SmartWay Transport, the innovative collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the trucking industry, is helping a growing number of fleets save money and reduce fuel consumption. Through cooperative agreements with manufacturers, fuel economy testing and technical literature review, EPA has determined technologies that provide fuel saving benefits.
On that list are Verified Low Rolling Resistance Tires. Based on data provided by tire manufacturers and EPA testing and research, the agency has determined that certain tire models can provide a reduction in NOx emissions and an estimated fuel savings of 3% or greater when used on all five axles on long haul Class 8 combination vehicles. The options offered include both dual tires and wide-base single tires.
To date, the following low rolling resistance tires are SmartWay verified when used on Class 8 linehaul trucks and tractors:
BFGoodrich
Steer: ST244
Drive: DR 444
Trailer: TR144
Bridgestone
Steer: R287A, R280, R250F, R260F, R287
Drive: M720, Greatec
Trailer: R195, Greatec Trailer, Greatec R125, R197, S197
Continental
Steer: HSL-2 (replaces HSL), HSR1 Eco plus, HSR2 Eco plus
Drive: HDL Eco Plus, HDL2 DL Eco Plus, HSR1 Eco plus, HSR2 Eco plus
Trailer: HTL Eco PLUS, HTL1
Double Coin
Trailer: FT105
Dunlop
Steer: SP384 FM
Drive: SP456 FM
Trailer: SP193 FM
Firestone
Steer: FS590 Plus, FS507
Drive: FD662
Trailer: FT455 Plus
Goodyear
Steer: G395 LHS Fuel Max, G399 Fuel Max, G662 Fuel Max
Drive: G305 LHD Fuel Max, G392 SSD, G305 Fuel Max AT
Trailer: G316 LHT Fuel Max, G316 Fuel Max DuraSeal
Hankook
Steer: AL07+, AL11
Drive: Z35a, DL11
Trailer: TL01
Michelin
Steer: XZA3, XZA2, XZA1+, XZE, XZE2, XZA2 Energy
Drive: XDA2+ Energy, XDA Energy, XDA3, X-One XDA, X-One XDN2, XOne XDA Energy, XDE2+, XDN2, XDE M/S
Trailer: XTA Energy, XT1, X-One XTA, X-ONE XTE, XTE
Toyo
Steer: M137, M154
Drive: M657
Trailer: M127
Yokohama
Steer: RY617, 103ZR, 101ZL
Drive: 703ZL, TY517mc2
Trailer: RY587mc2, RY587
Inherent value
EPA, as part of the SmartWay program, has also determined that there is inherent value in automatic tire inflation and monitoring systems. These solutions, the agency says, can save tire maintenance costs and improve fuel economy by nearly 1%, saving 100 gal. of fuel and eliminating one metric ton of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Automatic tire monitoring and inflation systems available to fleets include the following:
The Meritor Tire Inflation System (MTIS) by PSI uses compressed air from the trailer’s air system to inflate any tire that falls below a preset pressure whenever the vehicle is in operation. With MTIS, air from the existing trailer air supply is routed to a control box, then into each axle. Acting as a conduit, the axles carry air through a rotary union assembly at the spindle end and distribute the air to each tire as needed.
MTIS with ThermALERT adds wheel-end heat sensing technology to alert drivers to take preventive action that avoids damage due to elevated wheel-end temperatures. An insert in a ThermALERT-equipped spindle plug melts if the wheel end reaches abnormally high temperatures, allowing air to escape out the hub cap tee vent and triggering the system’s exterior light and audible sound at the wheel end.
Dana Spicer TIMS (Tire Inflation and Monitor System) checks tire pressure automatically and directs air to an underinflated tire—typically when a tire is 10% below a pre-determined level or the desired cold-tire pressure setting—until proper pressure is achieved. Using Dana’s two-solenoid manifold design, TIMS employs non-pressurized seals and lines and does not require axle tube pressurization or venting at the wheel end. In-line check valves at valve stems isolate each tire and measure pressure.
TIMS also includes an industry standard data-link for communications and industry standard diagnostics, PC and blink codes. The system is available integrated with trailer ABS or as a stand-alone option.
The Doran 360 Tire Pressure Monitoring System employs wireless sensors mounted to valve stems that are programmed to specific tire locations using unique laser-etched serial numbers on each sensor. The wireless tire pressure sensors continuously monitor pressures on either traditional dual-wheel or wide-base single tire applications and provide pressure information and low tire pressure alerts to an in-cab display. The system’s multi-phase alarms include a Fast Leak indicator (2.8 PSI drop in less than 12 seconds) along with 12.5% and 25% pressure drop alarms. There is also a high temperature alarm and an optional high-pressure alarm that can be activated. In addition, an optional “sleep mode” setting will continue to monitor the tires while the ignition is off and silence the alarm until the ignition is turned back on.
The Doran 360 SmartLink TPMS uses wireless sensors on trailer tires to send tire pressure information to a trailer-mounted SmartLink receiver/transmitter that collects and transfers the data to a cab-mounted display unit. When a tractor is hooked to a new trailer, it only requires a simple one-button operation by the driver to drop and add the correct trailer.
