Super singles good or bad?

Pros:

750 lb savings over aluminum duals, 1200 lb savings over steel duals -- that comes in handy when trying to scale a heavy load with a modern truck that is lugging around 2000 lb worth of emissions equipment.

Wide singles ride better because they lower the unsprung weight thereby increasing the sprung/unsprung ratio

Rolling resistance: the best wide singles have slightly less rolling resistance than the best duals. (0.34% improvement in fuel economy -- $250/year)

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Cons:

A wide single costs ~50% more than a set of duals

Wide singles wear ~10% faster

Less availability



As for traction, the tire design & drive configuration matters more than wide singles vs duals. The lowest RR tires aren't going to have the best traction - single or dual.

 

Double the price is no longer true.

Michelin X Line Energy D Dual - $669.00 per tire x 8 = $5352
Michelin X One Energy SS - $1292.00 per tire x 4 = $5168

 

Steers: Kuhmo KLT02e: $270 ( "all-position" tire with 78 RR -- though at 13/32, it isn't indicated for drive)
Drives: Michelin XZA2 energy: $540 ("all position" tire with 88 RR)
Trailer: Kumho KLT02e: $270

Overall rolling resistance: 82.2
Overall cost: $7020


compared to the best SS setup:

Steers Kumho KLT02 78RR $270
Drives: Michelin Xone Line Energy D 89RR: $1225
Trailer: Michelin Xone XTA 75RR: $1175

Overall rolling resistance: 81.36
Overall cost: $10,140


Cost Increase: $3120 (44.4%) -- before factoring in wear

 

Had a truck with S.S. for about 6 months. Smooth riding but come Winter time, wished I had my Duals back many times...

 

I met a veteran driver, O/O, made the switch, said his MPG went up quite a bit. I drove SS tires for Conway, tag axle at that, and was neither impressed or disappointed. The differences are not big differences. I thought there was more sidewall flex with the SS tires, but then, who knows? I continue to run duals on my own truck, and think there's less chance of hydroplaning and better tranction on ice and/or snow.

 

I've had singles for 8 months, I have never had a problem with hydro planing or snow. If I cant get traction in snow then its time to park it. I been over the hills in idaho washington and montana, no problems. Even had to chain a few times. In texas in a ice storm I could find traction while a fed ex double could not. My tires are down to 6/32 and I am replacing them with new ones. By the way you are not limited to michelins. New yokahoma ty517,s are $850 a piece. I might even replace the duels on my flat with singles. If you cant tell I like them very much.

 

And, at 112 rolling resistance, they decrease your fuel economy by ~4% compared to the Michelins (just switching to those drives raises overall RR from 81.36 to 91.02). So that $1320 in tire savings would raise your $70,000/year fuel budget to $72,770.

 

The biggest problem is the fact that when a SS blows , you stop. Call a tire shop , and hope they have them in stock. Not too many of the "smaller " shop stock them because of the cost. With duals you can reduce speed and continue on , at least for a little while.

 

Our company mounts spare 295/75R22.5 tires on steel rims on our trucks with single drive tires.

Our trailers still use duals so it will work on the trailer ($18 to "rotate" the tire at most shops vs $30 for mounting an unmounted spare onto the rim) Additionally if a situation comes up where we can't source a wide base single tire, we can mount the spare on the tractor and "limp" to another shop or home if we are close enough.

 

Been runnin a TEN wheeler now about a year--and jury is still out frankly--Tryin to keep an open mind......many of the concerns I had going in--have become a non issue--they ARE much tougher than I expected..BUT--the ONLY advantage I have seen is the weight...and in the LTL biz we are in--that does transfer to $$$--xtra stop or 2 on a load can be anywhere from $3-500 xtra a trip--adds up quick...also has cut down on the runnin w/quarter tanks of fuel...which is really nice in the very cold winter months.....
As for wx--on Wet Roads--I have been very impressed with the XDN--even in very heavy rain and lots of water--(and this is coming from a life long Michelein HATER--to the point where on 4 different occasions--I refused delivery of NEW trucks I bought--until the dealer--took the french JUNK off my new truck and put on the tires of my choice at THEIR expense(which I had already stated upon initial order)
I also haven't seen much difference in the snow--but again the XDN has a more aggressive pattern than some of the others I see people running.....
Availability like Pack said is a non-issue..carrying the same used spare I put under the wagon 200K ago..and If you convert to SS--if all else fails you can put a set of duals on that position in a pinch(BUT--not on a new trk/trl spec'd 4 singles w/the longer axles)
So to wrap up this long winded answer--the only advantage I have seen is weight..which is kind of nice...of course on a strictly personal note...if I had my druthers--I would NOT run them...(and this is strictly personal from a VERY old skool guy) because IMHO they just look ####### stupid especially on a long hood stretched out Pete w/a good looking chickenbox....LMAO