Closed-Shoulder Vs Open-Shoulder Drive
Culture | 05/23/2025
If you’ve ever shopped for Commercial or TBR tires, you’ve likely come across both “Closed-Shoulder” and “Open-Shoulder” tires. The shoulder of a tire is the area where the tread and the sidewall meet, extending from the tread block closest to the outside of the tire to the outside edge of the tire’s sidewall. The design and construction of a tire’s shoulder affect how well the tire handles, its traction, and even how evenly it wears down, which directly impacts how long the tire will last.
Closed-Shoulder or Open-Shoulder Tires?
Closed and Open-Shoulder tires are primarily used on the Drive position of trucks, including semi trucks and 18-wheelers, and are responsible for transmitting the power of the engine to propel the vehicle. They also greatly affect the traction and handling of the vehicle, so choosing the right type of tire is important. While Open-Shoulder tires are a good choice for drivers who encounter severe weather conditions and unstable or uneven terrain, Closed-Shoulder tires offer undeniable advantages for both long haul and regional trucks that mostly travel highways and paved roads.
The Clear Benefits of Closed-Shoulder Drive Tires
Closed-Shoulder tires get their name from the design of their shoulder, which is a solid rib on the outside of the tread. These solid shoulder ribs give the advantage of greater driving stability and handling, which is very important for large vehicles traveling at highway speeds. Closed-Shoulder tires have the added benefit of more even tread wear, which extends the life of the tire. Solid shoulder strips make for an overall smoother tire, which reduces rolling resistance, reducing tire wear and also reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Some Closed-Shoulder tires are also constructed with a special tread compound that can further reduce rolling resistance and friction heat buildup, causing the tire to wear more slowly and to last longer. For long haul and regional fleet owners and truck drivers who drive mainly on paved surfaces, choosing a Closed-Shoulder Drive tire can effectively reduce fuel consumption and costs, increase handling and ride comfort, and reduce the frequency of needing to replace worn tires.
An Economical, High-Quality, and Long-Lasting Closed-Shoulder Drive Tire
Groundspeed’s GSVS01 Closed-Shoulder Drive tire offers fuel economy, long wear, driving stability and ride comfort, among many additional features and benefits for both regional and long haul truck drivers. The solid shoulder ribs promote more even wear and handling stability, and together with Groundspeed’s specialized tread compound, KTM6, reduce rolling resistance and contribute to the tire’s well-balanced performance and fuel economy.
The GSVS01’s deep 28/32nds” tread grooves and Zig Zag tread groove pattern also work with the KTM6 tread compound to provide traction performance in both wet and dry conditions, and extend the life of the tire. To reduce heat generation and uneven wear, the shoulders of the GSVS01 feature shoulder lug grooves, while Stone Ejectors built into the tread pattern help to eject stones and protect the tire against stone entrapment damage.
Since commercial vehicles often haul very heavy cargo, the GSVS01 was designed with Control Strips along each side of the vertical ribs, to aid in braking and give drivers more confidence when braking while carrying heavy loads. In fact, this Closed-Shoulder Drive tire was constructed with four belts and a belt cushion to improve its load-carrying capacity, handling and maneuverability.
Find out more about the outstanding features of the GSVS01 Closed-Shoulder Drive tire in this video:
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