Editorial Type:
Article Category: Other
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Apr 2015

Commercial Trailer Tires: Tire Inflation and Its Effect on Rolling Resistance, Fuel Economy, and Tire Footprint

Page Range: 144 – 162
DOI: 10.2346/tire.15.430201
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ABSTRACT

Maintaining proper tire inflation is the number one issue facing commercial fleets today. Common, slow-leaking tread area punctures along with leaking valve stems and osmosis through the tire casing lead to tire underinflation with a subsequent loss in fuel economy, reduction in retreadability, tread wear loss, irregular wear, and increase in tire-related roadside service calls.

Commercial truck tires are the highest maintenance cost for fleets second only to fuel. This article will examine tire footprint analysis, rolling resistance data, and the effect on vehicle fuel economy from tires run at a variety of underinflated, overinflated, and recommended tire pressures. This analysis will also include the tire footprint impact by running tires on both fully loaded and unloaded trailers. The footprint analysis addresses both standard dual tires (295/75R22.5) along with the newer increasingly popular wide-base tire size 445/50R22.5.

Keywords: commercial truck tires; tire footprint; underinflation; overinflation; rolling resistance; fuel economy; trailer tires; wide-base trailer tires
FIG. 1
FIG. 1

Irregular wear conditions found on trailer tires. Source: TMC Radial Tire Wear Conditions Analysis Guide, 4th edition, 2011 [2].

FIG. 2
FIG. 2

Fuel economy contribution by wheel position.

FIG. 3
FIG. 3

Tire rolling resistance results of fully loaded (1928 kg) 295/75R22.5 LR G fuel-efficient trailer tires.

FIG. 4
FIG. 4

Fuel economy rating versus pressure.

FIG. 5
FIG. 5

Tire footprints under full load at 1928 kg at various tire pressures.

FIG. 6
FIG. 6

Two dual 295/75R22.5 LR G tires versus one 445/50R22.5 LR L wide-base tire.

FIG. 7
FIG. 7

Rolling resistance of 445/50R22.5 wide-base tire at various pressures.

FIG. 8
FIG. 8

Fuel economy of wide-base tire at various pressures.

FIG. 9
FIG. 9

Wide-base 445/50R22.5 footprint analysis at 483 kpa versus 827 kpa.

FIG. 10
FIG. 10

Fully loaded 295/75R22.5 dual trailer tires, 689 kpa versus 827 kpa (20% overinflated).

FIG. 11
FIG. 11

Loaded versus empty 295/75R22.5 LR G trailer tire at 689 kpa.

FIG. 12
FIG. 12

Dual trailer tire 295/75R22.5 at 689 kpa versus 483 kpa on empty load.

FIG. 13
FIG. 13

Wide-base 445/50R22.5 tire at full load of 3857 kg.

FIG. 14
FIG. 14

Wide-base 445/50RR22.5 tire at 689 kpa: loaded versus unloaded.

FIG. 15
FIG. 15

Wide-base 445/50R22.5 tire on unloaded trailer: 689 kpa versus 483 kpa.

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