Now THAT'S a Tire

 

It's pretty intimidating to pass or get passed by a monster 18-wheel tractor trailer on the highway, with its massive cab spoiler and load container that blot out your view of the sky. Now imagine a vehicle that absolutely dwarfs that big rig. In fact, one of the wheels alone on a purpose-built mining dump truck can be 12 feet (3.7 meters) high or more — think of the tallest person you know, and then imagine his twin standing atop his head. Impressive as these mighty tires are, such wheels do have a huge downside: cost. They're super expensive to replace. Depending on where you get them and the current going rate of rubber, one tire can cost around $6,000 on the low end, or in extreme cases, well into six figures. What's more, the tires frequently wear out quickly — often times within mere months — because they carry such heavy loads and rumble over harsh terrain that wears them down (and you definitely want to have traction in one of these behemoths on steep mine hillsides).