Tire Applications and Positions

Types of Applications

Choosing the correct tires for your operation and equipment is critical to the efficiency and safety of your business.

Make sure you're informed by knowing how to choose the best tire for your particular needs that can save you money, reduce down time and keep your drivers and load safe.


Many niche applications masquerade as other applications.

Tire Components and Applications

Tires are comprised of many components, each designed to perform a specific function. Different components perform better at different tasks, so it’s important to consider all of the factors when choosing a tire for your needs, including vehicle size, specific use, weather, road conditions and terrain.

Conventional Tires
Conventional tires feature taller sidewalls for more flexibility to resist sidewall damage, a higher static load radius for a smoother ride and a larger diameter for decreased rolling resistance.

Low-Profile Tires
Low-profile tires feature shorter, more responsive sidewalls for more uniform ground pressure and less tread distortion. Their typical lower height and lighter weight allow fleets to maximize their payload.

Wide-Base Tires
Yokohama offers cost-effective, wide-base tires for on-road and off-road heavy load-carrying vehicles.

Ultra-Wide Base Tires
Ultra-wide base tires feature a unique casing that optimizes the operating profile to reduce strain energy, resulting in better fuel efficiency, longer tread life and unsurpassed retreadability.

Matching and Spacing of Duals

Paired tires on a common axle allow for increased load capacity and towing capability. Paired tires should be of the same size designation, same construction and tread design, and as close as possible to the same outside diameter. 

Impact of Mismatched Duals

Mismatching duals forces the larger diameter tire to carry an overload, causing it to overdeflect and overheat. The smaller diameter tire, lacking proper road contact, wears faster and irregularly. Tire damage, such as tread or ply separation, tire body breaks and blowouts, can develop from mismatched duals. Proper spacing precludes tire rubbing and excessive heat generation.

Tire Mixing

Using the same tire size and construction specified as O.E. for a vehicle normally yields the best performance. However, sometimes mixing different tire sizes and constructions on a vehicle is necessary, provided certain rules are followed.

Mixing Rules

• Never mix different tire sizes or construction types on the same axle.
• Bias ply tires can be mounted on steer axles and radial tires on single axle drive positions of two axle vehicles. Reversing these positions may result in handling problems.
• Either bias ply or radial tires can be mounted on the steer axles, if the vehicle has multiple drive axles.
• All multiple drive axles should have the same size and construction tires.
• Tires mounted on trailers may be bias or radial, as long as all tires on each individual axle are the same size and construction.
• No mixing of tire sizes and constructions are allowed on four-wheel-drive type vehicles (4WD).

Driving your vehicle with an improper mix of tires can be dangerous. Never mix different tire sizes or construction types on the same axle. Your vehicle’s handling characteristics can be seriously affected. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual and a qualified service professional for proper tire replacement.

Retreaded, Regrooved or Reinforcement-Repaired Tires on Steer Axles

• Comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations restricting the use of reinforcement-repaired tires and regrooved tires on steer axles of commercial vehicles.
• Comply with FMCSA regulations prohibiting the use of retreaded or regrooved tires on steer axles of buses.
• Yokohama recommends that original tread tires be used on steer axles of buses and highway trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) over 10,000 pounds.