Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 175.224 - Tires and wheels(a)Condition of tires and wheels. Tires and wheels or traction surfaces shall be in safe operating condition as described in this subchapter.(b)Tire standards.(1) If of pneumatic type, the tires shall be operated at a cold inflation pressure no less than that specified for the load being carried.(2) The tires shall meet the minimum manufacturer specifications as to tire size and shall be free of defective conditions reasonably believed to render the tire unsafe for highway use.(3) The wheel nuts, bolts, clamps or lugs shall have proper thread engagement; and wheels shall not be bent, cracked or damaged in such a way as to affect safe operation of vehicle.(c)Nonpneumatic tires. A vehicle equipped with nonpneumatic tires shall meet following requirements:(1) An implement of husbandry or special mobile equipment shall not be equipped with cleats or guide bands which come in contact with the highway of a greater height or less width than that specified for classes and gross weights as follows-except caterpillar or crawler type vehicles: | Cleats | Guide Bands |
| Gross Weights in Pounds | Maximum Height | Minimum Width | Maximum Height | Minimum Width |
| Less than 12,000 | 2" | 3/8" | 1 1/2" | 2" |
| 12,000 and over | 2" | 1" | 1 1/2" | 2" |
(2) When cleats are placed diagonally across the face of the driving surface or placed in two sections similar to the letter "V," cleats shall be spaced so as not to exceed 9 inches from center to center, measured at right angles to the cleats. When the cleats are placed on the driving surface in two sections-standard type of cleat mounting-sections shall be spaced so as not to exceed 7 1/2 inches from the center measured at right angles to the cleats. The cleats and guide bands shall have a flat surface with rounded edges.(3) An implement of husbandry or special mobile equipment shall not be equipped with caterpiller or crawler type cleats or grousers or guide bands-which come in contact with highway of greater height or less width than specified for classes and gross weights as follows: | Cleats | Guide Bands |
| Gross Weights in Pounds | Maximum Height | Minimum Width | Maximum Height | Minimum Width |
| Less than 7,500 | 2" | 1" | 1 1/2" | 2" |
| 7,500 and over but less than 12,000 | 2" | 1 1/2" | 1 1/2" | 2" |
| 12,000 and over | 2" | 2" | 1 1/2" | 2" |
(4) The cleats or grousers on a caterpillar or crawler type tractor shall have a flat surface with rounded edges; shall be placed at right angles to front to rear axis of the vehicle, so arranged that five or more cleats on each traction surface shall be in road contact with the highway; and shall not be less than 3/4 of the width of the tread or driving surface.(5) An animal-drawn vehicle is permitted nonpneumatic tires.(d)Alignment. Tires or wheels may not be out of alignment to such a degree that steering control is affected.(e)Tires and rims. The axles of a vehicle specified under this subchapter shall be equipped with tires and rims as originally equipped.The provisions of this § 175.224 adopted October 29, 1982, effective 2/1/1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective 2/1/1983, 12 Pa.B. 3947; readopted December 2, 1988, effective 12/3/1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362.