School transportation operations have much to consider where the rubber hits the road. The industry is slowly defining how tires can can help a school bus fleet get farther in safety, fuel economy or operation costs.
By 2017, The Department of Transportation plans to finalize a Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Information Program that would create a rating system for replacement tires, targeting those that lack good rolling resistance. A set of standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks is expected by 2016.
The government’s thinking is, if 10 percent of the aftermarket vehicle tires were upgraded to low rolling resistant tires (LRRT), there could be an annual savings of more than $200 million from 72 million gallons of fuel and 690,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution.
For now there’s a pause in the federal government’s quest for final rules on tire fuel efficiency, tire labeling, and wet braking and treadwear testing. However, the EPA has set voluntary standards, through the SmartWay technology program, for tire manufacturers to satisfy environmental concerns. As a result, more LRRT are emerging for fleets.
“The changes are fueling demand in both original equipment and replacement tires. While commercial trucks strongly drive the market, school buses are contributing to rising numbers,” said Dan Zielinski, senior vice president of public affairs at the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
A projected 311 million tires will be shipped and bolted on commercial vehicles this year, representing a strong increase over the past five years. The bulk of that are replacement tires for light- and medium duty trucks, such as delivery vehicles and school buses at the tipping point of 10,000 GVW.
Innovation is shifting among tire manufacturers, as they get ahead of rigorous government standards to address higher efficiency in commercial fleets and consumer vehicles. Most are marketing new products with an emphasis on verification SmartWay.
Notably, tire manufacturers are coming out with a duo of new LRRT tires and monitoring applications. This year, there have been a few launches for commercial tire monitoring systems, which work in tandem with LRRT products to instantly warn drivers on air pressure loss and real time temperature. This information allows users to keep tires at optimal pressures, save on fuel use, extend tire life, reduce maintenance, lower emissions and improve safety.
Continental is taking aim at the medium-sized bus market through an expansion of its Conti Urban HA3 tires with regrooving for a lower rolling resistance. For about a year, it has offered fleets a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), mainly for commercial fleets.
“We are continuously striving to improve the system based on the feedback we receive from our key customers,” explained Terry Smouter, Continental’s business development manager for truck tires the Americas.
Michelin also launched a new nationwide fleet tire monitoring program, called Michelin Tire Care. With the combination of its new SmartWay-verified XZA3+ line, the technology could deliver better fuel savings, tread longevity and casing retreadability.
Michelin technicians download information (such as pressure, tread depth, valve caps, and irregular wear) from the app for customer reports to highlight immediate needs and project tire replacement. The monitoring system also helps with tire forecasting, budgeting and optimization by vehicle.
“Technical insight ensures customers are getting the best ROI from tire assets. We aim at improving a fleet’s performance and ultimately its bottom line,” said Vic Koelsch of Michelin Americas Truck Tires Division.
Manufacturers say that getting more LRRT on school buses is more challenging, since the tires were developed initially for long-distance driving. While measureable savings for commercial fleets have been proven, the application for buses may be less practical because they are on short routes, rather than on extended trips.
Through the summer, Goodyear has an high dollar incentive to move three standard tire models (G182, G622, and G661RSD) for school buses, while its focus for premium low rolling resistant tires and tire monitoring applications shines on commercial truck fleets.
Last October, Goodyear introduced its SmartWay verified Fuel Max LHD G505D, with promises to outdo fuel savings from comparable LRRT offered by Bridgestone, Continental and Michelin.
“We know that fuel is a long haul fleet’s number-one expense. The quickest way to reduce operating costs is to reduce your fuel consumption. That’s exactly what (we do),” said Brian Buckham, general manager, product marketing, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems.
Why Care About LRRT?
The characteristics of a LRRT are tread design and tread depth. The shallower the tread depth, the better the fuel efficiency. The less rubber, the lower the rolling resistance.
Tire rolling resistance has an impact on vehicle fuel consumption estimated to range from about 4% during urban driving to 7% during highway driving. The engine and driveline is estimated to consume 80% of the fuel, while the remainder is used to overcome inertia, wind resistance, converted into heat by the brakes or consumed when the vehicle is idling.
The automotive industry estimates a 10% reduction in tire rolling resistance will result in a one to two percent improvement in vehicle fuel economy. While that might not seem like a lot, it can reduce fuel consumption by a couple of tanks per year and make the purchase of lower rolling resistance tires a better value over their lifetime.
Read more on low rolling resistance tires and their applicability to school buses in the July edition of the magazine.
