Tire spec’ing and maintenance have long been a focus of beverage fleet managers—and for good reason. Tires can account for about 18 percent of a fleet’s total vehicle costs and are responsible for more than 45 percent of road breakdowns. And, experienced managers realize the effect tires have on fuel economy.

Now, with fuel prices at the “unbelievable” levels, managers are zeroing in on those tire factors affecting fuel consumption.

The most important is spec’ing the proper tires for your needs; watch out for the tradeoffs among the following:

• Depth—it extends the life miles, but it increases resistance, and as a result, fuel consumption.
• Profile—lower profile tires save weight, which improves fuel consumption, but affect driveline ratios, which may have to be changed.
• Type—rib tires are more fuel efficient, but do not have as good traction as lug tires. Wide-based tires are more fuel efficient due to lower weight, but availability is not there yet; when the vehicle goes down due to a tire failure, it stays on the side of the road, you can’t “limp” home.
• Proper inflation—running over-inflated or under-inflated will lower fuel mileage by about 2 percent.
Use a tire gauge and calibrate it regularly. The latest technology, such as the new Doran 360HD Tire Pressure Monitoring System, provides the driver “at-a-glance” status updates with a new patent pending Green Means Good indicator. This next generation system uses wireless tire pressure sensors that are screwed on to the valve stems and transmit a signal to a monitor in the cab. The driver is alerted through multiple alarms types (audible, location, pressure and warning symbol) and a new “Fast Leak” alarm so that low tire-pressure problems can be addressed and costly breakdowns and repairs are eliminated. The company says installation can be accomplished in about an hour per truck/trailer.

Maintenance
After specing and monitoring air pressure, maintaining the tire is almost as important. Here are some tips:

• Keep inflation pressures in dualed tires even. Other-wise as one tire deforms, irregular wear will start causing increased rolling resistance and fuel consumption.
• Valve caps should be metal. A valve cap is the primary seal against air loss, with the valve core being secondary.
• Tires are designed to run with clean, dry air. Every compressor should have filters and in-line dryers to ensure the air going in is dry. Air that has water can break down the inner liner and steel belts when it gets inside.
• Wash tires and wheels. Snow, slush or debris that remains on a tire can cause the rubber to deteriorate prematurely and salt and other chemicals can eat away at them.
• Keep the tires aligned. Total vehicle alignment is important in preventing irregular wear and increased rolling resistance and fuel consumption.
• Analyze scrap tires. Analysis of tires removed from service prematurely can help determine the cause and help determine the best prevention.
• Finally, driving practices are vital, the most efficient drivers get a 25 percent better fuel economy than the least efficient drivers.

New Tires
Watch for the introductions of new tire models and check their features to see if any fill a need you have that hasn’t been available untill now. Some of the latest introductions include:

• Goodyear: Debuted the Unisteel G149 RSA RH tire for on-highway regional service, whose tread pattern provides longer wear. Also, the Unisteel G150 for city applications that has special compounds and sidewall protector ribs for high-scrub protection.
Goodyear also introduced the Kelly Armorsteel KRII regional tire for pick-up and delivery service. Its tread pattern provides traction on wet and dry surfaces, as circumferential grooves and lateral blading displace water from under the tire.
• Continental’s HSL Eco Plus steer and the HDL Eco drive tires deliver improved fuel economy while still providing excellent removal mileage.
• BFGoodrich’s steer tire, the ST244, with a 5-rib, 4-groove tread is desig ned for water evacuation, and a decoupling groove gives an enhanced ability to resist irregular wear.
• Toyo’s M154 for medium-duty trucks with a tread design is made to distribute contact pressure evenly. Also a M137 premium high performance steer radial for long haul operations is designed to deliver more miles per 32nd. It has a stiffer belt package and stiffer bead construction.
• Bridgestone’s R287 steer tire has resistance to irregular wear, in addition to superior traction and control on wet and dry surfaces.
• Hankook’s AH11 all position steel-belted radial for distribution operations is built to be extra-tough against uneven wear, chips, cuts and tearing, with a tread design that promotes lateral stability while providing precise handling in all weather conditions.
• Michelin’s new drive tire, the XDA5, has been engineered to increase service life by 30 percent or more guaranteed. In addition, the XZE2 all-position tire is designed to provide longer tread life than its predecessor, the XZE.

From Beverage World July 15, 2008