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MENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY »
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Low Rolling Resistance Tires
A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies
ENERGY &
FUEL SAVINGS
Gallons Saved:
500 gallons
CO2 Savings:
5.08 metric tons
Reduction in Fuel
Consumption:
3%
MPG:
6.19 mpg
Fuel Cost Savings:
$1,900
Specifying single wide or low rolling resistance dual tires on a new combination
truck could save $i,9OO in fuel costs, and cut almost 5 metric tons of greenhouse
gas emissions per year. Fuel savings of 3% or higher begin immediately.
What is the challenge?
Tire rolling resistance accounts for nearly 1 3% of combination truck energy use. Most combination
trucks have non low rolling resistance dual tire assemblies on the drive and trailer axles, with two
sets of wheels and tires at each end of an axle. This configuration increases rolling resistance
compared to single wide tires or low rolling resistance dual tires and wheels.
What is the solution?
A variety of tire options can improve truck fuel efficiency. One promising strategy is to use low
rolling resistance tires either single wide or energy efficient dual tires. A single wide tire and wheel
is lighter than two standard tires and wheels. Total weight savings for a typical combination truck
using single wide-base tires on its drive and trailer axles ranges from 800 to 1,000 pounds.
The weight savings would reduce fuel consumption, or increase cargo capacity for trucks that
are weight-limited. Single wide tires have lower rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag, and
generate slightly less pass-by noise than do, dual tires. Another benefit to using single wide-base
tires is fewer tires need to be replaced. There are three types of wheels steel, low weight steel,
and aluminum, with decreasing weigh respectively. The less weight the rim holds the better fuel
economy the truck will get.
Single wide tires may offer other benefits in combination truck stability. Single wide tires can
improve the stability of tank trailers by allowing the tank to be mounted lower.
Materials used to reduce tire rolling resistance could decrease tire tread life slightly. However, in a
test of 1 5 fleets driving 57 million miles using its latest wide-base tire models, one manufacturer
reported that the tires wear at a rate comparable to conventional tires.
Savings and Benefits
Recent tests of low rolling resistance tires indicate a potential fuel economy improvement of
2 to 5 percent compared to conventional dual tires. By using low rolling resistance tires, a
combination long-haul truck could save over 500 gallons of fuel per year and cut emissions of
carbon dioxide (the most common greenhouse gas) by more than 5 metric tons annually.
Most importantly, these environmental benefits can often be achieved while cutting costs.
Continued
U.S. EPA SmartWay | EPA-420-F-16-024 | June 2016 | www.epa.gov/smartway
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SmartWay
MENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY »
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Low Rolling Resistance Tires
A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies continued
NEXT STEPS
1 Fleet owners
should consider
purchasing tractors
and trailers with
single wide and
energy efficient dual
tires on their next
new truck purchases.
2Truck Fleets with
non-tandem axle
combination trucks
should check "inch-
width" laws in their
states because wide-
base tires may not
comply. The new gen-
eration of wide-base
tires has a section
width of up to 17.5
inches, so these tires
comply with pave-
ment weight laws in
all 50 states, for a
typical tandem axle
combination truck.
3Single wide tire
and wheel as-
semblies as a new
fitment are less
expensive than dual
tire assemblies and
provide immediate
fuel economy savings.
For more informa-
tion, talk to your tire
and truck dealers or
contact the American
Trucking Associa-
tions' Technology and
Maintenance Council
(www.trucking.org).
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