Finding the right commercial truck tires for your semi truck is important. Long-haul trips mean that the truck’s tires are going to be receiving a lot of wear, so ensuring you have the proper tires should be at the top of your priority list.
In this article, we’ll cover some of the factors in play when you’re shopping for commercial truck tires. From different applications to various climates to diverse weight classes, the number of things that influence which tires are best for your semi truck are numerous.
This article will illuminate what you should know when buying commercial truck tires for your semi truck.
New or retread tires
Many semi truck repair shops offer both new and retread tires. Retread tires are tires that have been remanufactured in order to replace the tread that has been worn down. They can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of new truck tires, and they offer environmental benefits as well. If your budget is tight, you could explore the option of retread tires for your semi truck.
Quality of tires
The quality of the commercial truck tires you purchase is more than just the brand—it’s the warranty as well. Certain reputable name-brand tires like Michelin, Goodyear, Yokohama and BFGoodrich sell specially-designed tires that have solid warranties and offer terrific performance. Though these products might be more expensive than non-name-brand tires, sometimes you get what you pay for.
Tire hardness
Commercial truck tires are often available in different hardness scales. Harder tires are more durable and last longer, and they usually offer better fuel efficiency than softer tires. They don’t work as well in slick conditions, however.
Softer tires can offer a smoother ride, which could matter depending on the distance you’ll be traveling and the cargo you’ll be transporting. As you might expect, softer tires don’t offer much in the way of fuel efficiency, and they wear down more quickly than harder tires.
Route consideration
A truck that’s going to be traveling through the American south in August would likely require different tires than a truck moving through the Great Lakes region in December. This is because temperature differences need to be accounted for in addition to any prospective inclement weather. Softer tires would be better suited for wintry road conditions, as they’re designed to expand and contract to counteract any weather conditions that they may encounter.
Load size
This is probably the most important factor when purchasing new commercial truck tires. Each tire has a respective weight rating, denoting how much weight a particular tire can support. You must know how much weight you’re going to be hauling, the type of trailer you’re using and how much weight your new tires are going to be required to carry. Knowing that will allow you to check your weight rating on various charts and indexes to ensure that the new tires you’re purchasing can support the various cargo you’ll be hauling.
Call for your commercial truck tires today
For commercial truck tires and semi truck repair, call us at J & M Trailer Repair. We’ll help you find the best commercial truck tires for your semi truck and have you out on the open road in no time.