Continental tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) provide operational benefits to your fleet, such as reduced downtime and cost savings.
Actual outcomes may differ. Proper tire inflation, defined as less than 10 psi low, reduces fuel economy by about 1%, increases total tire-related costs by about $600 to $800 annually per tractor-trailer combination, and changes the tire contact patch, which affects stopping and acceleration, traction, and vehicle handling, according to the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) S.2 Tire & Wheel Study Group.
One of the most common reasons for early tire replacement is irregular wear, and underinflation is frequently a contributing factor.
“A tire that is underinflated by as little as 2% might demonstrate irregular wear and other tire issues,” warns Marco Rabe, the Americas region's head of truck tire technology. “Another common cause of uneven wear is mismatched air pressure between twin tires.”
Every month, your tires might lose up to 2% of their air pressure. Nail holes and other tire damage from demanding activities such as waste hauling or construction can increase the amount of pressure loss, as can worn valve stems and temperature variations. The usable life of a tire can be greatly extended with proper tire pressure.
One of the most common reasons for early tire replacement is irregular wear, and underinflation is frequently a contributing factor.
Tires that are properly inflated last longer. According to the Tire & Maintenance Council (TMC), a tire with adequate air pressure gives the following benefits when compared to one with a continual 10% underinflation:
By using a TPMS to monitor tire pressure, you may extend the life of your tires.
How much do you spend on gas each month? What would a 1% reduction in costs mean to your business?
According to the Technology and Maintenance Council, proper tire inflation improves fuel economy by 1% compared to a tire that is 10% underinflated (TMC).
Because every vehicle has a gas mileage, fuel economy improvements can benefit all uses. However, in long-distance and regional applications, adopting fuel-efficient tires with the right air pressure can save a lot of money. This is due to the fact that the vehicles often travel longer distances and at faster speeds. Heat is generated at higher speeds, which increases fuel consumption.
Continental's regional tires achieved a fuel economy of 7.26 mpg in recent fuel efficiency testing, a 6.3 percent improvement above Michelin. By switching, a fleet may save up to $12,800 per truck year, based on the national average of 5.91 mpg and the three-year average gasoline price of $3.89.
You can save the greatest money on fuel by pairing fuel-efficient tires with optimum tire pressure. Fuel is the most expensive budget line item for many fleets.
Reduce the amount of time spent manually checking tire pressures and addressing tire problems caused by underinflation. With a manual gauge, checking the tire pressure on just one 18-wheeler can take up to 20 minutes, and it's usually wrong!
In order to retain their accuracy, manual pressure gauges must be calibrated on a regular basis. It's tough to inspect the inside dual tire, especially if the valve stem isn't correctly aligned with the outside dual wheel to provide access. When a tire is thumped to check its air pressure, it only detects when it is fully flat, not the 10 to 20% underinflation that begins to affect tire performance.
The tire pressure and temperature are already being checked with digital tire monitoring. Drivers can perform a quick visual inspection to check for tire wear issues before leaving the fleet yard, which takes less than half the time.
According to statistics compiled by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, tires are responsible for more than half of all roadside breakdowns. With an average cost of $800 per occurrence, each breakdown has a direct impact on your bottom line.
It also takes up time. According to the Technology and Maintenance Council, the average road servicing downtime is 2.5 hours (TMC). This translates to lost productivity, potential driver safety problems, late delivery, and other unpleasant consequences.
Proper tire care techniques, particularly inflation pressure, could avert many tire-related roadside breakdowns.
Continental's digital tire monitoring solutions enable your fleet to check tire pressure before cars leave the fleet yard, potentially reducing the number of flat tire calls on the road.
Slow Leak Detection is another function of ContiConnect, an algorithm that can identify a slow leak in a tire over several days, generally before it is discovered by fleet staff. Tires that are repaired as soon as a puncture or other slow leak is discovered can be put back into service while also protecting the tire from retreading.
Assist in the protection of your drivers and other road users.
According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) annual International Roadcheck, tires and wheels are the second biggest source of vehicle-related out-of-service penalties at roadside inspections.
The contact patch of the tire is also altered by incorrect inflation pressure. This has an impact on stopping and acceleration traction, as well as vehicle handling, and thus on vehicle safety. According to the Technology & Maintenance Council, properly maintained and functioning tires assist drivers in preventing and minimising collision situations (TMC).
Tires are also protected by maintaining proper tire pressure. “If you have $5,000 worth of rubber on the road, wouldn't you want to safeguard it?” one ContiConnect customer asked. If for no other reason, do it for your own safety.”