TicketMan4u Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 (edited) I'm looking to buy a 1985 R686ST tandem axle dump from a guy I know. He told me he recently replaced some of the tires with some new problems. Problem I see is he mixed steer tires with drive tires on the rear tandem axles. Now I'm hardly an expert, don't really know nothing. Don't drive'em yet, just buy and sell'em. Seems like to me somewhere in the past somebody told me you wasn't supposed to mix tires. I looked at a couple of other places on line and several said it was okay to mix them, just don't put drive tires on the steer axle. Felt like I needed to here it from you guys also before I could be sure. I mean if I buy the truck I want to know if I'm going to have to spend more money on different tires cause that's going to affect my offer. I posted some photos of the rear tires for you to look at and give me your opinions. Thanks Edited December 21, 2012 by TicketMan4u Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 looks to me like he used up every oddball spare he had just making sure they had enough tread to pass inspection,As long as the tires are the same height,it won't hurt,but if you are buying it to resell,those tires won't help you a bit,unless of course you are putting it on a boat. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152452 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigDug Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Nice Variety ! Run 'em if there all the same height as Superdog said. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilburner Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 I don't thank it will hurt anything, as long as the drive tires aren't recaps and the stears are of course not, usally a recap will be a bit taller. But like the other guy said it will hurt you when you go to sell it, not something i would do, if it were me i would at least try to find some deccent used drives for it. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152495 Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 If they match roll with it. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152548 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TicketMan4u Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 (edited) Yep, anything to make it roll was my impression. Thanks guys, that's gonna help me alot in making my decision. Now I know I "could" use the tires if I "had" to. Problem is, I don't want to. I've got better tires I can use to make it right. Now I know I can use them to get a better price on the truck cause it needs some work. Edited December 22, 2012 by TicketMan4u Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152550 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb502 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 As stated above tire height is the issue if one is taller than the one next to it the tall one gets more weight and heats up faster, also you dont want tire height from front to rear axle to be off by much, if the front axle has 40" tall tires and the rear axle has 42" tall tires the rear axle is turning slower and if the power divider is engaged that leads to Broke stuff! One inch in height is a lot in rotational speed, just so ya know! Quote "Any Society that would give up a little LIBERTY to gain a little SECURITY will Deserve Neither and LOSE BOTH" -Benjamin Franklin"If your gonna be STUPID, you gotta be TOUGH" "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you get what you need" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152652 Share on other sites More sharing options...
refusegetter Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Ultimately the tires on a truck are irrelevant, if someone wants to buy a truck the tires are prob one of the easiest things to change, it's not like he put a Prius motor in it. Idk just my thought Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152655 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TicketMan4u Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 I think they're all 11R24.5 tires but I'll be sure and check them to be certain. I've only sold a few trucks but one buyer did want some tires changed before the deal was sealed. One of my major concerns was looking ignorant by offering a truck for sale with mismatched tires if running them that way was a no no. I think the seller knows less about big trucks than I do and I was just making sure whoever put the tires on for him didn't just put whatever he had available on there and convinced him it was okay. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
refusegetter Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Gotcha. As long as they are the same size you can drive it, 10 new tires can cost a lot but you gotta spend money to make money Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152679 Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Gotcha. As long as they are the same size you can drive it, 10 new tires can cost a lot but you gotta spend money to make moneyThat is true but when the tires run more then what the truck brings in then it is kinda futile Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152749 Share on other sites More sharing options...
refusegetter Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 If a set of tires cost more than the rig then IMO it prob isn't road worthy and the buyer should plan on investing money anyhow. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152883 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TicketMan4u Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 I agree, buying new tires would be too costly so I've developed a source for used tires. A friend I met selling trucks keeps a trailer load of good used tires stored away in total darkness to protect them from the harmful rays of the sun. Last time I needed tires on some trucks I sold they came at a price of $50/tire installed which was paid by the buyer. If I need tires on a truck, he's the guy I go to. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/28964-mixing-steer-tires-with-drive-tires/#findComment-152939 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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