Mr B:
So a super single is a front steering tire that’s the same size as a driven or trailer tire.
Nope, a super single is a 385mm wide tyre (usually 385/65/22.5 to be precise), which is the same size as the most common trailer tyre in the UK, but NOT the same as a normal drive tyre. You still call them a super single regardless of if they’re fitted on a unit or trailer. The name came about as they replaced the older twin 11R22.5 tyres that used to be a standard fitment on most trailers. The “normal” size for all the tyres (drive, steer and lift) on most units in the UK is 295/85/22.5, although some these days are starting to come with 315’s instead.
allikat:
I think the 2 main reasons we use them is the fact they last for ages, and we carry spares and swap them ourselves, so having them the same as trailer tyres means only carrying 2 spares.
I don’t get that as surely if you don’t have super singles you have the same size as all the rest of the tyres on the unit so you still only have to carry two spares? The only exception to that I can think of is if you have a low-ride unit with small drive axle tyres.
Paul
What I don’t “get” about the above statement is that it doesn’t allow for the different tread patterns…There is a world of difference between a steer axle SS and a trailer one. Sure, you could put a steer tyre on a trailer axle, but to do it the other way around would be downright dangerous.
Bearing that in mind, surely you’re carrying one trailer and one steer tyre to cover all eventualities, which negates any gain made by having SSs on the steer?
Gotta say, I hate them myself. Bumpy ride, heavy pain in the arse when you’re manouevering, and they cost a fortune. That’s before we get into the whole fuel consumption/wear arguement as already covered above. I can see why they might be useful if you do a lot of work down country lanes, mind…
allikat:
I think the 2 main reasons we use them is the fact they last for ages, and we carry spares and swap them ourselves, so having them the same as trailer tyres means only carrying 2 spares.
Fallmonk:
Good for weight , but bad for tram lineing eh !
this is right, make sure you have both hands on the wheel when going past j18 south on the m6 or you’ll be all over the place with those super singles on the front!
repton:
You can uprate the axle to 7500kg (or perhaps even 8000kg?) from the standard 7100kg which can be beneficial in some cases (for example on a rigid with a heavy hiab at the front).
With the 385 super singles you can plate the front axle at 9000kg; a 315 is good for 8000kg. From what I have seen on rigids, at least. however i’m sure i read somewhere that when you take into account the extra weight of wheel and tyre and such, and the beefing-up of the suspension on the front too, that the 1000kg extra plated weight equates to only about 500-600kg extra payload which can be carried on the front.
obviously if you are on multi-drop work in a big rigid for example it is probably worthwhile. i have noticed that bargain booze at crewe have super singles on the front of their new motors.
Ive had them for years on steer axle of all my volvos and would never go back to standard tyres firstly my wagon is still returning 9-10 mpg secondly 380,000 kms opposed to 200,000 kms, thirdly i find the ride no better or worse. I run michelen XZY which is an allround tyre which can be run on any axle unit or trailer. So when they have cone there 380000 kms recut them and stick them on the lift axle (which i also run on supers) or stick them on trailer) yes the do cost a bit more but in the long run im saving money. And they look good with alloys
scotslad: Ive had them for years on drive axle of all my volvos and would never go back to standard tyres firstly my wagon is still returning 9-10 mpg secondly 380,000 kms opposed to 200,000 kms, thirdly i find the ride no better or worse. I run michelen XZY which is an allround tyre which can be run on any axle unit or trailer. So when they have cone there 380000 kms recut them and stick them on the lift axle (which i also run on supers) or stick them on trailer) yes the do cost a bit more but in the long run im saving money. And they look good with alloys
you got them on teh DRIVE axle
i bet they stick out a bit if yo got a pair of em on each side
scotslad: Ive had them for years on drive axle of all my volvos and would never go back to standard tyres firstly my wagon is still returning 9-10 mpg secondly 380,000 kms opposed to 200,000 kms, thirdly i find the ride no better or worse. I run michelen XZY which is an allround tyre which can be run on any axle unit or trailer. So when they have cone there 380000 kms recut them and stick them on the lift axle (which i also run on supers) or stick them on trailer) yes the do cost a bit more but in the long run im saving money. And they look good with alloys
you got them on teh DRIVE axle
i bet they stick out a bit if yo got a pair of em on each side
please dont forget that sometimes they are fitted for more than just vanity.as i mentioned in my post above,my truck is heavy over the front axle when loaded,the super singles minimise the risk of me being overweight on my front tyres.
i"ve got to disagree with the people who think they are bad for tramlining.i dont know if its just because of the weight,but mine drives much better than standard wheels,as on my previous volvo.the tyres tend to be just wider than the actual tramline,and therefore i dont get sucked into them half as bad.mine also returns the same 7.5mpg (daf cf i shift) than the standard wheel trucks in our fleet.
one thing i dont like about them-i wouldnt like to be next to one if they ever go off!!!
buck73:
please dont forget that sometimes they are fitted for more than just vanity.as i mentioned in my post above,my truck is heavy over the front axle when loaded,the super singles minimise the risk of me being overweight on my front tyres.
If you mean they reduce the possibility of an axle overload, then I can’t quite work out how they would do this■■?
buck73:
please dont forget that sometimes they are fitted for more than just vanity.as i mentioned in my post above,my truck is heavy over the front axle when loaded,the super singles minimise the risk of me being overweight on my front tyres.
If you mean they reduce the possibility of an axle overload, then I can’t quite work out how they would do this■■?
no i don"t.please read the line again properly harry.tyres are limited to weight as well as axles.there is a maximum that can be imposed on them.
Yea i did see “tyres” but thought perhaps you meant the axle because I wouldn’t imagine you were in danger of exceeding your tyre’s rated limit if you were within your axle weight limit.
As has been said, you can go up to 9tonnes on a single axle, as long as the axle & suspension is rated for it, you will need 385/65s or a lower profile equivalent to meet this as a 315/80 will not go to 9tonnes. This can be useful for diminishing loads or a front mounted crane on a rigid, yes they decrease fuel consumption, but in some cases the extra life from the tyres outweighs this, especially on urban distribution, even on long haul the savings could be more economical if you take into account the loss of work while you get new tyres fitted more frequently & if you reuse them on trailers or tags then they will work out more economical.
At the end of the day a lot of them are purely cosmetic, what’s the problem with that? I personally don’t like them on a 6x2 unless they’re also on the mid-lift or tag, but I think they make any 4x2 look better so I would have them, even if they did cost a little more in the long term, we’re only talking pennies anyway & if you need to worry about a few pence then tyres are the least of your worries
V8 Passion:
not glory hunting friend but when it comes to tyres theres no such thing as a cheap tyre, maybe im wrong but there is only 2 makes i would use,
