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.

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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