tire question

I had a Nitto Terra Grappler LT285/70R17 start throwing the tread off and become badly misshapen. Fortunately I check my tires every time I stop. Truck was a 1 ton Ram SRW with a Lance 815 on it. It was not overloaded and I would absolutely never operate any vehicle with a tire overloaded.

Kayteg1 wrote:


That makes me thinking how realistic you are.
Trucks usually get best mpg in 45-55 mph range.
Each time I drive my dually on 45 highway, or even on 35 mph city streets, my mpg goes into 30's.

That's with my camper and small trailer.

Empty at 87-88 mph I average just over 14 mpg.
Empty at 68 I average just over 16 mpg.

I can't remember ever driving 55 mph for any length of time.

ticki2 wrote:
Your signature says you average 12 mpg :h

Yup. My truck hauls 6000 lb camper 95% of its life at 60 mph.
I tried 70 mph and mpg drops to 10.
It is driving 45 mph empty where I am getting 30 mpg.
That is according to cluster calculator (who shows on low side) as I never had patience to drive long distance at such speeds.

Your signature says you average 12 mpg :h

specta wrote:


I generally set my cruise at 70 mph. That's where I get the best gas mileage.

That makes me thinking how realistic you are.
Trucks usually get best mpg in 45-55 mph range.
Each time I drive my dually on 45 highway, or even on 35 mph city streets, my mpg goes into 30's.

Buzzcut1 wrote:


I would have said that same thing before November when I drove from California to Kentucky and back. 4 days each way averaging between 75 and 80 mph the entire way. Of Course I had 6 brand new tires on the dually...

I am pushing my weight limit so I have to restrain myself. LOL

I generally set my cruise at 70 mph. That's where I get the best gas mileage.

Of Course I had 6 brand new tires on the dually

That's the key IMHO,tire condition..If I had a SRW with a TC with near max tire capacity,I would treat them as truckers do front tires..Any sign of wear and replace/rotate etc.

specta wrote:
I didn't know you were talking about logging trucks.

80 mph is as fast as I've ever driven with the camper on my truck and its just for a short distance passing another vehicle.

I would have said that same thing before November when I drove from California to Kentucky and back. 4 days each way averaging between 75 and 80 mph the entire way. Of Course I had 6 brand new tires on the dually...

I didn't know you were talking about logging trucks.

80 mph is as fast as I've ever driven with the camper on my truck and its just for a short distance passing another vehicle.

It don't matter much with logging trucks..As long as there the same size and close enough in tread design..The trailer can have about anything on it..Usually where all the worn tractor tires go..

Steer/front tires seem to wear out faster than drive tires..We really did not use the term steer/drive for tires..I suppose if the semi was used for nothing but highway miles,a special tire might be in order but for mostly off road,traction is the key for logging trucks..I used to chain a front tire all the time when needed..

In the winter months I often put the sleeper on and got out the flatbed and hauled lumber and grain to stay busy..The log truck tires were never an issue,infact they were a plus on Idaho's winter roads.

I sold my last logging truck 20 years ago so things may have changed since in tire language..LOL

The key to this thread and blowouts is "speed" IMHO...To fast with heavy loads near max capacity..