mercer transportation

My rpm numbers came from doing simple math.

For rolling resistance comparison i use the test chart on Michelins website. I'm leery of a manufacturers claim, but if a company post numbers that shows a major competitor is actually better... its a lot easier to believe them. I've ran the m710s before and i liked them. A lot. I've owned at least one truck continually since 1995 and never found a good traction tire that wears as good, lasts as long, and had good rolling resistance as a nice bonus. So when i do the drives that's what I'm going with. On the steers I'm going to be getting the Bridgestone 283A's unless something about them that i see in person strikes me wrong. In which case i will get the 280s. I have never ran either so check back in a year and ill let ya know how i like them compared to the Michelins xza3s. All that being said if i pulled a van or reefer where i wasn't going into muddy job sites is run continental hsr2s on the drives. Its an all position tire designed for spread axle trailers. A brain stoppage resulted in me putting 2 on my trailer and almost 3 years later they are still at 75% and wearing great. I swear the things are made out of pig iron instead of rubber.

As far as the scan gauge, i wouldn't see the benefit on a newer truck. Doesn't your electronic dash display all that info on its own? Those of us with old trucks can get quite a bit of info from it, cause we are relying on analog gauges that are not easy to get an accurate reading from. And the instant fuel consumption read out can help us point down that perfect spit to be running at in ever changing conditions. One hour its better fuel economy to run the engine at 1400 and mosey along in no hurry, the next hour one of several factors will have changed and 1450 might be the better spot to run the engine. Very minor changes can make a huge difference in fuel use. I learned that over the years with my columbia, and on this classic I'm learning everything is magnified due to it having all the aerodynamics of a brick.

 

Being able to find A tire won't be a problem. Being able to find THE tire i want would be a pain in the ###. I like low rolling resistance tires. The science is sound. The problem is, low rolling resistance in the bigger tire sizes do not have a very high demand, so no one stocks more than 1 or 2. Case in point: I cut the inner sidewall bad on my Columbia at a job site, it wasn't punctured but a huge gouge into the belting. Mud place rebar laying around makes good passing freight go to cheap freight. I had already grooved that axle so i wanted to get 4. Low pro 24.5s. An hour of phone calls later i had 4 tires being held for me. At 3 different tire shops. Not only did it suck going to 3 different places but having to deal with our national account people in impact 3 different times was a freaking nightmare. They couldn't understand why i didn't just get 4 tires of any brand at one shop. Couldnt grasp the concept that a truck owner wants a particular tire and wants them to match. Thought i was trying to pull some con on them. As a man that values honesty and integrity above all else, I'm sure you cam imagine how well i took that.

In your case, if you run a specific tire i would suggest you find a tire shop that will order tires ahead of when you plan on changing them. It might take a month to get them do plan ahead. If you are ok with running any tire, then don't worry about it.

 

Or just take the $75 a tire TA gives for a good casing & go fishing. My time is worth more than that. Lol

 

I've nevet had a TA offer more than 50 bucks. By grooving i get another 50k miles (minimum) on the tire. That's what? 20% of the tire life. As far as time it takes under 2 hours to do 4. And I'll do it while laid over for a weekend that i was just twiddling my thumbs. Or on one of the 180 mornings at home with my kids. Its good for kids to learn how to do things. I how to good my daughter downy decide to get into trucking so never needs to know how to regroove a tire, but learning to stretch your cash flow and learning that she is capable of doing things for herself will serve her well no matter what she does for a living. Anytime i work on the truck, boat, bobcat, tractor, ford, etc she is right there with me getting greasy. That 10 year old knows more about a truck and internal combustion engine than most truck drivers.

 

I groved my trailer tires loves didn't noticed and gave me $120 on 2 tires that wasn't messed up lol

 

Anyone else notice jj Keller draining the phone battery fast?

 

I bought a van alstine groover, 350 bucks of eBay , I heats instantly , you can groove 4 tires in 30 minutes, I keep it in the truck , it will cost you a meal,lol

 

There ya go

 

I have ran 283a steers , 16 ply for several years , they do well for me

 

So, how long was your flatbed instruction, I remember seeing something a while back that they were doing a more in depth instruction or something....