I drove a wagon that kept trying to put me in a ditch every time i went around a bend at normal speed.
other drivers had complained about the same thing with this unit, so i checked the tyres on the steering axle. both had very good tread, but they were different manufactures tyres. i.e. one was continental the other bridgestone.
The TM said it was legal to use different brands on the steering axle, as long as the load and speed rating were correct, but after the drivers constant complaints he got them changed and the unit then drove as it should.
Looking for clarification on which tyres can be used the on steering axle, along with the obvious like speed and load rating, it only states that tyres “of the same characteristics” must be used.
how do we know what the “same characteristic” is, given they are from different manufactures, can they be mixed 
Perhaps it was a faulty made carcass in the first place on one side ?
I would only ever put new virgin tyres on the steering and move them as they became worn out…normally in pairs. But in a case of an "emergency " change it could be another make provided it was new.
Although you say they both had good tread depth. This will more likely have been caused by there being a significant difference in tread depth between the two rather than different makes.
Legally as long as both same type of tyre, size, load and speed rating then it’s ok - but I would suggest best practice for a steered axle is matching tyres.
At least it got sorted which means someone listened
Is a consistent pull to the left considered an off road defect or allowable?
TruckOff:
I drove a wagon that kept trying to put me in a ditch every time i went around a bend at normal speed.
other drivers had complained about the same thing with this unit, so i checked the tyres on the steering axle. both had very good tread, but they were different manufactures tyres. i.e. one was continental the other bridgestone.
T:?
That’s interesting to know. My truck has a Continental HSR2 on one side and a Bridgestone R297 on the other side. Do you happen to know what the difference in tread depth was■■?
Dave
I drove a truck that didn’t have matching tyres or treads for years, never had an issue…
Mine and the last one (same model 1 year older) both had terrible steering pulling to the left all the time. Changed the tyres and brands both times from Dunlop to Hankook and it’s still the same, had everything else looked at by the dealer and they said its all fine.
I said but if I let go of the steering wheel it swings over 2"s and the trucks is across the White on the hard shoulder within a few seconds (going down a straight bit of motorway) surely there must be something? But no nothing they can find. So Iv come to the conclusion that’s it’s a manufactures design fault or something like that.
Also now the winter looks to be over soon Iv decided to go back to the Dunlop tyre as it felt much better all round compared to the Hankook’s that are on now. Plus the rears/drives are still Dunlop’s and they haven’t disappointed me, and I like them to match.
On another point I carry a spare which is a drive tyre is that OK to put on the front/steer axle?
On another point I carry a spare which is a drive tyre is that OK to put on the front/steer axle?
As far as im aware, The drive axle tread pattern is different, and should not be used on the steering axle.
Do you happen to know what the difference in tread depth was■■?
I didnt use my depth gauge, but both had good tread, one would have recently been new though, so must have increased the difference in tread depth.
The problem only occurred when cornering at 45-56mph, and only on right-hand bends. straight line driving was good.
it felt as though the side-wall of the tyre was trying to give way, which is why i checked the brands etc.
TruckOff:
As far as im aware, The drive axle tread pattern is different, and should not be used on the steering axle.
That’s what I thought, last TM we had seemed to think it was ok to do it. Thankfully I never had to and never plan to.
Bluey Circles:
were they all radial ?
Can you still get cross plies ?
Differences of Bias and Radial Ply Tyre
youtube.com/watch?v=ztguDz2t7KI
Sounds like a Scania…every one I’ve ever driven pulled left, even brand new ones. Come to think of it, my new Merc does exactly the same and both marques have never had a steering wheel centralised…they’re all off to the right by about 2"
Isuzu’s mine where/are. Bloody dreadful. Main dealer even had the cheek to say “it’s the camber of the road” I said really■■?!!! As most hard left hand bends I don’t need to steer it does it its self. And on a right hand camber the truck still goes left?!!!
It’s out of alignment, nothing more, nothing less, anybody that makes a living doing alignments who tells you any different is an idiot and is best avoided.
I’m getting a nearside steer axle tyre replaced tomorrow as it’s down to 2mm of tread. In an ideal world, it would probably be better to replace both, but the one on the offside still has 15mm of tread so that will be staying on.
I have a Bridgestone and a Hankook on the steer axle, a Dunlop and a Continental on the lift axle, two Encores and two Firestones on the drive axle and the Old Girl seems to handle well enough.
Actrosman:
Sounds like a Scania…every one I’ve ever driven pulled left, even brand new ones. Come to think of it, my new Merc does exactly the same and both marques have never had a steering wheel centralised…they’re all off to the right by about 2"
I drove a scania over here with bogie drive and it pulled to the left. A really good wheel aligner checked everything over and ended up saying it was bushes at the rear end, but it would cost heaps to fix and that they were pretty well known for it. Scrubbed the outside of the n/s/f tyre too. Obviously a different set up to a single drive, but worth noting anyway if the op’s talking about a scania.
I’m a little different to Harry, I had a nail go in a steer tyre last year and they were halfway through their life, I got the damaged one replaced and a week later I swapped the other one for a new one too. It would’ve been fine to run the mismatched pair, but I’m a bit of a tyre ■■■■, so it was doing my head in.
The second truck I bought just before Christmas has a good set of Michelins all around, except for the inner right rear tyre, which is a recap, it’s on a Michelin casing and it’s wearing at the same rate as the 7 other drive tyres, so it’s staying on, but I have to control the urge to swap it for a matching Michelin every time I look at it lol.
Which of us is doing it the right way? Me with my weird tyre fetish, or Harry with his mix n match anything goes philosophy? Both of us I would say, both methods clearly work, Harry’s way is not for me, I choose to run premium tyres in all positions as I’ve found it the most efficient way of doing it, but there are some big up front costs involved and my lorries do big mileage, so it’s horses for courses.