Tires: New or recaps?

[Midnight Flyer]

Anytime I drive down I-40 one can always observe the remains of recap tires along the highway or beside the road. Was wondering if recaps are that much cheaper than brand new virgin rubber tires? I know they're illegal to have on the front (steering) end of a rig.

[Graintrain]

A recap that is done right and is cared for by the driver(ie. inflation is correct, not hitting curbing and holes) can last just as long as a virgin tire. I know of guys that run retreads on all their drive positions and trailer, and don't have nearly as much tire trouble as other guys who only buy virgins, but don't keep up inflation pressures etc... I have bought a cheap & crappy recap to get out of a pinch once but that tire was off my trailer as soon as possible.

I have checked into putting goodyear Uni-circle retreads on the trailer next time I buy tires, I got a really great deal on some dunlop virgins this past time or I probably would have them now. Tires are like women and employers, take good care of them, and they will take good care of you. If my chice is between a good retread and a new chinese tire I'll usually choose the retread. The treadwear and wear pattern on a off brand virgin is usually not really that great.

[Maniac]

I agree with everything graintrain said, an I'll add this.

Not much difference in price retreads are almost as much as new, given that, I say buy new, you get what you pay for.

I run only virgin name brand tires, NO off shore crap for me.

[Fredog]

I will believe that recaps are just as good as soon as it becomes legal to have them on the steer axle and flammable hazmat trucks

[Graintrain]

For what its worth, every tire on my truck and trailer is a virgin tire. The steers and all 8 on the trailer have less than 6 months on them. I do a lot of short runs and some days nearly all my miles are on gravel or shale roads. Probably 15% of my total miles every month are not on pavement. My drive tires catch a little heck with gravel and stop and go elevator or mill traffic. I didn't price the retread unicircles in the 24.5 for my drives, just 11 R 22.5 for the trailer, and I got new Dunlops for almost the same money. If I was running all highway, cross country and got alot of miles off a tire then new would be my choice, probably michelin. But I run local/regional and my tire life is shortened. Thats why I said if I got the price down enough, I would really look at recaps for the drives.

[Graintrain]

I have had one steer tire go kablammo with a load. It was on an old cabover. I check my steer tires religously and always go for the top notch tire. Drives and trailer tires are important but to a lesser extent (unless you are the guy driving the subaru next to the drive tire that just unpeeled).

[GMAN]

I only recently put caps on one of my trucks. I did have a problem with one of them, but the guy who put them on thought that something didn't quite look right with it. They replaced it at no charge. Other than the one problem they seem to be doing well on the truck. You don't want to constantly travel at 80 mph with caps, but I mostly drive at 65 or less, so it should not be a problem. In talking with tire people the key is to watch your tire pressure. As long as you keep your tire pressure up you should not have a problem running caps. If they continue doing well I may try them on the other truck. A friend of mine has been running caps for some time and he is the main reason that I tried them. Caps can save a lot of money on tire expense.

[Maniac]

As long as you keep your tire pressure up you should not have a problem running caps. If they continue doing well I may try them on the other truck. A friend of mine has been running caps for some time and he is the main reason that I tried them. Caps can save a lot of money on tire expense.

If the casings are yours I'd say you might be OK, BUT if you don't know how old they are or if they have ever been run flat, you are asking for trouble. Most tire shops will NOT sell the "good ones" to out of state trucks, they know that you will be long gone if there is a problem, however if it is your "regular" tire shop, I'd say maybe you got a chance, MAYBE.

Last time I priced a cap it was around $65.00 less than a virgin tire (Goodrich TR144 trailer) $235.00 for the cap and $300 for the tire, that's about $520 on a set of 8, plus you will not get any credit for those caps on trade, nor will you gat any credit for off shore casings, I got $40 each for my virgin Kelly Springfields

[flood]

new... why...? fuel milage will go down with caps.

when they changed my drives last time they put caps on and my milage went down from 6.7 to 6.2.... if the caps were FREE it would only cost about $5000 extra a year for fuel (@ 3.00 fuel)

[Copperhead]

The newer Custom Molded Retreads from Michelin are pretty good tires. I would have no problem putting them up against new tires. I can get the XDA-23AT Custom Molded retread drive tires for $170 after the credit for my casings (that price was good 3 weeks ago). They have a 110 rolling resistance, so they will compete favorably with new drive tires regarding fuel, for those of us that watch this sort of thing. I get all my tires from the same dealer in my area, Allied Oil and Supply.

For me, they are the way to go. When taken care of, I have not experienced any more problems with 1st generation retreads than with new tires. Fleets that have them on trailers that get dropped and hooked seem to have the problems. I have never had one come apart on any tractor in over 15 years, but I watch my inflation pressure and take care of them.

[heavyhaulerss]

I dont use caps. my neighbor used one one time on his retinour trailer & when that cap blew it took out several cross members under trailer. I have used them before, as a spare, that I kept on truck/trailer until it was wore down to get my money out. as a rule .I dont use them. I think you can get used in better condition than some caps.

[boneebone]

I only use virgin Name Brand tires, I would never put Chinese-made tires on my truck.

[Trudger]

I was behind a truck yesterday, and the again today that had their recap come undone and strip off on I40. The one today made me swerve to miss the recap gator that flew down the lane at me bouncing from side to side! To matters worse, he almost took out a motorcycle that had just passed him mere seconds before it went! I think the recaps have become too much of a liability and potential for disaster and death if the correct situation presents itself. I don't think ANY company should run them as they are a product that is inferior and dangerous.

[mitchno1]

in new zealand we run caps on drivers of our logging trucks no problems just wouldnt want cases that have been used on a truck with cti, my new trailer came with chinese tyres has done 60,000ks loaded ,tyres half worn ,not bad i think.end of day we hit a bank or sharp rock with trailer ,sidewall still be stuffed bridgestone or chinese

[GMAN]

So far the caps that I put on the one truck are doing well. Wear is even. I have not noticed any drop in fuel mileage. I also saved over $100 per tire over new. I have been pleasantly surprised at the way they have been running. Unless the tires have had time to cure, it would probably be best to put them on during winter or cooler months.

[LBF]

The government by way of the NHTSA has investigated and found re-treads to be no more likely to be that 'gator on the road then a virgin tire.

Here's the report submitted December 2008:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NRD/M...008/811060.pdf

And this presentation to the SAE in October 2009 references a few other studies:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NRD/M...%20%282%29.pdf

Monitoring tire inflation remains the single biggest thing we as drivers and owners can do to control unexpected tire costs.

Purchase the tires that make you happy?

[Copperhead]

I will believe that recaps are just as good as soon as it becomes legal to have them on the steer axle and flammable hazmat trucks

Well, brush the dust off your FMCSA reg guide book and you will see recaps ARE legal for steers, only restriction is for passenger bus. But I think that is least of their worries, since there seems to be passenger buses wrecks so frequently that it has the undivided attention of the FMCSA.

[Copperhead]

Well, after getting roughly 420,000 miles on my Bridgestone M720's, got caps on all the drives two weeks ago for $170 a tire. Michelin XDA2 23 AT's. Two weeks mpg numbers, average 8.3 mpg on the ECM (which is always off a little). Actual calculated mpg, pump to pump, 7.8. Not bad for new tread. I like that I could get 8 retreads mounted and balanced with new stems, 4 new shocks installed, and a 55 gal drum of synthetic blend oil delivered to the house... Total of $2715. Bargains still exist.

[specialkay]

Last year I did a little experiment. I pull a 6 axle trailer grossing around 130,000lbs. I put Michelin XZY-1 recaps on the back lift axle and off shore cheap tires on the front lift axle. These axle usually have around 18,000lbs on them. Where I live the caps were 250$ plus the casing. The offshore ones were $300 installed. After 18 months the offshore tires were done.Bald with irregular wear from belts shifting. The caps had 50% tread but were showing seperation along the edges. One developed a hardball size bulge on the corner. It was replaced under warranty. At 20 months I lost half of the cap damaging the mudflap ,stainless antisail bracket. Probably 75 dollars on top of the tire cost. The other 3 are now spares and I don't run caps or offshore tires anymore. I pay more for brand name tires but the tire life justifies it for me.

[Blacksheep]

Always Bridgestone and always virgins, leave the recaps for cheap people.