I should know this but what is the legal and/or the safety aspects of fitting steer tyres to the drive axle.
We used to ‘run off’ used steer tyres on trailers in the pre Supersingle days, which was acceptable then, but I can not ever remember putting them on the rear axle of a truck.
I would have thought, rightly or wrongly, that you would not get the same grip for traction and they may not be as safe on wet surfaces.
The reason I ask is I was walking back through the bus park at Taunton msa after getting a takeaway coffee, the other day, there was a bus with kids on (yeh, I know the obligatory 'bus load of schoolkids but it’s true) which looked dog rough (as well as some of the kids ) I noticed the old bus
had steer tyres on the nearside rear axle (a bit worn but legal) maybe even both sides. Safe? Legal?
What’s the verdict ?
Not illegal ,but problems I’ve seen recently have been trailer only super singles on a front steer axle and also 60 mph super singles not that 60 mph should be a problem lol ! Edit ,I did take my unit for test a few times with duramould steers on the drive just because i wanted rid of them .
Half the recuts of drive axle tyres i see they might as well be steering axle tyres.
Four slightly wobbly lines round the circumference is about as much as they get.
I used to take pride in replicating the original pattern when i recut tyres years ago, and yes i could manage a near enough perfect Pirelli Carriload
At the very least side sipes should be cut as well give the water somewhere to go when the lorry is empty, but how often do you see anyone bothering, they end up wheelspinning and the throughly ■■■■■■ of driver lets 'em spin out quickly as poss.
We used to put steers on the drives at my old gaff, you could get set on heavily dew dropped grass! But it went through MOT ok so I can only assume it was ok.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s rigid trucks were supplied from the factory with the same tyres on all axles. If the tread pattern is not cut to the original main pattern this can result in MOT failure.
All tyre manufacturers have recommended and permissible fitments for their various tyres. I stick to their guidelines. They designed the things, apart from the obvious safety concerns , there is always nagging doubt about what position the insurers would take on a tyre fitted in a position the manufacturer hadn’t sanctioned.
We suffer a lot of tyre damage on our job, so I only buy steer tyres that will go on a drive. Mainly because most of our tyres will see a major repair in their lifetime and I don’t put them back on the front axle because the bloody great patch can cause a vibration. I am also leary of the safety risk posed by delamination of a tyre on a steer axle tyre after a major repair, although I can’t remember the last time we actually had one delaminate…
but what is the legal and/or the safety aspects of fitting steer tyres to the drive axle.
but it’s true) which looked dog rough (as well as some of the kids 
) I noticed the old bus