NEW GENERATION WIDE-BASE SINGLE (NGWBS) TIRES WERE DESIGNED TO REPLACE A SET OF DUAL TIRES AT THE TRACTOR DRIVE AND/OR TRAILER POSITIONS.
Why a Tire Pressure Monitoring
System should be used on Vehicles
Equipped with NGWBS?
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There have been many tests conducted to prove that NGWBS do not pose a handling concern in the event of a rapid air loss. Most tire issues today are the result of under inflation.
Tire manufacturers recommend fleet and owner operators who equipped with NGWBS to install tire pressure monitoring systems on their trucks.
Tire pressure monitoring systems can help drivers’ awareness of the air level in their truck tires. This may prevent premature air loss and reduce the number of flat tires.
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BENEFITS OF NGWBS
- With a single wide-base tire replace a dual tire assembly, the overall footprint reduced and thus rolling resistance is reduced. Less rolling resistance translate to better fuel economy.
- With a single wide-base tire replace a dual tire assembly, there are half as many sidewalls flexing and generating heat during each tire revolution. Since heat generated from tire flexing also come from fuel consumption, less heat means less fuel consumed.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducted a two year test in 2007 and 2008 on a fleet of long-haul Class-8 trucks engaged in normal freight operations. The test shows that, the largest gains in fuel efficiency were achieved by the use of wide-based single tires (9.7% improvement when compared against standard dual tires).
- Reduction of tire numbers also brings tire weight reduction. Combined with the use of aluminum rims, future weight reduction is achieved. Approximately 800 lbs less on a five axle combination. Weight savings can increase payload capacity.
- With a single wide-base tire replace a dual tire assembly, vehicle ride and handling is improved.
- When NGWBS are mounted on wheels with the 2” outset, thus moving the center of support out on each side of the vehicle, track width is increased and vehicle stability is improved.
