|
|
|
Newly Tired Dually
Putting new tread on a dually pickup truck
Steve Temple / autoMedia.com
|
Nimble handling and a diesel dually are not normally paired together, but we should point out that the new Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo is specifically designed to provide a powerful grip and smooth ride for premium performance, both on and off-road, even as the tread wears.
How so? The dual-layer tread compound has an inner tread layer that is exposed as the tread wears, enabling the tire to better grip the road. For enhanced off-road durability, the tire incorporates a two-polyester body ply design. The Dueler A/T Revo comes in 15-, 16- and 17-inch sizes for a total of 13 P-metric and 14 light truck applications, and thus fits a wide variety of domestic and imported pickups, SUVs and light trucks. The tire is available in load ranges C, D and E in the light truck sizes. Bridgestone's Dueler A/T Revo carries a UTQG rating of 500 A for traction and B for temperature and comes with a 50,000-mile limited warranty.
Tire Life
Speaking of miles, what's the best way to prolong the life of any tire? Rotating them preserves balanced handling and traction, and evens out the wear. Keep in mind that the fronts get scrubbed more from steering action, and need to be relocated to the rear every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, even if they don't show obvious signs of wear. With a dually, however, the rotation pattern might be slightly different, depending on the wear.
For a dually with normal wear, the inner tire on the rear should be moved to the front, with the outer rear one on each side taking its place. The fronts are then relocated to the outer rear position. However, if the rear tires are showing irregular wear (more than the front) then the inner rear tire should trade places with the outer one. On the other hand, if the fronts show irregular wear, swap them with the outer rear tires.
Does it matter if the tires cross over from side to side? Years ago, tire manufacturers were concerned about tread splices opening up and tires were marked with a direction of rotation. With today's tires, this is not a big concern. They usually can be rotated to any appropriate wheel position and, in fact, it's a good idea to move a tire to a position that allows it to roll in the opposite direction (which is what would eventually happen with the normal rotation pattern described above).
Copyright autoMedia.com 2000-2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
We ordered seven tires in all (don't forget the spare). The blue tint easily washes off the white letters.
|
Time to retire! Note all the warning signs of wear: rounded shoulders, thin tread (if the head on a quarter shows, the tread is too thin) and cracks in the sidewall. UV rays or ozone (say, from a welding machine in a shop) will degrade tires rapidly.
|
Here's the critical measurement on tires for a dually. While there's plenty room in the wheelwell, it's the space between them that matters. Going to a different brand may have a different sidewall bulge at the base, so measure carefully. Spacers may be needed if you change manufacturers, even with same size code.
|
Look on the doorjamb for the manufacturer's recommended tires size. You don't have to stick with that, of course, but it's a good starting point before you upsize.
|
These fresh Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo have much more aggressive tread for a tight grip and sure-footed braking, but they cruise quietly on the highway, too. Note the square shape of the shoulders.
|
The contrast between old and new is startling. And the Bridgestones are designed to maintain a good grip even as the tire tread wears.
|
Changing out the fronts is simple stuff. We kept the same size all around in case we need to get a flat up front.
|
The rears have to be mated properly. If we had been thinking ahead, we would have added extensions to the inner air valves, so we don't have to remove the tire to add air. We'll do that when it comes time to rotate the tires.
|
Plenty of clearance here, even without spacers. That leaves plenty of reserve room for a larger sidewall bulge as the load increases.
|
 |  |
|
Sneak peek: 2011 Kia AmantiKia unveiled its all-new K7 sedan in Korea today, offering the world a sneak peek at a car known as Cadenza in the Middle East and Amanti in North Ame ... more... |
|
oldsmobile -TCC I have a 1998 oldsmobile, achieva, v6, auto transmission, 135,000 miles, it seemed to be missing , after changing plugs and wires, throttl ... more... |
|
Re: Chevy 3.8L Engine cutout I would call it in intermediate job. You will need some special tools to do it, but if you have some experience doing repairs, and not jus ... more... |
|
|
QUICK SEARCH:
| Specs, prices, photos & more |
|
SEARCH BY BODY STYLE:
Get the best price - it's easy!
|