How much efficiency can you gain from SmartWay tires? | FE Unscripted

Fuel efficiency is a tricky thing to talk about in trucking. One on hand, there are products that can help you burn less fuel and improve your bottom line. On the other, once you've purchased those products, you have to run them efficiently. Take SmartWay verified tires, for example. The EPA notes that low rolling resistance (LRR) tires and retread technologies can reduce both costs and emissions for long-haul Class 8 tractor-trailers by 3% or more.

A quick refresher on rolling resistance: Rolling resistance refers to the friction that tires encounter while moving over surfaces like concrete or asphalt. Lowering this resistance allows tires to roll more smoothly, thus improving fuel efficiency. To achieve SmartWay verification, tire manufacturers must undergo rigorous independent testing. This process involves a series of laboratory tests to ensure that the tires meet the stringent criteria set by the EPA. Once a tire passes these tests, it receives the SmartWay certification, signaling to fleets that the tire is optimized for fuel efficiency.

Here's the catch:

"If a tire's air pressure is down 5 PSI, for example, that will negate any type of fuel efficiency value that would be gained by the construction of the product and things of that nature," said Tim Abel, Truck Stop and Original Equipment Sales Manager for Double Coin Tires.