Fleets have a lot riding on their choice of truck tires; faulty or unsuitable equipment can end up costing fleets more in the long run. That’s why journalist Jim Park, in an article for Fleet Maintenance’s July magazine, talked with industry experts on how to select the best tires for your fleet. Here are the highlights of his points and what fleet executives can take away from the conversation.

Why fleets should evaluate truck tires by total cost of ownership

According to Shaun Uys, head of replacement tires sales for Continental Tire Americas, deciding which tires to supply your fleet with based on purchase price isn’t sufficient. He claimed fleets using this model often end up paying more in the long run. Instead, Uys said to examine the total cost of ownership (TCO) when evaluating tire options. This includes fuel efficiency, mileage, casing durability, retreadability, maintenance needs, and uptime in addition to purchase price. 

Uys added that preventive maintenance is crucial, and fleets can’t claim poor TCO if preventive maintenance is neglected. 

How truck tire selection impacts fuel efficiency

Fleets can rely on controlled trials to help make the right tire choice. Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions (MVTS) provides testing and consulting to fleets on equipment and technology choices, including tires.

Daryl Bear, COO of MVTS, told Park that fleets often overlook fuel efficiency when choosing tires, but it’s one of, if not the most important, factors to consider.

“In testing, we have seen a difference in fuel economy of one to eight gallons per 1,000 miles traveled even with EPA SmartWay-approved low rolling resistance tires,” Bear said. “You can easily do the math, but as an example, a tire set traveling 250,000 miles saves 250 to 2,000 gallons of fuel, which adds up to $1,000 to $8,000 per tire set in fuel spend. A tire that costs less at purchase or has a longer tread life may result in an overall loss due to fuel spend. It’s important to factor fuel spend into the CPM of tires, which most fleets don’t do.”

Truck tire selection factors for fleet operations

Experts at Yokohama and Bridgestone Americas recommend the following steps after fleets have narrowed down their tire options based on fuel efficiency:

• Evaluate tire options against duty cycles and routes.
• Partner and consult with your local tire dealer.
• Invest in independent research.
• Stay on top of tire market trends.
• Test your options with as many controlled variables as possible.
• Ensure your testing is thorough, with enough miles and time spent.

Fleet executive insights on truck tire strategy and costs

Tire strategy is bigger than just tires; these decisions can affect fleet operations, including fuel spend and uptime. It’s important for fleet executives to align tire strategy with their fleet applications, routes, and overall objectives. Tire choices can’t be made off purchase price alone. TCO should be considered, especially fuel efficiency.

You can read the original article from Park and Fleet Maintenance, a FleetOwner affiliate publication, here.