Aluminum rims vs. steel

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by slow.rider, Apr 1, 2021.

  1. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    I wouldn’t run singles without an inflation system. Also keep in mind that people used to equate mpg’s with the singles because there was a time that their rolling resistance was considerably lower than duals, however now you can find duals with the same or lower rolling resistance.
     
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  3. ibcalm19

    ibcalm19 Road Train Member

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    That why I would never run super singles because you become dead on the side if it blows & don't let it damage the rim. My friend had that happen. Two are better than one when you need a helping wheel :D:D
     
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  4. slow.rider

    slow.rider Road Train Member

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    True, but I lost a super on a company trailer once, and the road call tech didn't even have to pull the rim off the truck to get the new tire on.
     
  5. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Ive worked at several places over the years that had pure super singles, and others with duals. IMHO supers are a gimmic that just aren't worth it for single trucks. For a fleet sure. For 1 truck no.

    At best your going to break even as just one or two road calls are going to wipe out any savings they may give. And if you end up running over something and one blows you are likely out a rim too. Not to mention how much damage they cause. Had one case a few years back where a pickup cut me off and dumped a toolbox into the road i couldn't avoid. Blew both back tires on the trailer and buckled a sizeable chunk of the bottom as well as both drums and even bent the dot bar. Also ruined both rims and nearly flipped the trailer. Sure duals may not have done better but i think considering the dents in the rim where the box went into them i would have just lost both outer tires.

    Also i find that in some truck combos they ride far far far worse then duals. One company i worked with used all T680s save our few NGV trucks and when they switched to supers the trucks turned into organ grinders they rode so rough. The weeny NG trucks rode better though so take that for what you will. They also didnt wear very well on colorado roads and we had to swap them literally twice as often as the dual trucks. Rough roads and winter conditions would just shred them. Me and my team driver got at best a year out of a set driving 350kish miles a year. And we were one of the better teams. Some got less then 100k per tire.

    Also chaining super singles is a stone cold ##### compared to even triple railers. I hated doing it with a burning passion and my hate for singles is right up there next to bendex nags and driver cams. IMO your better off sticking to duals. But i am HEAVILY biased after nothing BUT bad experinces with singles over 5 years. So take my opinion with an entire truckload of salt
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2021
    Reason for edit: derp out dual instead of single
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  6. Don379

    Don379 Heavy Load Member

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    Intersting topic. Thought i would chime in. I blew tire on my tandems with weight at 73280 last week. I drove 10 more miles to dump off with my blown tire. Then i headed back empty 15 miles to my house to fix and repair. Try that with your silly super singles. Hmm dead on side of road roadside repair equals big money vs being able to keep the wheels turning to at least get to tire shop under own power. to each there own
     
  7. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    Unless you can stop in the first 30 ft after a stuper blows it’s air you will be replacing the wheel also. And waiting while the rest of the world flies by at 90 mph.

    Last summer I was on way home at 6:30 pm and passed a truck that lost two stupers on the right side of trailer. This is on a two lane Texas Farm Market highway only 20 minutes from 3 major tire dealers and all the truckstop chains. Gouges in the asphalt for 100 yards from lane to shoulder. Wheels were toast. Next morning 6:15 am passed the truck still sitting there waiting for replacements. That day was Friday so I get off at 1:00 and go home. Passed the truck with another truck backed up to it and a crew of half a dozen guys swapping load from one trailer to another.

    Guess that was worth the “new” tire technology.
     
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  8. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Wide singles aren’t as forgiving to the “jump in and drive” crowd as duals are, that’s for sure. But if you’re someone who watches them like a hawk and runs a TPMS your chances of a catastrophic event aren’t that much greater than running duals. Heat kills them same as it does a regular tire.
     
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  9. JonJon78

    JonJon78 Road Train Member

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    I've always wondered, if super singles are so great how come none of the Bridgestone trucks run them?
     
  10. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Leased equipment possibly?
     
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  11. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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