Reduce Tire Costs with Proper Spec’ing

It doesn’t make sense to ask an offensive lineman in football to run a deep pass route or to expect a wide receiver to effectively block a 300-pound nose guard. Each has his role on a football team . . . just like tires have specific roles in a fleet operation.

That’s why it is critical for fleet managers and owner operators to understand how their trucks and trailers operate day in and day out and then choose tires that meet as many of those operational criteria as possible.

Heavy Duty Trucking editor Jim Park noted in the magazine’s December 2018 supplement on tires and wheels: “A tire’s performance must sync with the nature of its operations, to its drivers and their habits, driving locations, maintenance practices, budget and other priorities, such as fuel costs. To that end, the best cost per mile or best cost of ownership will dictate which tire to select.”

Park notes, “Tire makers often express these design goals in the form of a triangle or the legs of a stool, emphasizing the need to balance these three important considerations: traction, tread life, and rolling resistance. Historically an improvement in one forced compromises in the other two, but that’s not universally true anymore. Through tire design, it is possible to use technologically advanced compounds and tire construction techniques to minimize a tire’s rolling resistance with little or no impact on traction or tread life, and still stand up to what the application throws at it.”

In addition to the fact that we love how Jim makes his point by discussing a “triangle,” he is spot on about how performance compromises are being reduced. Triangle Tire, for instance, spends millions of R&D dollars every year to develop TBR tires that deliver low ownership cost for fleets and owner operators.

TRS02

Despite the fact that compromises are being reduced, proper spec’ing is very important. Take the Triangle TRS02 regional, all-position tire for example. If your trucks operate on the open highway and in urban environments, the TRS02 features reinforced sidewalls to guard against curb damage which can result in costly downtime. For operating on the highway, this SmartWay-verified tire is fuel efficient and has a wide footprint for outstanding removal mileage. For regional carriers that operate on the highway and in cities, the TRS02 reduces downtime and fuel costs, while delivering long tread wear.

TRT01

Another example – If you’re a long haul operator, the Triangle Smartway-verified TRT01 is ideal for the trailer axles with its fuel-saving compound and solid shoulder rib which delivers even and uniform wear. Excellent casing for retreading as well.