Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Topic: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug) (Read 964 times) previous topic - next topic

Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

October 15, 2020, 10:11:34 am

Are folks running a different type of tire tread on their drive axle vs the steer axle?

My understanding is steer tread should always be ribbed and can be used on drive axles, but alternately a lug or sipe tread can used on the drive axle.

I assume a lug or sipe tread would offer more traction, but probably not required for the driving conditions most likely encountered in a motor coach.

From the numerous prior posts, I know there are many passionate opinions on tire brands and I am definitely not asking that question.

Do you run the same tire style front and rear or do you use a different tread style on the drive axle.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #1 – October 15, 2020, 10:14:30 am

Steer x 6

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #2 – October 15, 2020, 10:29:38 am

Quote from: Protech Racing – October 15, 2020, 10:14:30 am

Steer x 6

Steer x 6

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #3 – October 15, 2020, 10:39:36 am

Steer. All the way around

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #4 – October 15, 2020, 10:42:13 am

KISS. Steer x 6.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #5 – October 15, 2020, 10:54:10 am

Toyo steer x6

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #6 – October 15, 2020, 10:56:21 am

Toyo steer 6 load range H

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #7 – October 15, 2020, 11:34:32 am

OP said he doesn't care to discuss tire brands - he is only asking opinions about tire tread design.

As a highly qualified armchair engineer, I can't see how rear dually tire tread design would make much (if any) difference in common low traction situations. With all the weight hanging on the rear axle of a diesel pusher, traction is normally gonna be pretty darn good...until it isn't. But where do large pusher motorhomes commonly get in trouble? Three conditions that I have read about (but never personally encountered).

1. Mud. Stick a diesel pusher in mud, and the tires won't matter. The tread will pack with mud, and any tire turns into a slick. Call a wrecker.

2. Sand. The only tires that help in deep soft sand are flotation style paddle tires. Anything else is useless once you get stuck. Call a wrecker.

3. Snow and ice. I suppose a special "snow and ice" tire with specific tread design and rubber compound might help. No personal experience. I'll let those who have been there comment. I prefer to sit out the storm and drink hot buttered rum.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #8 – October 15, 2020, 11:43:24 am

Steer x 6.
JohnH

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #9 – October 15, 2020, 11:47:18 am

If you have steer tires all the way around, your spare can be a steer and fit any position.

Pierce

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #10 – October 15, 2020, 12:04:14 pm

Steer all the way around.

Larry

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #11 – October 15, 2020, 12:32:32 pm

Steer X 6 here as well. I,m off pavement less than 1% of the time and then, only on maintained dirt roads, (dry).

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #12 – October 15, 2020, 01:05:46 pm

Steers all away around and in the winter snow tires on the rear.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #13 – October 15, 2020, 05:09:57 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – October 15, 2020, 11:34:32 am

OP said he doesn't care to discuss tire brands - he is only asking opinions about tire tread design.

As a highly qualified armchair engineer, I can't see how rear dually tire tread design would make much (if any) difference in common low traction situations. With all the weight hanging on the rear axle of a diesel pusher, traction is normally gonna be pretty darn good...until it isn't. But where do large pusher motorhomes commonly get in trouble? Three conditions that I have read about (but never personally encountered).

1. Mud. Stick a diesel pusher in mud, and the tires won't matter. The tread will pack with mud, and any tire turns into a slick. Call a wrecker.

2. Sand. The only tires that help in deep soft sand are flotation style paddle tires. Anything else is useless once you get stuck. Call a wrecker.

3. Snow and ice. I suppose a special "snow and ice" tire with specific tread design and rubber compound might help. No personal experience. I'll let those who have been there comment. I prefer to sit out the storm and drink hot buttered rum.

Having been stuck in the sand once you are 100% correct.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #14 – October 15, 2020, 05:28:54 pm

I have driven in snow and ice both with snow tires and without. The coach is not to bad without snow tires but great with them.
Up here it is the law that snow tires are mandatory on certain highways from October to April.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #15 – October 15, 2020, 06:16:27 pm

If you drive in snow, there is a good chance the road may have been chemically treated. The number one Foretravel bulkhead killer. You have to wash thoroughly before storing again.

Pierce

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #16 – October 15, 2020, 06:20:32 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – October 15, 2020, 11:34:32 am

3. Snow and ice. I suppose a special "snow and ice" tire with specific tread design and rubber compound might help. No personal experience. I'll let those who have been there comment. I prefer to sit out the storm and drink hot buttered rum.

As everyone else has said. Ribbed all around.

Lugged drives will help some in fresh snow that is an inch or more deep. Once it packs down into ice. Nothing but slowing down and chains will help.
But if one is regularly driving a coach in snow. One has rather big scheduling issues they should work on.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #17 – October 15, 2020, 07:31:50 pm

Quote from: bigdog – October 15, 2020, 06:20:32 pm

As everyone else has said. Ribbed all around.

Nothing but slowing down and chains will help.

Don't know about yours but chains won't go on our GV. A chain coming loose could do thousands of $$$ of damage.

Pierce

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #18 – October 15, 2020, 08:36:52 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – October 15, 2020, 07:31:50 pm

Don't know about yours but chains won't go on our GV. A chain coming loose could do thousands of $$$ of damage.

Pierce

Just a general statement about big rigs. No way is there room for conventional chains on an RV. I ran automatic chains on my semi's. So no clearance issues at all. insta chain

I spent to many years fighting snow driving to missile silos and pulling double trailers in Wyoming & South Dakota and so I avoid snow.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #19 – October 15, 2020, 08:45:56 pm

Winter tire have a different Rubber compound than summer it's a softer compound I've driven 2200 miles and hit snow 100 miles from home You don't have to run winter tires but there's better tires you can put on the back of your coach than a steerIng tires you can easily be caught in snow conditions and by having all season tires or a gripping tire than A steering tire you can save thousands of dollars of damage by not slipping around on bad snow plus you got grip . I travel every fall from Canada to Florida or Florida to Canada in early March , I seen once leaving Canada on bare pave and get in Connecticut in middle of afternoon and hitting black ice. Road conditions can change in a flash. Like they say don't be caught with your pants down. If you run the southern states only you're ok but if you run northern state you can never tell what you will encounter. You can watch the weather but a drop in temperature changes the whole situation.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #20 – October 15, 2020, 09:01:49 pm

Quote from: Ted & Karen – October 15, 2020, 05:09:57 pm

Having been stuck in the sand once you are 100% correct.

And no matter how hard I tried I could not pull Ted's coach out of the big deep holes he dug for himself. Even with 4 wheel drive.

We had to call in the big boy.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #21 – October 15, 2020, 09:18:41 pm

Interesting. Now Ted & Karen's decision to go brick and mortar becomes less conflicted.

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – October 15, 2020, 09:01:49 pm

And no matter how hard I tried I could not pull Ted's coach out of the big deep holes he dug for himself. Even with 4 wheel drive.

We had to call in the big boy.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #22 – October 15, 2020, 09:19:59 pm

Those Instachains are one of the coolest things I've seen in years!!!! Just sayin.

Quote from: bigdog – October 15, 2020, 08:36:52 pm

Just a general statement about big rigs. No way is there room for conventional chains on an RV. I ran automatic chains on my semi's. So no clearance issues at all. insta chain

I spent to many years fighting snow driving to missile silos and pulling double trailers in Wyoming & South Dakota and so I avoid snow.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #23 – October 15, 2020, 10:17:33 pm

Very expensive, but in SD & Wy. You can run in bare pavement, ice and right back in bare pavement. That's why truckers try to not chain up. It's hard and slow and you can't run on pavement for long.
All I had to do was slow to 25MPH and flip a switch. Boom, chained up for that slick hill.

Re: Steer axle vs drive axle tire tread style (ie. Rib vs sipe or lug)

Reply #24 – October 15, 2020, 10:41:46 pm

Bigdog when you ski it's nothing to do with schedule, it's what I want, lots of snow. I also have a set of soft chains that I carry so
when I travel during the chain months mostly coming back from a trip that I am legal. If I have to put on chains I will wait a day
or two until the road is clear. Sometime in late November I put on the snow tires.

Affiliate Notice