Wide Base Tires

Fleet Experiences

Background

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

NOT Super Singles

Feedback

“4,400 on various applications”

“2,000 on dollies”

“17 units”

“All our tractors”

“1500 dollies”

“150 single axle trailers”

• New trucks = instant savings

• Air pressure maintenance– Easier to check one valve per wheel end– Drivers can visually

see a low tire

• Tread wear per 32ndsEquals or betters duals

Advantages

Advantages

• Saves weight (800-1000 lbs)• Fuel savings 2-3% (up to 8%!)

• @1 25,000 miles annually• Save 728 gal. per year. • Save $2200 @ $3.00/gal

• Cooler brakes = longer brake life and better stopping.

• Less tires to maintain

Not a “Fits All”

• Wear depends on application– May not work for everyone

• Spread axle flat beds

• Dual use city / highway– Scrubbing in city driving

Not So Good

• 25% to 35% reduction in miles to removal• Duals are 1 cent to 1.5 cents per mile costs

with WBS you can see 4-5 cents per mile. • Retreading

– Scrap is 30% to 40% due to sidewall damage– Retread failure higher– Retread failure = higher vehicle damage

Non-Issues

• Field availability– Not an issue for member fleets– Road service repair seen as same– Worst case – substitute duals

• Inventory increase no longer an issue

• Re-treading seen up to 2x

Driver Feedback (+)

• Improved Ride / Handling / Feel

• Lower center of

gravity for tankers

• Better traction– First units out when snow flies

Driver Feedback (+)

• Dolly maneuvering force reduction– Reduced injuries

Driver Feedback (-)

• Drivers concerned with running retreads when they only have one tire on a wheel end

• Some not convinced that rapid air loss is not a problem

Myths

• With a wide base tire, there’s nowhere for water to dissipate like there is between two duals. – Simply not true. On any tire, the water doesn’t dissipate

around the shoulder; it comes out the back side of the tread.

• When I have a tire failure with a wide base tire, I’m out of service on the side of the road. With duals, I can limp in since I still have one tire holding up the axle end. – We’ve all been running only one tire on each end of the

steer axle forever. It’s never a good idea to try and “limp in” with a flat and expect one tire to do the job of two.

Regulation

• Meets inch-width requirements nationwide for dual axles– 17,500 lbs/axle 500lb/in-width

• May not comply with single axles• Oregon - not allowed on triple trailers• Florida - not allowed on single axle tandem

trailers, working to change• Idaho - updated regulations to allow• Western Canada - have to change to duals

State Matrix

State Regulation / Statute / Code Single Axle Tandem Axle Doubles Triples Comments

Arizona √ √ √ √

Florida FAC Chapter 14-54.0061 X √ √ see comment >

N/A Triples not allowed No single tires on single-axle configurations, except the steering axle, are allowed. Limit of 605 lb/in.-width

Idaho Section 49-1002, Idaho Code √ √ √ √ Limit of 600 lb/in.-width

Indiana √ √ √ √

Iowa √ √ √ √

Kansas KSA 8-1742 √ √ √ √

States with Restrictions on Wide-Base Single Tires

√ = Allowed X = Restriction in place

White Paper

• Summary of latest information

• Advantages and Disadvantages

• Fleet feedback

• Talking points for Members and ATA Staff

• Update semi annually

Conclusions

• Fuel (1%-8%) • Application dependent• Weight savings• Handling• More consistent air pressure• Snow performance• Not one size fits all• Higher costs• Treadlife• Regulations

• Do the Math!

Monitoring

• ATA Engineering

• Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

• Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC)

• Monitor and update

Thank you!