(a) No vehicle or combination of vehicles or combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer nor any other object shall be operated upon any public highway or bridge without the permit described in section 354, the gross weight of which including its load exceeds the following limits: twenty thousand pounds if a four-wheeled vehicle equipped with solid tires, thirty-two thousand pounds if a four-wheeled vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires, fifty-eight thousand eight hundred pounds if a vehicle with three axles or any combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer with a total of three axles and equipped with pneumatic tires, seventy-five thousand pounds if a combination of vehicle or trailer or semi-trailer with a total of four axles and equipped with pneumatic tires, eighty-one thousand pounds if a combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer with a total of five or more axles and equipped with pneumatic tires, provided the weight on any axle of such vehicle with three axles or the weight of any axle or any combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer with three or more axles shall not exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds, or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds. For any such vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer with a gross weight of over forty thousand pounds and not over forty-five thousand pounds, there shall be a minimum number of ten tires and tires on all wheels shall have a minimum cross section of at least ten inches and minimum rim diameter of at least twenty inches such tire size being commonly described as “10–00–20”. On any such vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer with a gross weight in excess of forty-five thousand pounds, there shall be a minimum number of ten tires with a minimum tire size as follows: steering axle tires shall have a minimum cross section of at least ten inches and a minimum diameter of at least twenty inches, such tire size being commonly described as “10–00–20”, on all other wheels, tires shall have minimum cross section of at least eleven inches and minimum rim diameter of at least twenty inches, such tire size being commonly described as “11–00–20”. On any such vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer with a gross weight in excess of forty-five thousand pounds where there is a minimum number of fourteen tires, the tires on all wheels shall have a minimum cross section of at least ten inches and a minimum rim diameter of at least twenty inches, such tire size being common described as “10–00–20”. No vehicle or other object, the weight of which resting on the surface of such highway or bridge exceeds eight hundred pounds per inch of width of metal tire, roller, wheel or other supporting device, except a motor vehicle, shall be operated upon any highway or bridge without the permit described in section 354. The owner of any vehicle or other object operated or moved over any highways or bridges in violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be liable for all damages which such highway or bridge may sustain as a result of such violation and such damages may be recovered in an action at law. No vehicle equipped with rubber tires, except a motor vehicle, shall carry more than the number of pounds per wheel as follows: if such tires are three inches in width, five hundred pounds; if such tires are three and one-half inches in width, seven hundred fifty pounds; if such tires are four inches in width, one thousand pounds; if such tires are four and one-half inches in width, thirteen hundred and fifty pounds; if such tires are five inches in width, seventeen hundred pounds; if such tires are five and one-half inches in width, two thousand pounds; if such tires are six inches in width, twenty-two hundred pounds; if such tires are seven inches in width, thirty-five hundred pounds; if such tires are eight inches in width, forty-five hundred pounds; if such tires are nine inches in width, fifty-five hundred pounds; if such tires are ten inches in width, sixty-five hundred pounds.