n a tire is low. “While we encourage drivers to use tire gauges to check tire air pressure, they can also just tell by looking when a tire appears to be low. Without the support of a dual next to it, a low tire is obvious. So, we are finding that we have fewer tire failures and less down time.”
The fleet has lowered its tire and fuel costs using the wide-based single tires and has not needed to modify its maintenance programs to accommodate the change.
Tracking progress
Con-way is using Qualcomm OmniVision to track vehicles in real-time. “We have access to the actual miles of the tires. When they are pulled we log the data. Our new Michelin wide-single tires have a 24/32nd tread depth. We run them at 20/32nds and get an average of 263,000 miles per tire. We used to have an average of 260,000 miles per tire, so we’ve improved the mileage.
“To track fuel miles, we use Qualcomm’s onboard diagnostics to monitor idling time and track the fuel numbers using ComData figures. We look at a 90-day MPG average and paid dispatch miles loaded and unloaded.” The only way to measure success is to track your results.
Aluminum wheel advantages
Aluminum usage in vehicle component manufacturing reduces weight, enhancing fuel economy and performance. Every 100 lbs. of vehicle weight savings generates an increase of 1.5% to 2% in fuel economy (MPG), according to Alcoa.
Additional benefits are achieved when targeting weight savings on particular areas on the truck. Weight plays an especially critical role in efficiency when it comes to the drive line of the vehicle. Rotational mass moment of inertia, better known as the effort required to rotate the wheels from power generated from the engine, affects fuel economy in an exponential way. Reducing unsprung weight (weight found in or near the axle and required to be turned by the engine) and improving the rotational mass moment of inertia generates a multiple savings effect over just reducing sprung weight (weight found on the rest of the vehicle).
Replacing 10 steel wheels with 10 Alcoa forged aluminum wheels (weighing 45 lbs. each) results in an average savings of 50 gallons of fuel and reduction of 0.5 metric tons of CO2 per year on a Class 8 truck. Further efficiency gains are made from selecting wide-base wheels. Switching from steel single 22.5-in.x8.25-in. wheels to Alcoa 14-in. wide-base wheels saves 1,429 lbs. on an 18-wheeler. In addition, wide-base tires (mounted to the wide-base wheels) are SmartWay-certified to lower rolling resistance, further increasing fuel economy.
Aluminum wheels also act as a heat sink to run 40 degrees F to 60 degrees F cooler than steel wheels, improving tire and brake component life and further reducing operating costs over the life of the vehicle, according to the company.
Lighter weight aluminum wheels provide increased payload, better handling and improved tire and brake life, all while lowering operating costs. No other component on a truck is as simple to swap out and offers immediate benefits to both the environment and your bottom line, Alcoa said.
TPMS protection
Recently, Doran Manufacturing introduced its Doran 360CE tire pressure monitoring system. The unit is ideal for all sizes and configurations of commercial equipment—including wide singles. Programming and installing the digital LCD display and valve-mounted sensors can be accomplished without any special tools in less than an hour, the company said.
The large-bore sensors are built with high-impact nylon and include potting material to secure the internal components and provide protection against vibration and high temperatures. The components of the system have passed SAE tests by an independent A2LA accredited testing facility to ensure they deliver the longest life and corrosion resistance on the market. In addition, the sensors can also be activated to transmit tire pressure and temperature data with the Doran SmartLink tool during a walk-around inspection, according to the company.
The in-cab display provides real-time monitoring of tire pressures for up to 36 wheel positions, the company said. An indicator light provides “at-a-glance” confidence to the operator that the tires are at the correct pressures and the system is working properly. In addition to the standard Level 1 and Level 2 alarms at 12.5% and 25% below the programmed baseline tire pressure, a unique FastLeak warning is triggered with a drop in tire pressure of 2.8 PSI in less than 12 seconds, along with a high temperature alarm that is activated if a sensor’s temperature reaches 248˚ F. A built-in date/time stamp function records the alarms and a driver lockout function prevents accidental tampering, Doran added.
