The 2026 fleet buyer's guide — load ratings, 24.5-inch rim fitment, SmartWay verification, and the Hanksugi drive, trailer, and on/off-road lineup for Class 8 legacy and high-floor trailer operations.
11R24.5 is the larger-rim imperial Class 8 commercial truck tire size — a legacy standard that still moves serious volume in 2026 across high-floor trailer fleets, classic sleeper-cab tractors, and specialty vocational operations. If you run a fleet built around Freightliner Classic XL, Peterbilt 379, Kenworth W900, or any other pre-2010 long-nose conventional with factory 24.5-inch wheels, chances are you are still rolling 11R24.5 on drive, trailer, or both positions. This page is the complete 2026 buyer's guide — we explain what 11R24.5 actually means, which Hanksugi models fit the 24.5 rim, the 16-ply load specifications, SmartWay compliance status, current direct-to-fleet pricing, and how 11R24.5 compares against 11R22.5 and 285/75R24.5. Every Hanksugi 11R24.5 tire ships with factory warranty, DDP delivery to your yard, and full-container pricing that beats retail chain replacement by 15-25%.
Just like 11R22.5, the 11R24.5 size code is an imperial-metric hybrid. 11 is the nominal section width in inches (approximately 279 mm sidewall-to-sidewall). R indicates radial construction. 24.5 is the rim diameter in inches — two inches larger than the 22.5 rim that dominates modern Class 8 service. The aspect ratio is not stated and defaults to approximately 90%, producing a total sidewall height of about 10.1 inches and an overall tire diameter of approximately 43.5 inches. For comparison, 11R22.5 has an overall diameter of 41.5 inches. That 2-inch difference means an 11R24.5-equipped truck sits roughly 1 inch taller per axle, which on a bogie drive axle translates to an additional inch of ground clearance and roughly an inch of deck height on a trailer. That deck-height advantage is why 11R24.5 remains the specification for moving-van trailers, certain car-hauler trailers, and other applications where interior cubic capacity matters.
From a performance standpoint, 11R24.5 carries a higher load rating than 11R22.5 — typically 149/146L versus 146/143L — delivering approximately 550 pounds more single-position load capacity per tire. For a fully-loaded Class 8 tractor-trailer at 80,000 pounds GVWR, that reserve capacity is frequently used by vocational fleets pulling near-maximum loads. The tradeoff is a 1-2% fuel economy penalty versus 11R22.5 (more rolling mass, slightly higher aerodynamic frontal area on drives), making 11R24.5 primarily appropriate for duty cycles where fuel savings are not the primary optimization target.
Hanksugi produces five premium 11R24.5 models covering drive, trailer, all-position, and on/off-road duty cycles. Container pricing starts at $290 per tire and scales with order volume.
Best-selling drive tire. Aggressive hexagonal center block design delivers outstanding traction and extended mileage. SmartWay verified in 11R24.5.
View HS88 →Long-haul trailer tire engineered for maximum casing durability and even wear. Ideal for high-floor dry vans, moving van trailers, and reefer trailers.
View HS86 →Five-rib trailer tire with optimized footprint pressure for even wear across all 5 ribs. Excellent casing reusability with 1-2 retread caps expected.
View HS66 →Fuel-efficient drive tire with closed shoulder design. Highest mileage expectation in the Hanksugi drive lineup — approximately 550,000 miles first life.
View HS68 →Vocational trailer and all-position tire with reinforced sidewall and aggressive tread compound. Built for construction, logging, waste, and mixed-service duty cycles.
View HS84 →Every Hanksugi 11R24.5 is built to the same core dimensional and load spec, with tread pattern, compound, and sidewall varying by model. The full spec sheet:
| Specification | 11R24.5 |
|---|---|
| Section Width | 11 in (279 mm) |
| Aspect Ratio | ~90% (257 mm sidewall) |
| Construction | Radial, all-steel belt |
| Rim Diameter | 24.5 in |
| Overall Diameter | ~43.5 in (1,105 mm) |
| Ply Rating | 16 (Load Range H) |
| Load Index | 149/146L |
| Max Load Single | 7,160 lbs (3,250 kg) |
| Max Load Dual | 6,610 lbs (3,000 kg) |
| Max Cold Pressure | 120 psi (830 kPa) |
| Speed Rating | L (75 mph / 120 km/h) |
| Weight (per tire) | 135-148 lbs (61-67 kg) |
| SmartWay Verified | Yes (HS88, HS68, HS86 in 11R24.5) |
Fleet managers comparing 24.5-inch rim sizes need to balance deck height, load capacity, fuel economy, and replacement-availability economics. Here is the direct comparison:
| Metric | 11R24.5 | 11R22.5 | 285/75R24.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rim Diameter | 24.5 in | 22.5 in | 24.5 in |
| Overall Diameter | 43.5 in | 41.5 in | 41.8 in |
| Sidewall Height | ~10.1 in | ~9.3 in | ~8.4 in |
| Load Index (typical) | 149/146L | 146/143L | 144/141L |
| Fuel Economy (relative) | Baseline | +1-2% | +2% |
| OE Availability | Legacy only | High | Growing |
| Best For | Legacy classic cabs, high-floor trailers | Vocational, mixed, legacy OTR | Fuel-focused 24.5 fleets |
If your 24.5-inch-wheel fleet is dedicated highway OTR and fuel economy matters, 285/75R24.5 is the lower-rolling-resistance upgrade path. If your trucks pull near-maximum loads and need the reserve capacity, 11R24.5 remains the correct spec. And if you are planning to convert trucks to 22.5-inch wheels during a wheel-and-tire refresh, 11R22.5 or 295/75R22.5 is the modern equivalent.
Hanksugi prices 11R24.5 direct-to-fleet with DDP delivery to your yard. Full-container pricing (~266 tires) consistently beats retail chains by 15-25% without sacrificing casing quality or retread life.
Request Your 11R24.5 QuoteHanksugi's 11R24.5 drive (HS88, HS68) and trailer (HS86) lines are listed on the EPA's SmartWay Verified Tire Technologies list. This matters for three reasons. First, it qualifies your fleet for SmartWay Transport Partnership status, which is increasingly required by large shippers (Walmart, Target, Amazon, UPS, FedEx) and third-party logistics providers when awarding contracts. Second, SmartWay verification supports compliance with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Regulation, which fines operators up to $1,000 per non-verified tire per day of California operation. Third, in independent fleet telematics data, SmartWay-verified drive and trailer tires consistently deliver 2-3% fuel economy improvement versus non-verified equivalents at highway cruise speed.
For a tractor-trailer running 125,000 miles per year at $5.20/gallon diesel, that 2-3% savings is approximately $1,800-$2,700 per truck per year, compounding to $72,000-$108,000 annual fuel savings across a 40-truck legacy fleet. The math penciled consistently, year after year — and it is the reason every Hanksugi 11R24.5 drive and trailer SKU is engineered to meet SmartWay thresholds.
For a typical legacy-cab Class 8 long-haul tractor running 11R24.5 on drive and trailer positions (16 tires), pulling 70,000-80,000 lbs GVWR at 6.2 MPG average and 120,000 miles per year at $5.20/gallon diesel:
Scaled across a 30-truck legacy fleet running 120,000 miles per year, that is $50,000-$72,000 of annual savings compared to buying non-verified 11R24.5 at national retail chain pricing — without giving up the deck-height advantage or heavy-load capacity that legacy fleets spec 24.5 for.
11R24.5 fitment is concentrated on legacy-cab Class 8 tractors built before 2010 and high-floor trailer applications. Common OEM and aftermarket fitments include:
11R24.5 has a regionally uneven demand profile across Hanksugi's active sales territories:
Primary market. Legacy owner-operator fleets, classic long-nose tractors, moving-van carriers, car haulers, and specialty vocational operators. DDP delivery to any US yard.
Legacy Class 8 fleets in Alberta, Ontario, and BC still running pre-2010 tractors on 24.5-inch wheels. Also common on Canadian moving-van and car-hauler trailer applications.
Select Mexican long-haul operators running imported legacy US-spec Freightliner Classic and Peterbilt 379 tractors continue to order 11R24.5 through Hanksugi DDP channels.
Legacy container-haul fleets in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica operating imported US classic cabs still source 11R24.5 through Hanksugi full-container shipments.
Panama, Guatemala, and Honduras operators running imported legacy classic Class 8 tractors specify 11R24.5 for drive and trailer positions. Container pricing available.
Brazilian, Chilean, and Peruvian fleets importing US-spec classic cabs (Freightliner Classic, Peterbilt 379, Kenworth W900) order 11R24.5 through Hanksugi for drive and trailer replacement.
11R24.5 is the larger-rim variant of 11R22.5, used primarily on legacy Class 8 OTR sleeper tractors (Freightliner Classic XL, Peterbilt 379/389, Kenworth W900, legacy Volvo VN, Mack CH, International 9000/9900 series, Western Star 4900), high-floor trailers (moving vans, certain reefers), and specialty car-hauler trailers.
The 22.5 and 24.5 refer to the rim diameter in inches. 11R24.5 mounts on a 24.5-inch wheel (vs 22.5-inch for 11R22.5). 11R24.5 has a 43.5 in overall diameter (vs 41.5 in for 11R22.5), adding about one inch of ground clearance per axle. 11R24.5 also carries a higher 149/146L load index versus 146/143L for 11R22.5. Fleet conversion from 24.5 to 22.5 wheel size has been the industry trend since the 1990s for fuel economy and cost reasons.
Hanksugi 11R24.5 tires carry a 149/146L load index, delivering 7,160 lbs single and 6,610 lbs dual at 120 psi cold. This higher load rating makes 11R24.5 well-suited for heavy vocational loads, high-floor trailer applications, and legacy sleeper tractors pulling at or near 80,000 lbs GVWR.
Hanksugi 11R24.5 tires are priced direct-to-fleet from $290 to $430 per tire depending on model and order volume. Full-container pricing (~266 tires) typically delivers 15-25% savings versus national retail tire chains. DDP delivery to USA, Canadian, Mexican, Caribbean, Central American, and Latin American yards is standard.
Yes. Although 11R24.5 has declined from its peak in North American Class 8 service, it remains in active production to support legacy sleeper tractors, high-floor trailer fleets, and specialty vocational vehicles. Hanksugi manufactures 11R24.5 in five models covering drive, trailer, all-position, and on/off-road duty cycles with full-container availability.
Ready to switch your legacy or high-floor 11R24.5 spend to Hanksugi? Reach out for direct-to-fleet pricing and DDP container delivery.
Contact Hanksugi Fleet Sales