Plowboy, the green book section 393.75 sub paragraph D and E. D states that you can not run regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires on the steering axle of a BUS. E states you can not run a regrooved tire with a weight capacity of 4920 lbs or greater on the steering axle of a truck or truck tractor.

49CFR393.75(d), revised 2005, prohibits buses from operating with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels.

49CFR571.120, revised 2003, authorizes retreaded tires to be used on motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) provided the tires were originally manufactured to comply with standard number 119, established under 49CFR571.119, revised 2004.

49CFR574.5 covers the tire identification requirements, including retreaded tires. If the retreaded tire isn't marked properly by the retreader, it can not be used on a commercial vehicle.

Because I have had to compIy with these regs, I know that the states of CA and GA have rules & regs that go further. GA has toughened the regs by including regrooved and retreaded tires that are prohibited on the steer axles.

CA has their own "better idea" regarding the outright ban on farm vehicles and very restrictive State of CA markings on the tires for the steering axle on trucks. Retreads are illegal on the steering axle of trucks unless the meet ALL of the four regs I have listed here. Therefore, it is pretty safe to say that if you cross into CA or GA with retreads on your steer axle, you can expect to be put out of service.

California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 13, section 1087
Recapped or retreaded tires shall not be used on front wheels of a bus or farm labor vehicle. Such tires shall not be used on the front wheels of truck tractors or motortrucks listed in Vehicle Code Section 34500 unless the tires are in compliance with the following requirements:

(1) Tires shall have been retreaded or recapped not more than two times and shall contain no casing repair other than that required by a nail puncture.

(2) Tires shall conform to either the labeling and other requirements of the 1972 CRSC [California Retreading Standards Committee] Retreading Specifications and Standards or to the Industry Standards For Tire Retreading & Repairing revised September 1, 1995. Tires retreaded on or after November 1, 1997, shall conform to the Industry Standards For Tire Retreading & Repairing revised September 1, 1995.

(3) A new-tire manufacturer who is assigned an identification number by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) may certify adherence to standards equal to or better than CRSC standards (only until November 1, 1997), or the Industry Standards For Retreading & Repairing revised September 1, 1995 for retreaded tires produced in his/her company-owned-and-operated retreading facilities. Such certification shall comply with marking or labeling requirements of CRSC (only until November 1, 1997), or the Industry Standards for Tire Retreading & Repairing revised September 1, 1995, except that the certification mark branded into the tire may be of original design. A certification mark of original design shall show the name or trademark and assigned DOT registration number of the manufacturer and designate which of his/her retreading facilities produced the tire.

(4) Successive Retreads. When a retreaded tire bearing the markings specified in preceding subsections is retreaded a second time, the prescribed label shall be cancelled by a diagonal line or other distinctive mark through the label.

Most interstate carriers, in addition to the obvious safety issues, will not allow retreads to be run on the steer axle because of the inability to operate legally in all of the states.