tires - Big singles vs standard duals

That's where most of my hubby's flats happen . . . the trucking world is heaven for Murphy's Law . . . anything that can go wrong will go wrong and at the worst possible moment . . . the flats sure don't happen at the home yard!

 

Standard duals anyday

 

I suggest doing a search... this topic has been covered intensively the past few months in several different threads... I highly doubt things have changed in a couple of months

 

Is there anyone who run the singles and like them?

 

I've used Michelin wide base tires on my drives for all but about 2 months out of the past six years (the two months being in a temporary company truck). The current set on my 2007 Volvo 780 have spent the last 300,000 miles on the road and one pair still has 16/32" tread left (new they have 24/32") the others about 9/32". The ride quality is great, the weight savings impressive (400 lbs lighter than 8 duals with steel rims, 300 lbs if they are aluminum) and above all they save me money on my fuel bill. They are, as far as I'm aware, the only tires you can run that more than pay for themselves with fuel savings during their expected lifetimes. Anyone who has pulled trailers with singles and duals can attest to the fact that wide base tires pull so much easier, I liken it to a 5-8,000 pound lighter load on flat ground. The only real complaint about them that got any traction with me was that years ago it was difficult to get one if you lost a tire over the road. Now they are so common this really isn't an issue. Good luck, Jim

 

i had them on my rig. Worst tire imagined. Traction? forget about that word, as they slip on their own shadow.

 

There are pros and cons to both configurations. Many of the "issues" people raise about singles are not true or not really big deals.

Look at these videos and decide. Granted they are from Michelin, but several points are answered and the claims of ruined wheels, etc. are not common........http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/toolbox/videos-demos.jsp#xonetires

 

No offense, but I'd rather hear about real world, work world experience from those who have been out there using them, rather than hear the talking points from a manufacturer about controlled environment testing. That would be like believing what the trucking company recruiter told you would happen, or expecting the EPA fuel or gas mileage when you know that came about in controlled environment situations too.

 

As I posted, these are a "little grain of salt" as they are produced by Michelin. However the old saw about "blow a SS and you'll be upside down in the ditch" is pretty well disproved by these and real world results. We have a small fleet (20 units) customer that has done three years worth of SS vs. duals and he looked at total costs; fuel econ, tire costs and even tows and such. His decision? SS for all his new trucks and he has converted many others in his fleet.

 

Only problem i've seen on Super Singals is tire wear. As far as flats, i would'nt worry that much about them. Just have the truck/trailer set straight and check tire presure, you should be fine.