Trucking Fleets Navigate Tire Costs and Performance
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As one of the top expenses for trucking companies of all types and sizes, tires go a long way toward determining a motor carrier’s profitability and success.
Selecting the best tire options for a specific fleet involves weighing trade-offs and evaluating multiple variables, from the purchase price and tread life to fuel efficiency, safety performance and retreadability.
“Tires are a strategic category within fleet management,” said Dan Bennett, vice president of equipment, maintenance and sustainability at less-than-truckload carrier Old Dominion Freight Line. “Determining your strategy for managing tires before you decide what tire you will buy is very important.”
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The commercial tire market features abundant choices from numerous tire suppliers at a variety of price points. The higher prices associated with premium tires generally reflect their durability and performance, a strong selling point for most fleets.
“Within classes of tires, there are budget, midrange and premium, and what you get out of them is performance — the differences mirror the cost difference in many cases,” said Joe Hughes, product category manager at Michelin.
The biggest differentiator between budget and premium, he said, is in the casing.
In over-the-road trucking, retreading is very common, Hughes noted. “Half of the trucks on road have retreaded tires,” he said, adding that can translate to big cost savings.
Checking tire pressure. Premium tires have better fuel efficiencies, durability and retreadability than budget tires. (Yokohama)
Tom Clauer, Yokohama Tire’s senior manager of commercial product planning, said budget tires typically lean on older technology and are sometimes downgraded when a replacement product is launched.
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“These products have been in the market for years, development costs have been recouped and production is economical,” he explained. “Many of them were more general in their application range, as where today’s premium tires are more specialized, providing optimal performance in a specific segment/operation.”
Retreadability for budget tires may decrease, as well as durability and mileage. Premium tire suppliers, however, adapt their products to newer equipment and shifting segment needs.
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“Fleets have more say in these products as they understand the need to match all equipment components to now include tires,” Clauer added. “These tires have better fuel efficiencies, durability, retreadability and higher casing value for those who don’t retread.”
ODFL’s Bennett noted that premium tires generally perform better, last longer, enable quicker braking and handle weather more effectively.
“You would likely see better wear and performance at higher speeds versus a budget tire over a longer period of time,” he said. “A premium tire is also typically constructed of higher quality material, allowing it to achieve the gains mentioned versus a budget tire.”
ODFL ranks No. 9 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
Jeremy St. Pierre, chief maintenance officer at trucking and logistics provider Halvor Lines, explained that premium tires deliver superior fuel efficiency, extended tread life and higher-quality casings that support a successful retread program.
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“On average, premium tires significantly exceed industry benchmarks for mileage and often only require replacement once per year,” he said. “In contrast, budget tires tend to deliver fewer miles per gallon and may need to be replaced two to three times annually, depending on the application. They also have a higher incidence of nonhazard roadside events, including blowouts.”
Tire Variables
Each trucking company has its own unique tire needs and operations.
Rob Ulias, senior vice president of commercial sales for North America at Sailun Tire, noted that while upfront price is still a factor, many fleet operators are looking beyond initial cost to consider how tire performance impacts fuel consumption, downtime and maintenance over time.
“Factors such as proper casing construction, which heavily influences rolling resistance and fuel economy, are becoming more recognized — often more so than just tread design alone,” he said.
Trucking companies are looking for the tires that deliver consistent performance, efficiency and value for their needs. (Halvor Lines)
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to buying tires in an industry as diverse as trucking, with hundreds of thousands of trucking companies transporting different types of freight across a vast range of business applications.
“Operators know how well a tire fits their specific routes, loads and driving conditions, and increasingly factor in driver behavior, vehicle setup and service support from the manufacturer,” Ulias said. “Ultimately, they’re looking for the best match — not necessarily the most expensive tire, but the one that delivers consistent performance, efficiency and value for their unique fleet needs.”
Fleet size also matters, as larger fleets often have dedicated maintenance teams, tire monitoring systems and access to national pricing programs, so they tend to focus on total cost of ownership and brand consistency, Ulias added.
Halvor Lines’ St. Pierre said his fleet runs midgrade tires on a small group of flatbed trailers due to the high incidence of tire damage in the environments they operate.
“The cost-benefit analysis in those conditions favors a more economical tire option, as premium tires may not yield their full value,” St. Pierre said.
Although numerous factors affect fuel consumption in a commercial trucking fleet, tires do play a significant role, Sailun Tire’s Ulias noted.
“While low-rolling-resistance tires are often promoted for improving fuel economy — and they do contribute — many overlook the fact that tire casing construction has a greater long-term impact on rolling resistance than tread design alone,” he explained, adding that although aggressive treads do increase resistance compared to shallower designs, it’s the internal structure of the casing — materials, belt package and sidewall design — that most strongly influences how efficiently a tire rolls over time.
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“Choosing the right casing can lead to meaningful fuel savings across the life of the tire,” Ulias said.
Laurence Cox, vice president of sustainability at flatbed and dedicated contract carrier PGT Trucking, noted that having strong supplier relationships can make a major difference.
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“Having a local dealer who can take care of you is a big benefit,” he said, adding that his company has had a relationship with its tire dealer since the company’s inception 44 years ago, and that longtime relationship helps cement trust.
The other calculation, Cox said, is the tire manufacturer’s national service network.
“Your big ones have a very robust national service network, which means if my truck breaks down, I can usually get them to come out to take care of my needs,” he said.
PGT Trucking is part of PGT Holdings, which ranks No. 73 on the for-hire TT100.
Evaluating Trade-Offs
The perfect scenario would be buying the best quality tire at the lowest price point, but, as the adage goes, you typically get what you pay for. Decision-makers should weigh the initial cost and compare it with the long-term value.
“In a perfect world, the quality tire is the way to go,” said Mike Palmer, vice president of fleet services at LTL carrier Estes Express Lines.
While tire price and quality should guide the initial purchasing decision, fleets can re-evaluate that choice based on whether they got their money out of the tires, he said.
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Palmer pointed out that there are many potential disruptions that could affect tire life.
“All tires are equal until you get a hole in them,” he said.
Estes ranks No. 8 on the for-hire TT100.
Most agree that high-quality tires deliver a higher return on investment, but the trade-offs come down to initial cost versus long-term performance, noted St. Pierre of Halvor Lines.
“While budget tires cost less upfront, they wear out faster and may increase downtime, fuel consumption and the frequency of roadside events,” he said. “Premium tires, although more expensive initially, reduce total cost of ownership through better performance, longevity and retreadability.”
ODFL’s Bennett contends that access to a very capable partner with high-quality retread capability is critical to a successful tire management program — and is a differentiator that the premium tire suppliers offer.
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“It is not only about cost when it comes to tires in a fleet of our size that spans the U.S.,” he said. “Safety is of critical importance to us for our drivers as well as the public using the same roads. High-quality tires give us peace of mind that we are running the safest equipment we can. It helps that we see a return in the long run.”
Shorthaul, local or low mileage fleets may not benefit as much from premium tires because the wear rate is likely lower. Longhaul and high-mileage fleets usually get a better return on investment due to fuel efficiency gains and improved tire lifespan and reliability.
If a company is just starting out, is small or is tight on cash, budget tires may be an appropriate stopgap measure.
While there are trade-offs between premium and budget commercial tires, ultimately, for many carriers, tire purchasing decisions come down to safety and performance.
“Cheap tires can be very expensive if you put them in the wrong application,” PGT Trucking’s Cox said.
