Tires

[westofd1]

need to find info on tire age/replacement for apparatus. also as it pertains to recaps/retreads. ive seen it and heard it but can find it now. thanks

[osh599]

Check with your OSHA office. They came thru a fews years back to our department and asked me some questions reference the tires.

They will have the answers for you and will have these guidelines set in place. That is if they are anything like it is here in Michigan.

Hope this helps.

[lvwrench]

I was looking through NFPA 1901 and could not find much. It is pretty much a combination of the tire makers recommendations and the manufacturers specs for the unit. Outside of that the overall GVW and axle weight rating. The rims and tires should be matched for the unit. Some departments use recaps but I prefer new. Michelin has a fair website with info and I ma sure nthat the other makers have an information site as well. Never compromise the safety side.

[donethat]

I thought I saw some place that it is recommended tires be replaced every seven years regardless of the mileage. Don't remember where I read that. Tire manufactuers recommendation me thinks. Dry rot I guess. Vollies probably have trucks that have tires lasting this long. Not our fleet!

[RoaddoggAK]

I would never put a recap on a steer tire. That is just asking for trouble. That's why we here in PA have laws about not being able to put them on school busses. As far as I'm concerned, fire apparatus should be no different. The only recaps i would consider would be what are called "virgin" recaps. They are tires that have never been capped before. The more times that a tire is capped, the more likely that you are to throw one off. This is most often in OTR trucks and should never happen in a fire truck, but why would you take the chance. If nothing else, the tires and brakes are nothing that should be skimped on.

[WRFDTO]

I agree with RoaddoggAK, I would never put a recap on a steering axle.

Many years ago, FH magazine did an article on the topic of recaps, and I believe the Detroit FD. If my memory serves me right they at the time, had good luck with recaps.

I have also heard of other departments going the recap route due to costs and low milage on their apparatus. Never heard if they had any problems.

[GhostRider73]

Never put re caps on a steer axle. This is against the law.

FMCSR 393.75
(a) No motor vehicle shall be operated on any tire that (1) has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall, (2) has any tread or sidewall separation, (3) is flat or has an audible leak, or (4) has a cut to the extent that the ply or belt material is exposed.

(b) Any tire on the front wheels of a bus, truck, or truck tractor shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 4/32 of an inch when measured at any point on a major tread groove. The measurements shall not be made where tie bars, humps, or fillets are located.

(c) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, tires shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 2/32 of an inch when measured in a major tread groove. The measurement shall not be made where tie bars, humps or fillets are located.

(d) No bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels.

If I had the money available, I wouldn't run caps at all. Liability is one reason many trucking companies don't run caps. Nothing like paying to replace someone's car when you throw a cap at it.

Matt