or in your travel lanes..Call em from the comfort of your kitchen table and get the best price. With the price of fuel your not going to save anything (or much) traveling around looking to save $40. I have had some luck a few times over the phone beating em for labor in the past but not allways. And of course best prices seem to come at home then out on the road.

With the way the last few weather patterns have blown in I would suggest a heavy lug, I know some would agrue for fuel mileage but I feel better sitting on knobby tires :D
 
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tknight

Veteran Expediter
i actually have 210 on them, not worn out totally yet, just beginning the ordeal of changing them out, i checked when they went on.
 

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
ya, i cant understand 210k and needing replaced. i have 0ver 250k on my 1st time recaps and as of last depth check they were at 19/1000 ths. i think you got poor quality recaps. i manage 300k usually and end up replacing more due to weathered sidewalls than tread depth. i wouldnt buy a lug tread and lose fuel mileage. i would stay with a fuel efficient tread, you will get around just fine. someone local you can trust is the ticket.
 

Rocketman

Veteran Expediter
ya, i cant understand 210k and needing replaced. i have 0ver 250k on my 1st time recaps and as of last depth check they were at 19/1000 ths. i think you got poor quality recaps. i manage 300k usually and end up replacing more due to weathered sidewalls than tread depth. i wouldnt buy a lug tread and lose fuel mileage. i would stay with a fuel efficient tread, you will get around just fine. someone local you can trust is the ticket.
Tom...this is a bit Amonger'ish' I guess, but I think your gage probably reads in 32nds. 19/1,000ths is about the thickness of 6 sheets of printer paper.

19/32nds would be just a little more than half an inch of tread...almost 5/8".
 

Slacktide

Seasoned Expediter
Recaps??? Nah noooooooo thanks. I'll leave those to the local / regional
crowd. New only on this truck. Couldn't pay me to run recaps across the street and certainly not OTR.



Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
 

Monty

Expert Expediter
Recaps are a sure bet slacktide ..... I used them all the time. They wore as well as original tread.

With recaps, if they are defective, they will fail in the first 1,000 miles. other than that HEAT is the only enemy they have. Keep them properly inflated, they go the distance.

My favorite tires? Yokohama ...... wore like iron. And did not cup on the front end.
 

paullud

Veteran Expediter
Recaps are a sure bet slacktide ..... I used them all the time. They wore as well as original tread.

With recaps, if they are defective, they will fail in the first 1,000 miles. other than that HEAT is the only enemy they have. Keep them properly inflated, they go the distance.

My favorite tires? Yokohama ...... wore like iron. And did not cup on the front end.

Recaps being quality tires is a newer idea, they used to be junk but with the change in manufacturing process a lot has changed.

Sent from my ADR6400L using EO Forums mobile app
 

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
They are great if you use your virgin casings so you know what you are getting. Also only deal with a top quality brand like Goodyear or Bandag. They offer different qualities and tread designs. We run the best Bandags on our own casings and they do great. We get 85 to 95 percent of wear life compared to our virgins.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Recaps??? Nah noooooooo thanks. I'll leave those to the local / regional
crowd. New only on this truck. Couldn't pay me to run recaps across the street and certainly not OTR.
Why wouldn't you run recaps? As mentioned, if the casings are in good shape, then you have an almost new tire for much less than a new one.

You may want to make sure you get your casings back from the retreader by noting the serial numbers or branding them.
 
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