Forum Discussion

Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013

Any of you run caps?

A lot of talk about tires on the TV section lately.

I bought some Bridgestones for my Dmax several years ago they are wearing just ok in my opinion. I will know more when they get down to the wear bars.

They have a super good casing on them. I mean like commercial quality. I have never really seen a casing like them except on big rigs.

I was kicking around the idea of getting them capped when they are worn out so I started to read about caps. We ran caps on our race car tires about 15 years ago. They were mandated by the track and I have to admit in all the years of running them and abusing them we never lost a cap and I never seen anybody loose cap while running them.

At first thought, I thought it was kind of a crazy idea running caps in this day and age on my TV. Then I started to read about caps and educate myself about them. Wow, I'm really starting to warm up to the idea now.

Any of you ever run caps on your tow vehicle or would you ever do it?
Tow Vehicles
  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    Nope, but have always wondered about Bandag 'cold' process retreads

    Ever since read an article, think circa 70's, about a guy RV'ing with Bandag
    Retreads who gets over 100 thousand miles with them on his pickup. Don't know
    if they still do LT's, but for sure they do commercial

    http://www.bandag.com.au/retreads.aspx



    Fav of mine whenever someone talks about forced fed engines...

    http://www.bandag.com.au/thebandagbullet.aspx


    Of course they run their own retreads when doing these types of things...
  • sljkansas's avatar
    sljkansas
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    Semi trucks run them on the drive axles and trailers but can't run them on the steer axles if memory serves me right.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    sljkansas wrote:
    Semi trucks run them on the drive axles and trailers but can't run them on the steer axles if memory serves me right.


    X2

    Not sure if DOT allows them anywhere on a passenger bus.
  • hone_eagle's avatar
    hone_eagle
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    my rears are caps,no problem at all.
    If they are no where near 'limits' caps do not scare me.
    Some of our schoolies had 20 year old tires on them,(fell through the cracks when companies change hands)
  • Engineer9860's avatar
    Engineer9860
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    45Ricochet wrote:
    sljkansas wrote:
    Semi trucks run them on the drive axles and trailers but can't run them on the steer axles if memory serves me right.


    X2

    Not sure if DOT allows them anywhere on a passenger bus.


    Wrong, and wrong.

    You can run them on the steers of any thing except a passenger bus. You can even run them on the drives of a passenger bus. Seen many a school bus with caps on the drives.

    Admittedly, I have never seen a retread on the steer of an OTR semi, nor would I want to do it myself, but it is legal.

    T&P-

    I looked into recapping the 225/70-19.5s on my F-450. It wasn't going to save me much over buying new China virgins. Otherwise I'd have liked to kept my Michelin casings.
  • Lessmore's avatar
    Lessmore
    Explorer II
    Jun 24, 2013
    I would be concerned about having recaps on the front tires.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Jun 24, 2013
    45Ricochet wrote:
    sljkansas wrote:
    Semi trucks run them on the drive axles and trailers but can't run them on the steer axles if memory serves me right.


    X2

    Not sure if DOT allows them anywhere on a passenger bus.


    X4
    I think drive axle on a dually, but I will continue to buy new for now.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    Engineer9860 wrote:
    45Ricochet wrote:
    sljkansas wrote:
    Semi trucks run them on the drive axles and trailers but can't run them on the steer axles if memory serves me right.


    X2

    Not sure if DOT allows them anywhere on a passenger bus.


    Wrong, and wrong.

    You can run them on the steers of any thing except a passenger bus. You can even run them on the drives of a passenger bus. Seen many a school bus with caps on the drives.

    Admittedly, I have never seen a retread on the steer of an OTR semi, nor would I want to do it myself, but it is legal.



    DOT 393.75

    Section "E"
  • Engineer9860's avatar
    Engineer9860
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    "Section E" applies to a regrooved tire, not recapped, or retreaded tire. There is a difference.

About Travel Trailer Group

44,029 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 18, 2025