Recomendations for drive tires tandem dump truck

[Keith Merrell]

I need to replace 6 of my drive tires on my 10 wheeler. This is the first time I've had to buy commercial truck tires. Looking around I see lots of different opinions. I would like something with an open shoulder. My mechanic says to buy whatever is cheapest. I have read good things about Goodyear G282's but they are $925 a piece which just seems over the top to me. Another option I have read good things about is the Toyo M920, at $530 a piece that seems a lot more reasonable. And the Chinesium tires on Ebay seem to run $300 a piece whatever the brand.

This is kind of like the Ford or Dodge debate but just wanted to get some opinions on commercial truck tires. I am an owner operator so I will be the one driving the truck. Right now I am leaning towards the Toyos. Thanks.

 

[Jonas302]

The toyos are about right where average name brand tires are priced right now will you be using the snow sipes or would be better off with something that throws the mud out on severe off road jobs

Your mechanic is probably onto something as a rule dump truck/ slash construction tires don't last long enough to pay the premium like those goodyears

Its best if your lucky enough to find a commercial dealer that will talk to you about what kind of work the truck does and can tell you what he sells his other accounts doing the same work and that may even be the chinesium tires but I would rather buy them from a guy that says he has a thousand running around town then ebay

 

[suladas]

Everyone I know agrees with that to, when it comes to drives on a dump truck just get the cheap one's because they will get something in the sidewall, or torn up driving on rough stuff before they are worn out many times. The only place I know many will spend the money on pricey tires is for the steers. But it may be worth a bit more to buy from a tire shop who can install them then ebay. Also it's better if you do junk one, easier to get a new one to match and generally the tire shops will treat you better if you buy tires for them when you come in for flat repairs, etc. Sometimes you'll get free flat repairs.

 

[Keith Merrell]

The siping won't make a difference because we don't get any snow here. Bigger lugs would be preferable, I use the truck on site quite a bit too.

And yes my mechanic used to take care of a fleet of trucks and his thought was because the drivers never checked air pressure or always curbed them they had blowouts so it didn't make sense to buy a premium tire.

I agree on the idea of buying from a local dealer. I may see if I can get pricing on some Hankooks as well.

 

[digger doug]

1. Round
2. Black
3. Hold air

 

[cfherrman]

I like the ones that are mud grip in the middle and solid ish on the outer lugs, gives decent mud grip with out being obnoxious with vibration and helps a little in rain or snow.

 

[1693TA]

I purchased "Ironman I-301" tires for my Mack tractor. I have friends running the brand in your application and are happy from a price/wear standpoint, but I like an all position tire for my purpose. These deliver good traction and clean well without being noisy. I don't have air ride and you can feel aggressive tread tires easy through the seat.

I replaced "General" branded tires from many years ago with a very similar tread pattern.

 

[crane operator]

If you need 6, I would be buying all 8 drives, and saving your good 2 as spares.

I like hankook DM 04's , but they are real aggressive, and I don't drive the cranes around all day long. I just need to get into the jobsite once. A less aggressive tire is going to last a lot longer.

Most dump truck guys here run what they call "waste hauler" retreads. Not quite as aggressive as a DM04. But we have all kinds of shot rock used on sites and that's real hard on tires, so guys don't want the most expensive. It doesn't get as hot here as arizona- I don't think caps are ever going to hold up in your heat. So I wouldn't want caps in your location, But I like that tread style.

I couldn't make the goodyears (michelins are just as expensive) at $900 make sense, the choice between $500 for mid grade or $300 for chinese off brand is kind of a personal preference. If money is tight- the $300 is okay. If you have the money- $500 each is going to get you a lot better tire- with a better name on it. In whatever your local tire man carries- unless your mounting them yourself.

When I was shopping this spring for a set of 8, it was less about what I wanted, as what was available. Stocks of tires were short then, and I don't know if its gotten better. It does no good to order tires that won't be here for 6 months if you need them now.

 

[skyking1]

I run a collection of similar diameter tires on the work truck, highway tread, and when I have a problem with one I get a decent used one from my tire guys and keep on truckin. Hold air and legal tread depth are my requirements. I don't need knobby tires, the interlock works and if I needed more than that I had no business driving in there in the first place. They never make it to the "use by" date. Steers are newer and matched. I will replace the steers right before I retire and sleep well. The office knows nothing about trucking, inspections, tire life or steer tire safety. I couldn't give a care if the next guy loses a drive tire, but the trailer tires are new Hankooks and the steers will be good too.

 

[doublewide]

Any of you guys mount your own?

Anyone use the tire balancing place packs?

 

[skyking1]

For me, there would be no reason to tool up for such an endeavor. I used to work at a service station/tire shop in high school and have no desire to go back there.

 

[Jonas302]

Any of you guys mount your own?

Anyone use the tire balancing place packs?

Yes we mount them pretty easy work

I have used the balance packs but truly don't find any need for balance in a construction truck - balance packs or spin balance have not proved to be worthwhile in ride quality or tire life in my application


Also make sure to get tire quotes with FET added in most tire guys do some internet sites don't it makes a significant difference

 

[Truck Shop]

Yokohama TY527 or LY717.

 

[Truck Shop]

Tire Life-keeps the casing in condition plus helps with balance.

 

[Truck Shop]

Any of you guys mount your own?

Anyone use the tire balancing place packs?

Tire mounting-DC's are tough-stiff casing-anything with 16 ply rating will be stiff. Also it depends on
how long the tries have been barrel stacked, ones on bottom of stack can be a b!tch.

 

[Keith Merrell]

Toyo M610ZL

Yokohama LY717

Thanks for all the responses, all worthwhile information. From what I have read, I will go with some kind of a middle of the road $500 tire preferably one of the Jap brands rather than the Chinesium stuff. I will see what kind of pricing I can get on them from a local dealer on Tuesday. Thanks,
Keith

 

[doublewide]

The place I go in the city offers a service to send your rims (and spacers if you have open center rims) out to be sand blasted and epoxy coated if you can afford a week down time. Fairly cheap money too.

 

[suladas]

I've never had any desire to try mounting them myself, the wait times are generally annoying as it's 2-3 hours to get a flat fixed or tire changed here but I don't want the hassle especially for how cheap they do it. And it's not worth buying all the tools if you only have 1 truck. If you had 10 to do, then it's a different story. Only balance steer tires, the rest for me anyway is a waste. Unless the truck spends a ton of time on the highway and sees a lot of miles I wouldn't bother. Don't see many dump truck tires here make it until they are too low on tread, either something takes out a sidewall, too many lugs ripped off, too many leaks, or treads are just torn right up. Driving in the recycled concrete at many places, going to the dump, etc is really hard on tires.

 

[cuttin edge]

We run a lot of recaps. They're not like the old ones used to be. They reuse our Micheline casings. Can't remember the last time one lost a cap.

 

[crane operator]

Any of you guys mount your own?

Anyone use the tire balancing place packs?

I mount my own, I'm not near as fast as the guy that does it every day, but its faster than pulling it off, hauling it to the tire shop, waiting for them to fix it etc. I don't do my big o-ring mount tires. 17.5-25. 20.5r25's etc.

19.5's pickup tires aren't much fun the short stiff sidewalls make them more difficult, but the taller sidewall tires like 11r 22.5 or 24.5's aren't bad. You learn pretty quick that there's a difference in the rubber compounds in good tires vs. cheap tires. Old hard tires can be a pain to dismount also. Tire iron's aren't much money.