Quick answer
315/80R22.5 is a tubeless radial truck tyre 315 mm wide, with a sidewall 80% of that width, made for 22.5-inch rims. It is the standard steer and drive size on most long-haul horses in Zimbabwe, including Scania, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, MAN and Howo. Buy the pattern for the axle it will run on (steer, drive or trailer), check the load index matches your axle weights, and buy in matched sets per axle.
What does 315/80R22.5 mean?
Every truck tyre has its size moulded on the sidewall. Here is how to read this one:
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 315 | Section width of the tyre in millimetres, sidewall to sidewall. |
| 80 | Aspect ratio: the sidewall height is 80% of the width (about 252 mm). |
| R | Radial construction. Almost all modern highway truck tyres are radial. |
| 22.5 | Rim diameter in inches. 22.5-inch rims are tubeless, so no tube or flap is needed. |
| 156/150L (example) | Load index for single and dual fitment, then the speed symbol. See below. |
Put together, a 315/80R22.5 stands a little over a metre tall when mounted and inflated. That height and width are why it suits heavy horses pulling interlinks and tri-axle trailers on the Beitbridge, Chirundu and Forbes corridors.
Which trucks use 315/80R22.5?
This is the workhorse size for heavy long-haul trucks. In Zimbabwe you will find it on:
- European horses: Scania, Volvo FH and FM, Mercedes-Benz Actros and MAN TGS and TGX.
- Chinese horses and tippers: Howo, Shacman, FAW and similar trucks that run 22.5-inch rims.
- Rigid trucks and some buses that carry heavy front-axle loads.
Always confirm by reading the size on the tyres already fitted, or in the vehicle's handbook. Two trucks of the same model can leave the factory on different sizes.
Steer, drive or trailer: choose the right pattern
315/80R22.5 is made in several tread patterns. Buying the wrong one is the most common and most expensive mistake we see.
| Position | Tread design | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Steer (front axle) | Straight ribs running around the tyre | Tracks straight, resists irregular wear and gives precise steering and braking. |
| Drive (driven axles) | Deep blocks or lugs | Puts engine power onto the road and grips on wet tar, gravel and sand. |
| All-position / mixed service | Ribs with deeper shoulder blocks | A compromise for trucks that leave the tar, such as tippers and rural delivery trucks. |
| Trailer | Shallower ribs, strong casing | Rolls easily on free-rolling axles and resists the scrubbing of tight turns. |
Putting a drive tyre on the steer axle makes the truck wander and wears the tyre unevenly. Putting a steer tyre on a drive axle wastes traction, especially on wet roads in the rainy season. Tell us the axle and we will match the pattern.
Load index and speed rating
After the size you will see two numbers and a letter, for example 156/150L or 154/150M.
- The first number is the load index when the tyre is fitted on its own (single fitment, usually the steer axle).
- The second number is the load index for each tyre when fitted in pairs (dual fitment on drive and trailer axles).
- The letter is the highest speed the tyre is rated for at that load.
| Load index | Max load per tyre | Speed symbol | Max speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 3,350 kg | J | 100 km/h |
| 152 | 3,550 kg | K | 110 km/h |
| 154 | 3,750 kg | L | 120 km/h |
| 156 | 4,000 kg | M | 130 km/h |
The rule is simple: the replacement tyre should have the same or a higher load index than the original. If you run heavy on the steer axle, ask for a higher single load index.
What to check before you buy
- Read the sidewall. Note the full size, load index and speed symbol of the tyre you are replacing.
- Know the position. Steer, drive or trailer. Mixed fleets often need all three.
- Think about your routes. Long tar runs favour highway patterns. Mine roads, farm roads and building sites need mixed-service tyres with cut-resistant compounds.
- Match tyres on an axle. Fit the same brand, pattern and similar tread depth across an axle, and especially across a pair of duals. Mismatched duals carry unequal loads and wear quickly.
- Check the date code. Truck tyres carry a four-digit date code, such as 2526 for week 25 of 2026. Fresh stock is better than tyres that have sat for years.
- Plan the fitment. Have new tyres fitted on clean, undamaged rims, balanced where needed and inflated to the pressure your load requires.
315/80R22.5 or another size?
If your truck came on 315/80R22.5, stay on it unless the manufacturer approves an alternative. Some fleets compare it with 295/80R22.5, which is narrower and a little lower, or with 12R22.5 for tippers that spend time off the tar. Trailer axles on newer interlinks may use 385/65R22.5 super singles instead of duals. Each has its place, and mixing sizes on one axle is never safe.
Getting 315/80R22.5 tyres in Zimbabwe
Proclassic Tyres supplies 315/80R22.5 steer, drive and trailer tyres from our branches in Harare (Ardbennie) and Mutare, with fleet supply and delivery across Zimbabwe. Stock and prices change with each shipment, so we confirm both when you ask rather than posting prices that go out of date. Send us your size, quantity, truck and delivery location and we will reply on WhatsApp with what is available today.
Get a price on WhatsApp
Send us these four details and we will reply with stock and today’s price:
- Tyre size, from the sidewall (315/80R22.5)
- Quantity — e.g. 6 drive, 2 steer
- Vehicle or equipment, make and model
- Delivery location, or collect in Harare or Mutare
Or call +263 716 194 485 · info@proclassicgroup.com