Semi Truck

We Offer High-Quality Semi Truck Tires to Keep You Safe on The Road

When you are purchasing a semi truck for a fleet or as a single owner-operator, plenty of essential attributes are likely to come to mind. Your vehicle must be durable, reliable, relatively inexpensive to maintain, comfortable, as efficient as possible, and comfortable for long hauls.

But it’s easy to leave items such as semi truck tires as an afterthought. You might think that having tires at all is enough consideration. However, investing in the wrong semi truck tires for your vehicle and needs can cost you through decreased fuel range, high upfront cost, short tread life, and poor handling characteristics.

In other words, tires can have a huge impact on your bottom line. If you choose wrong, you’ll regret the purchase and will likely end up buying better ones anyway.

What to Look for When Buying Semi Truck Tires

Your specific needs will determine the type of tires you should buy. Consider the attributes you will likely consider for your truck, including the following:

• Tread Lifespan: Look for the highest mileage life expectancy
• Noise: Check that the tires aren’t loud and don’t make an annoying hum sound
• Efficiency: To enhance fuel economy, look for tires with low rolling resistance
• Traction: Look for tires designed to handle the conditions your truck will endure
• Good Steering Response: Tires should communicate well with the driver

When you are getting ready to purchase tires, research is extremely important. Read as many reviews and real-world tests as you can. And while marketing materials from the manufacturer can point you in the right direction, make sure you find out whether the company’s claims are true.

Whenever you’re in doubt, you can always turn to the experts at Gallagher Tire for advice. We have extensive experience in providing quality, durable, and high-performing truck tires. Our expertise is exactly what you need to make the right choice.

What Types of Semi Truck Tires Do We Carry?

The tires on a semi-tractor-trailer are not all interchangeable and have different purposes. Each one plays a unique role, and manufacturers produce tires for specific positions: steer tires, drive tires, and trailer tires.

Steer Tires

Steer tires are designed to work on the front wheels or the wheels responsible for steering the truck. These tires can be made for different environments, such as “line haul” tires for runs over 500 miles. They provide solid handling, low rolling resistance, low noise, and high-speed, responsive steering characteristics.

Tires designed for urban environments are better at handling constant stops and starts. Regional and super-regional tires have to withstand the rigors of driving anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 miles every year. Vocational tires are geared toward specific environments, must handle on and off-road conditions, and often have limited top speeds.

Drive Tires

Unlike semi steer tires, these tires are for the drive wheels that put the engine’s power to the ground. They are often paired up as two tires on each side of the drive axle in a configuration known as “duallies.”

Trailer Tires

While semi steer tires and drive tires are intended for use on the semi truck itself, these tires are designed exclusively for the trailer. They do not need to have the same steering characteristics as the steer tires, and they do not need to handle engine torque. But trailer tires do have heavy-duty sidewalls to handle massive loads.

Semi Truck Tire FAQs

How Long Should Semi Truck Tires Last?

Semi truck tires can last anywhere from three to six years. This timeline takes usage and miles driven into account, but age is an important factor as well. Tires do eventually get old, harden, and dry rot as time passes.

It doesn’t matter whether your tires have only seen a few miles and light use conditions. Regardless of how far you’ve traveled, you should still replace them after six years of having them on your semi truck to preserve their handling and efficiency, not to mention safety. When you’re in doubt, you should refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper care and longevity.

What Are Common Sizes for Semi Truck Tires?

For modern semi-tractor-trailers, common sizes are:

• 295/75R22.5
• 275/70R22.5
• 225/70R19.5

However, the sizes for older or custom trucks can vary. Remember that you shouldn’t use tires marked “LT,” which is for light trucks, or “P,” which is for passenger vehicles. In other words, just because the tire fits your truck doesn’t mean it is rated for use on a semi-tractor-trailer.

What Is the Tread Depth of a Semi Truck Tire?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires tread depths for all major grooves to be 4/32,” while the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance requires grooves to be more than 2/32” in two adjacent grooves.

Trucks found to be out of compliance with the FMCSA standard may incur a citation but can still be operated on the road. However, vehicles out of compliance with the CVSA must be fitted with new tires to continue operation.

What Is the Average Cost of a Semi Truck Tire?

The price per tire ranges between $250 and $600 for most examples. However, specialty or premium tires can cost as much as $1,200 or more.

Why Buy Semi Truck Tires From Us?

Tires4That is committed to providing a wide range of tires for a variety of applications at competitive prices. Our selection of specialty tires makes us one of the leading wholesale providers in the U.S., and we work with customers around the country to supply the tires they need.

The experience we’ve gained over more than 55 years in the tire business will be your secret weapon for getting the best tires for your truck. Contact us today with help selecting a semi-truck tire!