Semi Trailer Tire

Inflation Matters: The Impact Of Pressure On Semi Trailer Tire Performance

Whether you have a fleet or you are an owner-operator, cost reduction and increased up-time are your key concerns. Tires not only cost big but they also have a major impact on your fleet’s performance and your operation’s cost-efficiency. If you can maintain proper tire pressure, it can not only extend tire life, it can also reduce maintenance needs and costs. Additionally, it can also contribute to increased fuel efficiency.

Tire pressure is a crucial topic for any fleet or owner-operator. So, it is important to understand how semi trailer tires under-inflation and over-inflation can affect things in your business.

Impact of Improper Tire Pressure

There are different ways your operations can get affected by improper tractor trailer tires pressure. These include:

Increased Downtime

Almost 50% of all road calls are related to tire-based problems. The average cost of a tire-related road call can be as high as $900. That is the cost associated with just a single new dual trailer tire. Overall expenses can increase further based on:

  • Distance from the service provider
  • Reduction in driver service availability
  • Penalties due to late freight delivery
  • Reduced client confidence

Reduced Fuel Efficiency

A drop of 10 PSI tire pressure can reduce your semi-truck’s fuel economy by 2%. So, not keeping your tires inflated to the right level can increase your fuel expenses. Many times, truck owners learn about improper tire pressures when they notice a increase in fuel use.

It is important to know that 30% to 40% of the fuel needed to move a truck down the highway gets spent on countering tire rolling resistance. If the tires are under-inflated, there will be a dramatic increase in the drag generated by tires. The increase in drag increases friction and produces heat, leading to increased fuel consumption.

Increased Safety Risks

Both underinflation and overinflation can increase safety risks. 

  • Underinflation can increase internal tire temperatures, causing faster rubber degradation.
  • Overinflation can cause irregular tire wear and cause excessive outward force on the walls.

Both these situations can increase the risk of tire failures. With an ever-present chance of tire blowout, things can be dangerous for the driver as well as everyone else on the road.

When dual tire pairs are not inflated equally, more load can get transferred to one of the tires. This can cause alignment shifts, imbalances, and irregular wear, again increasing the risk of blowouts.

When the tires are not inflated to match the pressures, you can notice instability or wobbling at certain speeds. This can affect your control over the vehicle and create stress on the axle.

Improper semi trailer tires inflation can also get you fined if caught during a roadside inspection.

Underinflation

Underinflation should be a big concern for fleets and owner-operators. It can cause sidewall deflection and generate excessive heat. As mentioned above, it can also weaken the internal tire structure. Once the carcass or the internal tire structure gets damaged, the tire cannot be restored with retreading.

Overinflation

Studies show that 16% of all tractor trailer tires are overinflated by at least 5 PSI. Around 5% of them are overinflated by over 10 PSI.

Over-inflation is not always caused by drivers adding excessive air. They are also caused due to increased tire operating temperatures and ambient air temperature. Tire pressure can increase by up to 15% due to an increase in temperature.

What is the Right Pressure for Semi Trailer Tires?

When it comes to semi trailer tires pressure, things can seem as simple as following the cold PSI recommendation printed on the tire wall. Still, things are more complex than that. The right tire pressure for your semi-truck trailer will depend on the following factors:

  • Tire size
  • Drive or steer tires
  • Tire brand
  • The truck load
  • The tire’s makeup
  • Weather and temperature conditions

Most tractor trailer tires have a pressure range of 85 and 110 PSI. Drivers usually inflate their tires to 95 PSI. It is recommended to calculate the right PSI based on the actual weight of your semi when fully loaded. Higher tire pressure will be required for heavier loads. This is because the tires will face greater downward pressure, causing them to bulge on the wall.

So, it is recommended to keep the above-mentioned points in mind if you want to get the most out of your semi trailer tires. For more information, it is recommended to contact the experts at TMS TruckMasters at (514) 631-0963.