Semi trucks are heavy. These behemoths of the road require that weight to safely haul their heavy loads across the country. However, it would all be for nothing if semi trucks did not ride on top of equally heavy tires.
Most semi truck tires weigh around 120 pounds but can weigh more or less depending on tire type, size, and load limits. For instance, heavy-duty semi truck tires often weigh in around 250 pounds, not including their rims. Commercial tire rims can add up to 50 pounds of extra weight.
However, tires lose weight as normal wear and tear reduce their tread depth. This lost weight can cause an issue down the road if not detected and repaired in time. By reading further, you will learn how to check tire tread wear so you can replace your tires as needed.
How Much Do Semi Truck Tires Weigh?
Built to handle harsh road conditions and heavy cargo, semi trucks have hefty tires that match their durability in weight and size. These massive tires clock in at over 120 pounds, not including their rims, easily outweighing the tires found on other vehicles.
For comparison, here are some weights for some common tire types on the road:
- Passenger car: 27 pounds
- Light truck: 48 pounds
- Semi truck: 115 pounds
Much of the extra heft in semi truck tires comes from their material construction. These materials come in various forms of thick slabs of solid vulcanized rubber arranged in a radial pattern. This makes the tires extremely durable and structurally sound while driving on and off-road.
Because of this construction, semi-tires can vary in weight depending on their purpose. For instance, trucks used in agriculture, mining, or pulling large equipment can have tires that weigh up to 250 pounds.
Importance of Checking Air Pressure and Semi Truck Tire Weight
Like cars, semi trucks and trailers require tire maintenance to ensure safe driving conditions and lower repair costs. This is because the tires are an essential part of the rig and the easiest to break, but it goes beyond that. Worn-out tires may not have the weight or air pressure to safely haul your load down the road.
Proper semi-tire maintenance can improve your truck’s:
- Performance: Properly balanced and treaded tires will give you better mileage on the road and better steering.
- Safety: Well-maintained tires provide better grip and traction to the road, especially in wet conditions. You can also stop faster on high-quality tires.
- Longevity: Well-maintained tires wear slowly and are less likely to blow out. Proper maintenance also lets you spot potential problems before they happen. This makes the tires more cost-effective for the driver, carrier, and fleet managers.
While the benefits of maintaining the tires on your semi truck are clear, many drivers and fleet managers find the task overwhelming. Fortunately, the tires are easy to check and maintain.
Understand Commercial Truck and Trailer Tire Regulations
Semi tire maintenance goes beyond quickly checking the tires before you head out on the road. You must ensure your tires comply with all federal and state tire regulations. Luckily, most of these regulations fall under a single document: the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR provides tolerances for tread and groove depth, air pressure, and tire condition.
Checking Tread Depth
The depths of the tire treads directly correlate to the weight of the tire. This is because the treads are the bulk of the tire’s rubber. As such, you want to maintain the quality of the treads and grooves as much as possible.
The CFR directs you to check the depth at a “major tread groove,” but any tread in the middle of the tire should work. You want to make sure that the tread depth for all of your tires is around 2/32 inches per the CFR.
Retread Tires as Needed
If you find your tires are getting bare, you can have them retreaded to regain their traction and weight. The process reforms the treads using recycled rubber until the tires regain their original thickness. Retreading is cheaper than buying new tires and is better for the environment.
Maintaining Inflation Pressure
While some semi-tires are durable enough to run flat, you never want to keep them that way. It ruins the tread and your rims, depressing your truck’s performance and safety. It may also violate CFR tire regulations. Therefore, you want to maintain the air pressure in your tires for as long as possible.
Testing semi truck tire pressure is similar to testing the pressure on any other vehicle. The inflation should be enough to carry the weight of your truck and your cargo.
Conclusion
A lot is riding on your tires, and not just your cargo. Because of this, semi truck tires are among the heaviest tires on the market, weighing in at least 120 pounds and above. While the weight can differ between style and purpose, maintaining this weight is required for the safe operation of your truck.