Truck Tyres Explained: Axle Positions, Markings and Choice

Which tyre goes on which axle

Heavy commercial vehicles have three tyre positions, and manufacturers design a different tread for each. The letters below are used by Michelin and, in similar form, by most large tyre makers.

"Z" means an all-position tyre that may be fitted anywhere, which is useful in urban fleets where vehicles change roles. Even so, Michelin advises against fitting retreaded tyres on the first steering axle. The FRT marking (free rolling tyre, under UN ECE Regulation 54) allows a tyre only on trailer axles and on non-driven, non-steering axles of a motor vehicle.

Reading the sidewall of a truck tyre

Take the common size 315/80 R22.5 156/150L as an example:

By our calculation, a twin-tyred drive axle with four such tyres can carry up to 13,400 kg (4 × 3,350 kg), and a steer axle with two singles up to 8,000 kg. In twin fitment each tyre is rated 650 kg less than when it runs alone, because a pair shares the load unevenly on cambered roads. The legal axle load of the vehicle is usually lower. The tyre must at least cover the maximum load the vehicle manufacturer sets, and a higher load index does not let you exceed it.

Other markings matter as well. "REGROOVABLE" means the tread can be recut once it wears down. M+S and the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol show winter capability. The four-digit date code gives the week and year of manufacture, which is essential when you buy used tyres. Each size also needs the right rim width; check the vehicle manufacturer's approval or the ETRTO standards manual before changing size. For car and van sizes, our tyre size calculator shows how a change affects diameter and speedometer reading.

Matching the tyre to the type of work

Fleet managers compare tyres by cost per kilometre, not by purchase price: divide the price, plus the cost of later regrooving and retreading, by the total distance the casing is expected to cover. A cheaper tyre that wears faster or cannot be retreaded often costs more over its life.

The EU tyre label for truck tyres

Regulation (EU) 2020/740 replaced the 2009 labelling rules and has applied since May 2021. It covers three classes: C1 for cars, C2 for vans and C3 for trucks and buses. Suppliers register every tyre in the EPREL database before sale, and the label's QR code links to that entry.

Truck tyres make up only about 4 per cent of the 1.6 billion tyres in use in the EU, but in long-haul work their rolling resistance has a large effect on fuel use. The European Commission estimates that labelling saved about 3.2 billion litres of fuel across all vehicle types in 2020. To see what a small change in consumption means over a year of driving, try our fuel cost calculator. Two limits apply: the label does not cover off-road professional tyres, and labelling of retreaded truck tyres was planned but not yet in force when this guide was updated.

New, retreaded, used and special tyres

New tyres give a known history and full tread, and premium casings are built to be retreaded more than once. Retreaded tyres reuse a sound casing with a new tread. In Europe, commercial retreads need approval under UN ECE Regulation 109 and carry the "109R" mark. They cost less than new tyres and save raw material, and fleets often run them on trailer and drive axles.

Used tyres are sold in large numbers by fleets and dealers. They can be a reasonable choice for trailers or low-mileage vehicles, provided you check:

• the date code (many buyers avoid tyres older than about five to six years, whatever the tread depth);
• the remaining tread across the whole width;
• signs of repairs, cuts, bulges or exposed cords;
• that a pair fitted as twins has the same size, construction and similar wear.

Special tyres cover vehicles that work off public roads: dump trucks in quarries, loaders, reach stackers and mobile cranes. These off-the-road (OTR) and industrial tyres use different size systems and are outside the EU label. Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Continental are the largest tyre makers overall; their position in the market is covered in our ranking of tyre manufacturers.

Tread depth, winter rules and inspections

The EU sets a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm for cars and light vehicles (Directive 89/459/EEC). For heavy trucks the limit is set nationally: Germany applies 1.6 mm, while the UK allows 1 mm across three quarters of the tread width on goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Most fleets replace or regroove tyres well before these limits, because grip in the wet falls sharply as the tread wears.

Several European countries, including Germany and Austria, require winter-marked tyres on heavy trucks in winter conditions, at least on the drive axles; check the rules for every country on your route. Our guide on how to choose winter tyres explains the markings for cars.

Pressure is the most common cause of early failure. Check it cold at least weekly, and inspect twin pairs together, because an underinflated inner tyre is easy to miss and overheats.

How to choose truck tyres: a seven-step checklist

1. Find the approved sizes and maximum axle loads in the vehicle documents.
2. Choose the pattern for each axle: steer, drive, trailer or all-position.
3. Match the tyre range to the work: long haul, regional, urban or on/off road.
4. Confirm the load index (single and dual) and speed symbol.
5. Compare EU label grades, giving rolling resistance priority on motorway work and wet grip on steer axles.
6. Plan the life of the casing: regroovable, retreadable, and how often it can be retreaded.
7. Set up a pressure and inspection routine before the tyres go into service.

For heavy vehicles that work off-road, tyre care is part of a wider maintenance plan; see our rules for repairing special equipment. Trucks in the catalogue are listed in the trucks section, and the glossary explains technical terms.