Have you ever looked at a lorry and wondered why it needs quite so many tyres? While the length of most commercial lorries justifies the addition of an extra pair or two of tyres, many long-haul trucks and lorries have upwards of 12 wheels and accompanying tyres.
The reasons for this vary, but have to do with balance, with supporting heavy loads, and with mitigating the potential of a serious accident should one of the tyres blow. Keep reading as we look more closely at the reasons behind the quantity of tyres fixed to commercial lorries, and consider the placement of each of these tyres.
How Many Tyres Do Lorries Have?
The answer to this depends largely on the length and weight of the vehicle. The larger a vehicle is, and the more it is designed to carry, the more tyres it has to ensure maximum stability and balance.
Standard lorries and light goods vehicles typically have the four tyres that most drivers are familiar with. While much sturdier and chunkier than car tyres, the number of tyres and their layout along the vehicle is reminiscent of a car.
As vehicles get longer though, more tyres are added - a standard known across the UK as multi-axle lorries. The axle refers to each pair of tyres, with lorries in the UK ranging from 2 axles to 6 axles (I.e. 12 tyres) in the case of vehicles with longer fixed trailers.
Why Do Lorries Need More Tyres?
It all comes down to balancing the weight of the total vehicle load, and ensuring that the tyres are not overloaded. Even lorry and commercial tyres, with their stronger construction and durable tread pattern, have maximum load ratings. It’s important that these are acknowledged and honoured in the placement and balancing of tyres.
And overloading tyres isn’t just a matter of tyre wear and tear. If a tyre is pushed to or beyond its limit in terms of weight allowance, the vehicle becomes less responsive to braking and handling - ultimately affecting the safety of the lorry.
