49 C.F.R. § 230.112

Current through October 31, 2024
Section 230.112 - Wheels and tires
(a)Mounting. Wheels shall be securely mounted on axles. Prick punching or shimming the wheel fit will not be permitted. The diameter of wheels on the same axle shall not vary more than 3/32 inch.
(b)Gage. Wheels used on standard gage track will be out of gage if the inside gage of flanges, measured on base line is less than 53 inches or more than 533/8 inches. Wheels used on less than standard gage track will be out of gage if the inside gage of flanges, measured on base line, is less than the relevant track gage less 31/2 inches or more than the relevant track gage less 31/8 inches.
(c)Flange distance variance. The distance back to back of flanges of wheels mounted on the same axle shall not vary more than 1/4 inch.
(d)Tire thickness. Wheels may not have tires with a minimum thickness less than that indicated in the table in this paragraph (d). When retaining rings are used, measurements of tires to be taken from the outside circumference of the ring, and the minimum thickness of tires may be as much below the limits specified earlier in this paragraph (d) as the tires extend between the retaining rings, provided it does not reduce the thickness of the tire to less than 11/8 inches from the throat of flange to the counterbore for the retaining rings. The required minimum thickness for tires, by wheel center diameter and weight per axle, is as follows:

Weight per axle (weight on drivers divided by number of pairs of driving wheels) Diameter of wheel center (inches) Minimum thickness (inches)
30,000 pounds and under44 and under11/4
Over 44 to 5015/16
Over 50 to 5613/8
Over 56 to 6217/16
Over 62 to 6811/2
Over 68 to 7419/16
Over 7415/8
Over 30,000 to 35,000 pounds44 and under15/16
Over 44 to 5013/8
Over 50 to 5617/16
Over 56 to 6211/2
Over 62 to 6819/16
Over 68 to 7415/8
Over 74111/16
Over 35,000 to 40,000 pounds44 and under13/8
Over 44 to 5017/16
Over 50 to 5611/2
Over 56 to 6219/16
Over 62 to 6815/8
Over 68 to 74111/16
Over 7413/4
Over 40,000 to 45,000 pounds44 and under17/16
Over 44 to 5011/2
Over 50 to 5619/16
Over 56 to 6215/8
Over 62 to 68111/16
Over 68 to 7413/4
Over 74113/16
Over 45,000 to 50,000 pounds44 and under11/2
Over 44 to 5019/16
Over 50 to 5615/8
Over 56 to 62111/16
Over 62 to 6813/4
Over 68 to 74113/16
Over 7417/8
Over 50,000 to 55,000 pounds44 and under19/16
Over 44 to 5015/8
Over 50 to 56111/16
Over 56 to 6213/4
Over 62 to 68113/16
Over 68 to 7417/8
Over 74115/16
Over 55,000 pounds44 and under15/8
Over 44 to 50111/16
Over 50 to 5613/4
Over 56 to 62113/16
Over 62 to 6817/8
Over 68 to 74115/16
Over 742

(e)Tire width. Flanged tires shall be no less than 51/2 inches wide for standard gage and no less than 5 inches wide for narrow gage. Plain tires shall be no less than 6 inches wide for standard gage and no less than 51/2 inches wide for narrow gage.

49 C.F.R. §230.112