Many drivers trucking in Colorado use double tires instead of a single, wide-based tire for their hauls. While a dual set-up is often the go-to in trucking, there are several benefits in switching to a single tire solution.
Fuel Efficiency
The first benefit is an increase of fuel efficiency. Rolling resistance from your tires takes up about 35 percent of your truck’s fuel loss. Efficiency increases when you cut the amount of tires in half. In fact, studies have shown that trucks utilizing single, wide-based tires see up to a 10% increase in fuel efficiency.
There are two reasons fuel efficiency is possible. First, you have less rotating mass underneath your truck so your engine works less to turn the wheels. Second, your truck weighs less because half of your tires (and wheels) are gone. A lighter truck always results in more efficient fuel usage.
Increased Productivity
Weight reduction saves money on fuel and lets you run an extra load all at the same time. You can replace the 1100 lbs. of wheel weight with cargo to make better use of storage space. Truckers in aggregate and long haul can replace the weight from tires with an additional palette or ½ palette on a trailer, which can mean an extra two loads a day.
Cooler Brakes
Moving to a single wheel/tire combo allows more air to contact your brakes, enabling them to cool faster. Those of us that are trucking in Colorado can appreciate that with the mountainous terrain.
Fewer Breakdowns
With dual tires, it’s easy to avoid small maintenance issues like a nail or bolt puncture. It’s also easy to end up breaking down and being stranded because you aren’t staying on top of small problems.
With single tires, you have to inspect your tires from time to time to prevent a flat. If you see a nail, you head straight to the next ruck stop to get it fixed. With only one tire on each side of the axle, you are forced to take better care of your truck.
Some people call this a hassle, thinking that they will have to stop when they get a punctured tire. Well, yes. But, if you are looking at your tires as often as you are supposed to, you won’t have any problems because you can take care of issues when they happen.
Better for Snow
When you’re trucking in Colorado around wintertime, you run the chance of getting stranded in the snow. With wide based tires, you can wrap snow chains around the wheel/tire combo with ease and be safe even in harsh conditions.
All that being said, there is one downside to wide based single tires, which is we wouldn’t recommend retreading them. You’re far better off getting all the mileage out of a straight tire then replacing it.
What is your preference?