As a professional driver, you need to know as much as you can about your rig, all the way down to the tires on the pavement. Semi truck tires are a vital part of your vehicle. They determine how smoothly and quickly you can transport your load. They also account for over 50% of roadside truck failures. But if you are new to commercial trucks and their tires, it can be
This guide will take you through the basics of semi tires, including types and truck tire sizes available. It will help you identify the perfect tires for your big rig using the included particulars on how to read different semi truck tire sizes.
Basic Construction Information for Semi Truck Tires
Semi truck tires comprise several major components that work together to ensure efficiency. These include:
- Beads: The beads are made up of high-quality steel hidden in rubber. They maintain an airtight seal between the rim and the tire.
- Belts: They consist of steel sheets and are coated with rubber. Belts strengthen and add rigidity to the tire.
- Ply: The ply comprises steel cords concealed in rubber to enhance the flexibility of the wheels.
- Sidewall: Located between the tread and the bead, this part gives the tire extra stability and protects the inner layers from damage.
- Shoulder: This is the section between the treads and the sidewall. It is specially designed to help your truck turn and make curves efficiently.
- Tread: The tread is the outermost part of a truck wheel that touches the ground. It is the thickest part of a tire, made from a blend of synthetic and natural fiber.
- Groove: These are the deep channels that separate the treads, allowing your truck to navigate seamlessly in water, mud, or snow.
These details are crucial when learning about tires to help you choose what is best for your trucks. It is also important to know how each part of a tire affects the overall performance of a truck.
Types of Semi Truck Tires
When you’re looking to replace your tires, you need to make sure that you get the right type for each position. Here are the three main types of semi tires:
Steer Tires for Semis
Steer tires have been designed to function properly at the front axle position of your truck. They play an essential part during the handling and riding of a vehicle by offering ribbed treads that keep water away from the wheels.
Due to their role in ensuring your truck runs smoothly, steering tires are likely to wear faster compared to other tires. This is why it is important to find a quality that can offer you the best results when you need them.
Drive Tires for Semis
Designed for your truck’s drive axle, these tires provide optimized traction on different surfaces. Their main function is to keep the truck going. Drive tires are more likely to be ignored for maintenance, since most fleet owners perceive their workload as easy. However, it is important to check them regularly because, just like other tires, they take their beating too.
Trailer Tires for Semis
Trailer tires are located on the trailer axle position. They are supposed to be strong enough to withstand heavy loads and braking forces. To ensure this, they have reinforced sidewalls protecting the casing from damage.
Read More: Steer Tires vs. Drive Tires for Semi Trucks
Common Semi Truck Tire Sizes Explained
The first step to choosing the best tire for your truck is understanding tire sizes. A few of the most common semi truck tire sizes include:
- 295/75R22.5
- 275/70R22.5
- 225/70R19.5
While knowing these types of tire sizes is important, the information won’t be of much use if you can’t comprehend what each number stands for. Here is how you can read the numbers, taking 275/70R22.5 as an example:
- Tire Width: The first three digits, 275, represent the truck tire width. The measurements can be in inches or millimeters. Since the tire width is where the rubber meets the road, it is essential to have the perfect measurement for your truck.
- Aspect Ratio: This is marked by the two digits that follow the tire width after the slash (70). It represents the height of the tire from the tread to the bead, in relation to its width. The aspect ratio helps you identify a tire that will perfectly fit your truck.
- Tire Construction Type: It is represented by R. Tire construction can be diagonal (D), radial (R), or Bias belt (B).
- Rim Diameter: Represented by 22.5 in our example, the rim diameter shows the diameter of the center of the tire. It is here that the rim fits.
Need tires for your truck?
With so many options to choose from, finding the right tires for your truck can be a daunting task. You want to make sure that you get the best tire for the job. And once you get the right tires on your rig, you need to keep an eye on semi truck tire maintenance.
Let us help you choose a good set of semi truck tires from our stock. Contact Bozz Towing and Diesel Roadside today for affordable truck tires and tire repair services in Northern Utah and Evanston, Wyoming.
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