I spent $600 on two tires the other day and I got them at half price

[Tobin S.]

I needed new steer tires for my semi and I didn't fool around. I got the best ones available- Bridgestone 287 295/75/R22.5. I got them at a big discount because the company I'm leased to has an arrangement with Bridgestone and their national account. I'm probably going to need 8 new drive tires in a couple of months and if I go with new tires (what's called virgin rubber, not retreads) it will cost about $2500 and that's half price, too.

I've been thinking about trying to find local or short haul work to keep me close to home, but I'm probably going to hang around here long enough to take advantage of the tire deals.

Reading that, a lot of people might assume that I make a lot of money. I've run across a lot of people in my time on the road who think that truckers make big money. I average $1.35 a mile before expenses. Expenses are about $.85 a mile. So $.50 a mile goes in my pocket. I run about 2800 miles a week.

So, not bad money, but I'm not going to be able to retire early at this rate. :)

I talked to a guy who got 146,000 miles out of the same style steer tires that I bought. I'm thinking I'll be able to get 250,000 miles out of the drive tires I want to get.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Tobin!

Sounds like you know what you're doing!

Good luck on the road and off...

:hi:

[Tobin S.]

3. Sometimes I feel like a genius out here and other times

I feel like a dunce. Trucking will do that to you. :)

How have you been doing, Peggy?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I hear that!

Sounds like you're in touch with reality!

I'm doing well, thanks...

:hi:

[Kali]

2. shit, I bought two tires for an old escort last year

$100 each, some off brand too (but hard to find 14 inch wheels) sounds like you got a deal!

[Tobin S.]

5. Yeah, I got an excellent deal

I was looking at the tire prices on my company's web site and I couldn't believe it at first. I had to call and verify it. :)

[gratuitous]

4. You never regret buying the best tires you can afford

Although I have to say that I balked initially at buying bicycle tires that cost more than the tires I bought for my old VW bug. It just seemed . . . wrong, somehow.

[Tobin S.]

6. I feel the same way

Tire problems are expensive in trucking. The cost of a new tire, down time getting it fixed, possibly a road service call- I think it's well worth buying the good ones.

[Roon]

8. I tobin!

When I drove for werner 21 years ago, we made .22cents an hour. Of course fuel and maintainence was covered. It was good money for a 22-year-old,one nice thing about the whole deal is that I was never home to spend my paycheck, it would just direct deposit a few times and would be there waiting for me when I got to the house. I thought I was such a bigshot! lol

[rurallib]

9. Tobin - winter's coming - how do you feel about the ice and snow?

I assume you will need the work, but if you can't drive what do you do?

[rurallib]

10. duper-doo.