Cheap Tires true cost

[TeamCaffee]

Rolling resistance seems to be the new buzz word for fuel mileage. Your tires can make a big difference to your bottom line, can be more up front but will cost less in the long run. Right now the tires with the least rolling resistance in the Michelin XZA2 Energy which can be used for steer tires and drive tires.

You can check most tires brands to see what the rolling resistance is of the different types.

You have to say you have a trailer but you still put in your average mile per gallon and average miles per year. This is a pretty interesting calculator for next time you are buyiing tires and you think you want to go with the cheapest you can get.

Michelin Americas Truck Tires Home Page
View all tires on the right side
Fuel Savings calculator on right side

This is an example at 9.5 mpg and 150,000 miles per year average fuel cost 4.50 gallon.
Proposed Tires
Steers: XZA2 Energy
Drives: XONE XDA
Trailer: XONE XDA

Calculated against:
Steers: R290 Bridgestone
Drives: M726 Bridgestone
Trailer: XONE XDA


By going with the first choice of tires your fuel savings will be $9929.05 for the year. More then pays for the more expensive tires.

 

[Broompilot]

What did the other tires deliver MPG vs the Michelin?

Thanks been meaning to look this up.

$9,000K plus in savings THATS BIG.

8.389 this week.

 

[ATeam]

You are right about rolling resistance being a factor in fuel economy.

Our truck came new with eight deep-lug tires on two drive axles. Deep lugs are good for traction in snow and mud but have a rolling resistance disadvantage. As the tires wore down and thread depth decreased, rolling resistance improved and a marginal difference in fuel economy was noticed.

Rolling resistance will be considered when we replace those tires. At their present wear rate, it appears we will easily get 300,000 miles or more out of them. If we go with new tires that have lugs but not deep lugs, rolling resistance will likely improve but tire life may be shortened. When current pricing information and stats specific to the tires beiing considered are available, the trade-offs can be considered.

We will look at rolling resistance when we next purchase tires, but will stick with lugs (not ribbed) on the rear. Having grown up in Wisconsin and Minnesota, we are hard-wired to think about snow and severe winter weather when buying tires.

Some may suggest running ribs on the rears and dealing with snow and ice by installing automatic tire chains. That creates another series of trade-offs to consider; cost of the chain system, added weight, and wind drag created by it; wieghed against the costs and advantages of ribbed tires on the drive axle(s).

Safety also comes into play as automatic tire chains have little ground clearance. Not long ago, we saw a truck lose a load because the driver disabled his truck by misjudging an obstacle and striking it with the tire chain system. One lost load and the expense of a road service call can quickly offset the financial advangages of ribbed drive tires supported by an automatic tire chain system.

Finally, there are scenarios in some western states where you may be required to chain up ribbed tires but would be free to proceed on lug tires without chains.

It's all about trade-offs. How many times are you willing to chain up if you otherwise would not have to, to gain the mpg benefits of rib tires on your drive axle(s)?

From the calculator you referenced, the $9,929.05 per year savings attributable to tire selection seems high to me. Even if you are talking about an 18-wheeler and swapping the worst rolling resistance tires for the best, $9,929.05 per year in fuel savings is hard to believe.

A big rig turning 150,000 miles a year at 7 mpg will burn 21,249 gallons of fuel a year. At $4.50 per gallon, fuel cost is is $95,621. It seems a stretch to say changing tire type on a big rig will reduce your fuel costs by over 10%. I wonder if that calculator may have some over-optimistic assumptions built into it?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

ATeam said..."A big rig turning 150,000 miles a year at 7 mpg will burn 21,249 gallons of fuel a year. At $4.50 per gallon, fuel cost is is $95,621. It seems a stretch to say changing tire type on a big rig will reduce your fuel costs by over 10%. I wonder if that calculator may have some over-optimistic assumptions built into it?"

A 150,000 miles at 6.5 mpg wil burn 23,076 gallons times $4.50=
$103,842...For a savings of $7,414.
And thats at .5 mpg....so the numbers aren't off a great deal.

No matter how ya cut the cheese TeamC with almost 1mpg over most everyone else is POCKETING 12-14,000 dollars more then anyone else....And thats success at it's best! They are willing to dare where some of you ole school plode along...

 

[piper1]

The calculator on Michelin's website is actually a bit cautious. I used it to simulate results between different Michelin brands and the real world tests proved it right every time. With fuel as high as it is the results from good tires pay more than ever!

 

[Broompilot]

OUCH!!!!!

So now I am a PLODDER as well. Thanks Ontario, boy oh boy guy just cannot catch a break.

Sooner rather than later (I hope) new Michelins and I can begin my savings regiment. (RETIREMENT) HEY its even got TIRE SPELLED in it go figure.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

OUCH!!!!!

So now I am a PLODDER as well. Thanks Ontario, boy oh boy guy just cannot catch a break.

Sooner rather than later (I hope) new Michelins and I can begin my savings regiment. (RETIREMENT) HEY its even got TIRE SPELLED in it go figure.

Hey, I didn't name names....but as they say if the shoe fits....

Plod can be good as haste makes waste...