O/O's: My experience with Double Coin Tires and fuel mileage

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by twolane, Dec 19, 2010.

  1. twolane

    twolane Medium Load Member

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    Admin, I'm not sure where to put this so please move it if needed.

    I want to share my experience with the Double Coin TR-100 trailer tires.

    A year ago I replaced 8 "caps" on a truck that I was just putting into service. I run the southwest and caps just won't do. I'd already spent ALOT of money on the truck & wanted new tires just to get through the summer months. I shopped around, did some research, and had 8 of the TR-100's installed on the drives. (These tires are rated at 6175#, have 5 steel plys in the tread & 1 in the sidewall. Same as a Premium Bridgestone steer tire)

    Here's where it gets interesting,,,my fuel mileage went UP about 3/4 of a mile. After 78000 miles they still looked good and had only worn down 4/32". (They start with 14/32" of tread.) I got stupid and replaced them with a set of deep-lug highway tires because winter is coming and I run the midwest too. This imediately dropped my MPG by 3/4 of a mile! After running these "lugs" for 29000 miles, I had them pulled off and another new set of the TR-100's installed. You guessed it,,, MPG is back UP from 6.28 average to 7.00. These averages are between oil changes at 15000 miles so it's a good "average".

    Here's where it REALLY get's interesting...

    I made the comment to my tire-guy that I was so impressed with the TR-100's on the drives that I wouldn't be afraid to run them on the steer axle. (Yea, he looked at me like I was nuts)

    Did some more research and get this. The TR-100 is an "all position" tire specifically designed for "trailer, tag, & steer axle" use! Any free-rolling position. Don't believe me? Go to the Double Coin website and check it out for yourself.

    It's about time for some new steer tires and I plan to try the TR-100's.
    At $212.00 ea. mounted, compared to about $500.00 ea. for a Bridgestone it's a slam-dunk.
    The biggest difference I can see is the lesser tread depth, and since steer tires never wear out the main part of the tread before they start cutting/cupping on the edges, that won't mean much.

    I'm NOT advising anyone to do what I do but I wanted to share what I've learned with those of you that buy the fuel & tires that are on the truck you drive.

    Comments are welcome!

    R.
     
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  3. Diogenes

    Diogenes Light Load Member

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    Interesting stuff, Twolane.

    I would not be surprised that the Double Coin tires improved mileage simply because the tread pattern is a lot less aggressive than lugs. I'd guess that a tire from any manufacturer with a similar pattern would yield similar results. The price is definitely right.

    Would I run them on my steer axle? Probably not and I've had good luck with relatively inexpensive Kelly's up front. I still think that there might be one old hard-nosed Commie with a anti-American grudge working at the Double Coin plant in China. :biggrin_2555:

    I'm a fanatic about checking tire pressure and will gauge them with a good (not WalMart) gauge several times per week. I've never had a problem with name brand caps but they are far more likely to blow from tread separation if underinflated. I know you already know that.

    BTW, I've always felt that 'Stones were overpriced and gave me no better service than Kelly's. I also wonder what a re-capable Double Coin casing will be worth when replacement time comes around.

    I'm glad your results were positive.
     
  4. G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

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    I have been running Double Coin for several years with good service. The 1 ply sidewall is not what I would prefer on a spread axle, but they have done very well on my drives. The price has gone up since I bought my first Double Coin tires, but I am pleased at how long they have lasted on my truck. I am also getting good wear from those that I have on the spread axle. There has been a little problem with the steers.
     
  5. twolane

    twolane Medium Load Member

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    Thanks for the replys guys!

    DIOGENESS~You are absolutely right when it comes to keeping the PSI where it belongs! Any tire will go-off quick if it's run low. One of the things I found out durring all this is that the BFG steers I've been running are only 4&1 plys! This surprised me. Wouldja check your Kellys and see what they are and advise? As far as what the casings are worth I don't know. I do know that "LOVES" gave me $60.00 ea. for the used caps that came off when I put the 1st. set of D/Coins on, and they only gave me $70.00 ea for the used "stones" that came off on 2 new BFGs.
    The biggest lesson learned is "rolling resistance"!!! What I didn't know is that all tires are rated for this and it matters. Any good tire shop oughta be able to compare one vs. the other and this is the key to mpg. My loads are 70/30 heavy/lite and my truck will get a speeding ticket in any state. (Though I don't drive it as fast as it will go,,,I do keep up with the traffic.) Also I can tell ya that these TR-100s do great on ice. The only drawback I can imagine is that with the shallower tread depth, they may be more prone to hydroplaning than a tire with deeper tread. Your thoughts?

    G/Man~The D/C steers don't seem to have such a great reputation when used on the front but IMO nothing lasts up front like it should anyway.
    If your trailer uses std. lo-pro 22.5s try the TR-100. If it's a stepdeck or "parkin' lot" my experience with both would tell me to never waste my $ on caps. JMO.

    Heck guys-n-gals, you can't buy a new recap for much, if any less than you can a new Double Coin! Your thoughts?
    R.
     
  6. Diogenes

    Diogenes Light Load Member

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    Twolane, lemme tell ya that I feel funny commenting because your about 10 years of experience ahead of me and I've owned exactly two trucks. Those Kellys were sold with my last truck, but I loved 'em. :biggrin_25525:

    I'm tickled to see driver thump tires. Was it at Walcott some years back where they set up a thumping demonstration? Drivers got to thump and guess inflation pressure of several different tires. Most missed improperly inflated tires by many pounds (30?) and that's a lot, but thumping will tell us if its flat or nearly so.

    When buying tires, I always go by load rating rather than number of plies. From manufacturer to manufacturer, the load ratings are comparable for similar type tires. I read somewhere ply ratings were left over from the old days when plies were cotton fabric and tires were bias ply. Today it is the size and strength of the ply (or plies) in the sidewall that matter. One thicker ply can equal two plies of less strength and I'm guessing that's the standard. Personally, I've experienced only one freak sidewall puncture/blowout and it would have happened no matter how many plies were in the casing.

    You are too right about the casing prices and they can vary. I always ask ahead of time because some places give less if they have plenty of casings in my size. I found a local recapper that did great work and took my tires to him for capping. Much cheaper than buying different caps elsewhere and I knew my own casings were good. Never had a problem and I knew where to find him but then I didn't know about Double Coins back then.

    You're also right about rolling resistance, tread depth and hydroplaning but I always used most of my tread before spending money. Yes, I kept tread depth in mind on wet surfaces.

    As you point out, the DCs give a person a brand new tire for about the same as some ask for caps. I like the way you think.
     
  7. king Q

    king Q Road Train Member

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    We use mainly used Michelin , Bridgestone , Firestone,Dunlop,Kelly and Goodyear in the past.
    We have used Double Coin (11r22,5) on our straight trucks with very good results but they aren't readily available.
    We use(Chinese) Fullrun 12r22,5 drives and have not had a casing failure with outstanding results.
    I will look in to th DC again.
     
  8. twolane

    twolane Medium Load Member

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    DIOGENES~ I like the way you think as well. Thanks for the comments! I ran "caps" for years with little trouble but here in Arizona the summer road temps are outrageous. Sometimes as high as 180 deg. Caps scare me when it's this hot and I don't need any tire problems.
    King Q~ The DCs are available at "loves" truckstops, as well as many other outlets! They typically won't tell you about them unless you ask because they don't make as much on them as other brands.

    PLEASE understand that I'm NOT trying to sell anyone on the double coin tire! My big deal was the fuel mileage increase, tire longevity, and price. Just wanted to pass on what results I've had.

    R.
     
  9. G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

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    I do have a step that I tried caps. I put two on and they didn't last 1,000 miles. I have tried caps on another trailer that has LP 24.5's and they do all right as long as you don't keep it on 75 all the time. I recently put 8 caps on the drives of another truck. They are LP 22.5, but haven't had them on long enough to see how well they do. I did blow one, but I think it had a problem when it was put on the truck. I wanted to put Double Coin on but by tire guy didn't have any in stock. I got the caps for $142.00 each. That is about half of what I can get new Double Coins. I believe this is the first time that I have ever run caps on a truck. A friend of mine tried caps and now that is all he runs. We will see how they do over the next few months. Caps usually do fairly well as long as you keep an eye on the air pressure.
     
  10. king Q

    king Q Road Train Member

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    Hey I liked them but not enough to travel 9000miles across the ocean to another continent.:biggrin_2559:
     
  11. DL550CAT

    DL550CAT Road Train Member

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    The problem I have with Chinese tires (and most Chinese stuff) is that they do little to no research they steal a good design and copy it. They use cheap sometimes forced labor. I wont support them even if the tires were a tenth of the price!!
     
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