Types of Tires – STTC’s Guide

A Quick Guide to the Tire Types Including Retread Tires

Tires selection for any vehicle depends on the nature of the vehicle and the conditions it must operate in. Whether you own a fleet of box trucks for your commercial business, or an 18-wheeler, it’s critical to get tire selection just right. Let’s review some of the most common types of tires to determine which may fit your needs best.

Common Types of Commercial Tires 

Correct tire selection is critical to ensuring the safety and optimal performance of your vehicle. Some of the options include:

• Steer Tires: Steer tires are the most important tires on the truck. They tend to perform the best in the front axle position. They control the handling of the truck. They also have a ribbed tread that helps to channel water away from the tire itself. 
• Drive Tires: The drive tires are the workhorses of the vehicle. They are designed specifically for the drive or torque axles. They have some of the best traction possible as a result. They are available with various lug-type treads. This helps to increase traction on numerous surfaces. 
• Trailer Tires: The trailer tires are designed to withstand strong lateral and braking forces without compromise. They also have to carry various load weights efficiently. Trailer tires perform best in free-rolling trailer axle positions. They also tend to have reinforced sidewalls that help minimize damage from curbing.
• All Position Tires: All position tires may be used more freely across the truck. They tend to be built with the steer axle in mind, though. However, they can work well as drive and trailer axle tires too.

Tire Categories by Use

It’s also possible to select tires based on their use. That includes:

• Long haul tires: Long haul tires do just that – provide for better function over long trips. They tend to be designed for highway use, which means smoother, even terrain. They can easily handle up to 200,000 miles a year or more.
• Regional haul tires: These tires are mainly beneficial to businesses operating trucks, such as public utilities or food distribution trucks. They tend to be used by those who perform in a 300-mile radius. They carry medium to heavy loads and are commonly found on two-lane roads and highways. Annual mileage tends to be up to 80,000. 
• City tires: City tires are ideal for local use rather than highway use. They can handle potholes and uneven surfaces better than other tires. They are generally designed for up to 50,000 miles per year, but there’s ample flexibility here. 
• All-terrain/Off-The-Road tires: All-terrain, or OTR tires can handle the hard work of uneven surfaces and muddy, wet climates more readily than other tires. 

Fleet owners that are unsure what type of tire is best for them can get a bit of help deciding. Consider the type of conditions, types of routes driven, the number of miles, and the typical weight of the load. It’s also important to check with the vehicle’s manufacturer for any recommendations for that vehicle. Fuel economy is also a factor. 

What Kinds Of Tires Can Be Retreaded?

With the exception of certain off-the-road and earthmover tires, virtually any type of commercial tire can be retreaded.  Retreading depends more on the condition of the casing than what position it was mounted in.  However, certain brands and styles of commercial tires may allow for a higher numbers of retreading cycles.  

Reread tires offer significant savings to commercial operators, so if multiple retreading cycles is one of your objectives, it’s a good idea to contact our experts to discuss.

How to Get the Best Tires for Your Vehicles

STTC can help with all your tire needs, including retread tires. We provide 24/7 emergency road service when needed as well. If it is time to update tires for your commercial vehicles, we are here to help. Call now at 610-954-8473 or contact us online.