Trailer tire trends

Fuel economy, downtime remain big concerns

By: Mike Manges

Trailer tires play a major role in a rig’s overall rolling resistance, say truck tire manufacturers.

Often overlooked and under-appreciated, trailer tires contribute a great deal to a tractor-trailer’s performance. They play a major role in a rig’s overall rolling resistance. And if a trailer tire springs a leak, it can have a detrimental effect on a rig’s basic movement.

As trucking fleets continue to squeeze every penny out of their operating budgets, improving fuel economy and eliminating downtime remain leading trailer tire concerns, according to tire manufacturers.

Resistance now reduced

Reducing a tractor-trailer’s overall rolling resistance is a major goal for most fleets, says Bill Hoban, national truck tire sales manager for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. And the message is getting out to dealers, he adds.

“I had a dealer call me today and ask what our rolling resistance numbers are. We’re looking at compounding and casing construction” to achieve lower rolling resistance.

Along those lines, Hoban says Cooper is pursuing SmartWay certification from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which may extend the certification to medium truck tire retreads (see sidebar).

“Trailer tires have been somewhat of a commodity item,” says Roger Stansbie, director of tire technology, Commercial Vehicle Tires, the Americas, for Continental Tire North America Inc.

“From our observation, trailer tire manufacturers tend to choose fairly economical compounds.”
To lower rolling resistance, “you have to start doing more engineering, especially when it comes to compounding,” says Stansbie. “Another method is to really concentrate on your tread designs.”

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Related Topics: commercial tire sales, retreaded tires, trailer tires

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