Bridgestone Medium and Light Truck Tire Data Book - Sullivan Tire ...

Effective January 2010
Inflation pressure effects
Inflation pressure effects are relatively small, but
you can expect about a 2 percent improvement in
fuel efficiency over a range of 20 PSI below to 20 PSI
above recommended pressure.
Inflation Pressure Effect on Fuel Economy
Percent
Improvement
+2
+1
0
-1
-2
80 90 100 110 120
Pressure (PSI)
Regardless of the type of tires you use, maintaining
correct inflation pressure for the load will optimize
tire performance, tire life, and fuel economy.
Position contribution to fuel economy
In general, the contribution of the tires on any given
axle to overall vehicle fuel efficiency is roughly
determined by the amount of load on that axle.
In general, trailer tires make the largest contribution.
If you are evaluating tires, you should probably try
fuel-efficient trailer tires first. If that doesn’t work,
changing drive and steer tires probably won’t either.
Axle Weight Distribution & Position
Contribution to Fuel Economy
80,000 lb. single trailer
34,000 lb.
42%
43%
51,000 lb.
63%
64%
34,000 lb.
42%
39%
12,000 lb.
16%
18%
18,000 lb.
23%
20%
WEIGHT
weight percentage
fuel consumption
11,000 lb.
14%
16%
General Technical Information
What effect can fuel-efficient tires have
Generally you will only see about half of the scientific
test results in the real world. Much of this is because
of interference by other factors outside the controlled
variables of testing.
So, any fuel economy method that does not
produce at least a 2-percent improvement in
controlled testing will probably not produce a
measurable real-world effect.
Taking action
BBTS recommends you conduct your own tests to
determine whether your investment will achieve a
satisfactory return.
Comparing fuel receipts with odometer readings is
something you can do yourself, on an ongoing basis,
to see if your fuel economy program is working.
Here are some steps to take:
Recommendations
1
Test
2
Limit
3
Consider
4
Try
5
Examine
6
Call
things yourself: If you can’t convince
yourself and your accountant, what you’re saving
may be too small to stand out from the “noise.”
your investment: Try trailer tires first, or
better still, try fuel-efficient trailer retreads first.
all the variables: Fuel-efficient duals
may save just as much fuel as wide base tires,
without forcing you to buy new wheels. If you
can’t benefit from the weight savings, why spend
the money
other methods: Driver behavior has a
big effect on fuel economy. Driver training or
incentives may be a better investment than new
equipment.
your priorities: Make sure everyone is
on board. If one department is trying to save fuel
and another is trying to cut tire costs, they may
be working against each other.
for help: Your tire supplier can help you with
advice and in conducting tests. Call BBTS for
assistance at 1-800-847-3272.
Try TLCC
Remember, only BBTS has the Tire Life Cycle Cost
(TLCC) program, to help you make informed tire
choices. Your BBTS representative will help you
analyze your current tires (even if they are from
BBTS competitors), and recommend tires that will
produce the lowest overall tire and fuel cost over
their useful life.
Medium Truck Light Truck General Technical Load/Inflation Technical Bulletins
87