Wide Based Tires

I bought my rig in June with duels on it. Swapped them out for super singles in August.

I think the 1200 lb reduction is a stretch. Maybe several hundred lbs. I've driven company trucks with supers on them for the previous 5 years and never had any issues with traction, never had one flat either.

I like the ride better and my fuel economy increased by 5%.

 

I have 3 xdn2 with like 80% thread, and 3 other wheels with 20% thread, so total of 6 wheels, willing to switch for a set of decent duals.

 

Do you have hub piloted rums.? Consider an tire sensing inflation sensor system, so you will know when a tire is loosing air. Consider carrying a spare that is mounted on a steel wheel. That way if you have problems, you are not at the mercy of the road service for an expensive rim and tire. It takes away some of the weight savings.

 

500 lbs replacing 8 aluminum duals with 4 aluminum wide singles
700 lbs replacing 8 steel duals

so 1200 is reasonable if you have only aluminum outers or only aluminum drives.

If you choose the right tires. But at $2/gal, this would not pay for itself soon.

depends on tire choice

generally better unless on a road rutted from duals

depends on the tire you choose. The exception is if you drive fast (70+) the centers tend to wear

 

I am not an O/O, but the company I drive for uses them on their tractors. The one thing we have had with blowouts (which have rarely happened) is when a super single blows, it usually ruins the rim as well since there isn't a 2nd tire to support the weight until you get to the shoulder like with duals. They have decided to leave the tractors with singles, but switch the trailers to duals, which really makes it handle funny because our singles are on trucks spec'd for duals and the tires sit farther under the trailer then they're suppose to. Which makes them track funny in roads that have ruts from duals.

As far as traction, in rain ours suck. I have had to lock my diff's trying to leave a truck stop with a light load just to get over an overpass. If you get off road in a sandy lot, be very careful, I live in a rural area with dirt roads and have gotten stuck in my own driveway several times. In winter, even without chains, I haven't had any issues with traction(to my surprise).

As far as MPG, I can't say. I came from a previous company that ran the same truck with duals as I have now with singles...but they ran 62 mph where this company runs 68.

 

My previous employer switched to super singles on the trailer, and it saved 600 pounds. Therefore, switching tractor and trailer should save around 1200 pounds. However, I didn't like the way the trailer handled. Anytime the road was less than dry (rain, snow, ice) the trailer would dive for the ditch anytime the brakes were applied when I was empty. It wasn't as bad loaded, but it is still something to watch for. They don't cut into anything, they just float on top.

 

I have seen driver have to get 2 new tires and 2 new rims just from simply hitting a curb with a broken edge. I have limped into a tire shop on one tire. The inside cap came off and if you got it over 50 it would shake the hell out of the truck. Luckily I was empty at the time.

 

X-one is the name of the entire Michelin wide single line-up.

XDN2: full tread, open shoulder drive tire -- probably the same traction/life you're used to and not likely to improve fuel economy.

line energy D: closed shoulder, tight-packed, shallow tread drive tire. Best fuel economy, worse traction, worse life.

line energy T: shallow tread, fuel efficient trailer tire

XTE: Higher rolling resistance trailer tire that better stands up to scrubbing (better life on a spread axle)

XZU: On road all position

XZY: on/off road all position

They are actually about 4" narrower than 2 tires:

275 + 275 = 550mm whereas a wide single is typically 445 or 455mm. That's why some states & provinces limit their weight to ~8,750 lb instead of 10,000


The "problem" with wide singles is in deep rain, mud, snow, etc. Slop at the center of the tire has to go 9 inches to reach the outside of the tire. Slop in the center of a dual tire only has to go ~5 inches. This kind of creates a snowshoe effect.