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What Is a Motor Grader and What Tires Does It Need?

A motor grader is a construction machine used for leveling and creating flat surfaces in road construction, earthworks, and site preparation. Graders are among the oldest machines in earthmoving: the first grader was built in 1876 by the Champion company and initially pulled by horses. The first true motor grader was produced in 1921 by the American Rippel Corporation, and the first European motor grader followed in 1927 in Norway. Modern motor graders carry their weight on six tires, distributed across the front axle and a driven tandem rear axle. This design ensures even weight distribution, smooth operation, and low ground compaction without sacrificing the required traction.

Operating Conditions and Loads on Grader Tires

Grader tires operate under widely varying conditions. During actual grading work, the machine moves slowly but must transmit high lateral forces and constant pressure to the ground. When traveling between job sites, motor graders can reach transport speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour. The carcass and tread of Trelleborg grader tires are engineered to provide reliable grip and precise directional stability in both situations -- on sand, rock, gravel, and soil alike.

Bias-Ply and Radial Tires for Graders

Trelleborg offers two tire constructions for motor graders. Bias-ply tires feature a cross-layered ply structure that makes the tire particularly robust and cut-resistant -- a clear advantage on sharp-edged gravel and unpaved construction surfaces. Radial tires run perpendicular to the direction of travel, providing a larger contact patch, lower rolling resistance, and more ride comfort during longer transport runs. The multi-surface tread design delivers reliable grip on a wide variety of ground conditions in both cases.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grader Tires

  • Is a grader the same as a motor grader?
    Both terms are commonly used and refer to the same machine. The term emphasizes different applications -- earthmoving versus road construction -- but technically the correct name is grader or motor grader.
  • How does a grader work?
    A grader uses an adjustable blade between the front and rear axles to cut, distribute, and level material. The typically six tires distribute the machine's heavy weight evenly and enable precise steering during grading work.
  • What tire size fits my motor grader?
    The permitted tire size can be found in the vehicle registration document or the operating manual of your grader. Our tire selector and our dealer partners are happy to advise you on the right Trelleborg size for your machine.
  • How often should grader tires be replaced?
    That depends heavily on usage frequency, ground conditions, and driving style. We recommend regular tread-depth and visual inspections by an authorized Trelleborg dealer partner, who can also check for correct inflation pressure.
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