ON THE VEHICLE
Do Wide Base Tires Make
Sense For Your Fleet?
UNDER VEHICLE
26 Fleet Maintenance | October 2017
ike all truck tires, wide base tires are
designed to off er certain performance benefi
ts. But, not all fl eets want the benefi ts that
wide base tires off er.
Introduced in 2000, a wide base tire takes
the place of the standard dual tire confi guration
on a tractor or trailer.
Compared to dual tires, wide base tires
are larger in size and have a much wider
contact patch.
Typically, one wide base tire can carry
as much weight as two dual tires, but will
have a lower tire and rim weight, which
allows for increased payload and improved
fuel economy.
Wide base tires are easier to maintain
than dual tires because there is no inside
dual tire pressure to match or maintain,
and mismatched dual tires and height is
eliminated. With fewer tires to check air
pressure and tire condition, vehicle inspection
time is lessened.
A look at these L
tires’ performance
benefi ts and more
By David A. Kolman, Editor Page 30