Steer tires overweight? Leeway?
 

can you be 160 pounds overweight on steer tires and would backing the 5th wheel back all the way help

Will the DOT give you Leeway?

A 'rough' calculation for adjusting weight on your steers is that for every notch in the 5th wheel will move 75lbs. 1 notch back = 75lbs off the steers, 1 notch forward = 75lbs added to the steers.

As for giving you some leeway, that's 100% up to each one. I've had them let me go when 1,500lbs over on my trailer and I've had others write me a ticket for being 50lbs over on my drives.

You shouldn't have had that second Whopper and biggie fries!

I honestly cannot remember the actual numbers, but moving the fifth wheel one notch is a heck of a lot more than 75 pounds off or onto the steer axles.. I was thinking more like 200+ either than or when I had to do to it my trailer was THAT nose heavy..

DOT *might* give you leeway.
What states will you be traversing? How wide are your steer tires?
If you're in VA, 12,160 would be just fine running 10-inch-wide tires. However, other places may not be so gracious.

As long as you are not over your gross, I have never seen a DOT worry about a measly 160 lb above 12,000 on steers. Take a look in the front of your RM Carrier Road Atlas and look at all the max weights allowed on steers. It will surprise you.

most states now allow you whatever your steer tires are rated for, this info is on the sidewall, for instance, if your tires rated at 6500 pounds each which most are, they will allow you 13,000 on the steer axle

Always depends on the state and even the DOT officer. If the tires haven't been abused, they won't mind the extra weight at all, just make sure you have them aired up to max recommended PSI.

I'll add this - our dispatch people maintain that as long as you are under gross (under 80,000 lb) and your other axles are legal, you can be up to 1000 lb over on the 3rd axle or set of axles.

Not sure about other states, I have been 2 - 300 on steers no problem as long as gross was ok (under 80,000). Fifth wheel adjust 4-500lbs per notch. Fill your tanks, then adjust 5th wheel to @12,200 with heavy load and you'll never have to touch it again.