Do you like Super Singles or Dually tires better ?

I have run super singles exclusively for last 2 years & only duals for previous 2 decades. I notice no difference in operation. The 1 downside I’ve seen is road service or truck stop shops are less likely to have an exact replacement if you need a tire away from “home”.

 

I'm running super singles Michelin 'X-One' recaps drive tires, Michelin is prone to micro-crackings on the sidewalls which my tires have. The tires DOT date is mid-2015, should I be concerned to replace them to avoid problems?

 

Yes, replace them. I also run them, but will give my truck away before I put recaps on it.

 

The recap part is fine, the sidewall micro-cracking is my concern. I bought the truck that way, if the recaps are somewhat worn I would replace them but they still have plenty of tread.

 

I wouldn’t replace them. It’s normal for older tires to look worn out, especially recap tires. Super single tires are supposed to be much thicker than duals. If the crack is deep and growing, that’s when you should worry about it. I once had a dual tire with a crack on the sidewall. It held up for almost a year. It eventually deflated, but no blowout.

 

The last place I worked before becoming an O/O had supers on all of their trucks to reduce weight. They had newer ultra light Cascadia's with a slightly shorter sleeper, aluminum skid plate and fixed 5th wheel. All of the super singles were on aluminum wheels. With all of that, I could still only load 45,000 pounds on it with a full tank. My new T680 and Utility trailer has duals all the way around, a steel skid plate and adjustable 5th wheel with a full size sleeper. I can load 500 more pounds of cargo on it compared to the Cascadia ultra light.

Supers create a mess when they blow out, they seem to be magnets for nails, and they are a royal pain in the butt chaining up and get horrible traction in snow/ice. I hope I never driver another truck with them.

 

I had a loaner truck once with super singles. It can get muddy at my house but I've never had a problem getting stuck until then. Cost me $350 to get pulled out.

 

Have been with a company that runs singles on everything for about a year. I figured when I eventually blew a tire it would be bad news but when it happened (once on a drive and once with a trailer tire) it was absolutely no big deal either time. Just enough feedback to get me on the shoulder and stopped. On the other hand I got stuck for ten minutes or more in three inches of snow ten days ago. I certainly wouldn't choose singles voluntarily, they have no upside for me as a company driver but have had no major problems with them yet.

 

Part of where we run, it is 500 miles with zero tire shops once you leave out, Now generally a guy can blow a tire and keep on going, but with super singles a guy is just screwed. Nobody runs them here. I have seen them on a belly dump that runs here in town, but not on any tractors up here.