Mixed Service Tires: Highway Meets Off-Road

You may have heard “a jack of all trades, a master of none.” The phrase suggests versatility comes at the expense of performance, yet Double Coin’s mixed service tires put that idea to the test. For some jobs, tires must rack up miles on paved highways, travel down gravel access roads, and navigate construction sites, only to do the reverse at the end of the day.

What is “Mixed Service”?

Mixed service tires are built for fleets that log real highway mileage but also cross unpaved, rough, or debris-strewn ground on a regular basis. From construction sites to quarries to paved residential roads, these routes require tires adaptable enough to handle changing conditions.

How do mixed service tires differ from highway tires and off-road tires?

A standard highway tire is optimized for fuel efficiency, low rolling resistance, and even wear on consistent pavement. In comparison, a fully off-the-road tire can handle rocks from jobsite debris, but may wear irregularly and burn extra fuel over sustained highway miles. The wrong use of these tires on inappropriate surfaces creates added expenses and significantly reduces the tire’s life. Mixed service tires cover the gap between these two with chip-, cut-, and abrasion-resistant compounds, deeper open-shoulder tread patterns and reinforced casings, all while still holding up to daily highway use.

Double Coin’s Terry Kindleman spoke to Fleet & Mobility about the demand for tires with both highway and off-road capability. “Every fleet is different, with varying applications, road conditions, load requirements, and operating environments.  The right tire is not simply about the percentage [of time on any type of surface] but about understanding the complete operating environment and matching the tire to the job.”

All-Position: RR706

The ultra-premium RR706 has a tread built to move through mud and soft ground without sacrificing stability once it’s back on pavement.

• Angled block separation to clear water, mud, and soft soil out of the tread
• Thick, solid shoulders with specialized groove cuts to maintain stability and add traction in rough conditions
• Aggressive mixed-service compounds paired with a durable casing resist chipping, cutting, and scrubbing damage

 

 

 

 

All-Position: RR716

The all-position RR716 is specifically engineered for the waste hauling environment, thanks to its durable construction built for the refuse/sanitation industries and high scrub environments.

• Casing technology with added sidewall protection to defend against curb/scrub damage
• Dual tread compounds allow for heat-dissipation (lower layer) and scrub-resistance (upper layer)
• Wide rib and shoulder tread design optimizes traction and reduces rib-tearing in heavy duty start-and-stop operations
• Incorporates casing innovations to promote multiple retreads

 

Wide-Base All-Position: RLB980

The RLB980 is Double Coin’s wide-base entry where a single tire is engineered to replace a dual-tire assembly on the same axle.

• Tire size range: 385/65R22.5, 425/65R22.5, 20-ply, Load Range L
• Heavy-duty belt package
• Aggressive multi-purpose tread with large tread elements built for flotation and long original mileage
• Ideal for concrete trucks or dump trucks that require floatation features on the front axle due to the on/off highway nature of their work

The RLB980 boasts center siping in the tread elements to bite the road surface and a semi-open shoulder to expel mud and water making it a premium high payload truck tire.  It’s ideal for both on/off highway applications.

 

Deep Tread Drive Tires: RLB800

Double Coin’s RLB800 is a drive-axle specialists in the mixed service tire category. This tire offers features designed for demanding applications:

• Strong traction on loose or broken surfaces
• Open-shoulder, aggressive tread pattern
• Chip-, cut-, and abrasion-resistant compounds
• Built for severe on/off-highway service rather than light-duty regional work

The RLB800 runs a 29/32-inch deep tread with strong wet, mud, and snow traction, built for severe on/off-highway service where durability and grip come first.

 

How to choose the best tire for the job

“With so many variables to consider, you really need to rely on your tire specialist to help make the right recommendation. Their expertise can help ensure the tire is properly matched to the truck, the load, and the operating conditions,” says Kindleman. “If the incorrect tire is chosen, many times that decision will lead to increased operating costs and additional downtime due to failures or premature tire removals.  Having someone with the experience and knowledge to understand your operation is critical when it comes to selecting the right tire for the right application.”

Not sure which tire is right for your routes? Find a Double Coin dealer near you to learn more about our mixed-service tire lineup and find the right fit for your operation.