18 WHEELS ON THAT SEMI OR 10 ???????????????

I've been driving 18's ALL my life but I keep seeing these semi's with the BIG single tires all over the vehicle so I FINALLY have to ask. It's been bothering me a long time and I keep forgetting but now we're here -

What's the difference? What's the cost? What's the benefit ? If any. What's the reason?

AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU CAN ANSWER and think of regarding these tires. I'm going to be needing new tires soon so I'd like some feedback about them if I'm going to make the switch. Thanks.

Joe The lock rod flag king flyotr.com

I've been driving 18's ALL my life but I keep seeing these semi's with the BIG single tires all over the vehicle so I FINALLY have to ask. It's been bothering me a long time and I keep forgetting but now we're here -

What's the difference? What's the cost? What's the benefit ? If any. What's the reason?

AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU CAN ANSWER and think of regarding these tires. I'm going to be needing new tires soon so I'd like some feedback about them if I'm going to make the switch. Thanks.

Joe The lock rod flag king flyotr.com

Those are called "Wide Singles". It's for fuel economy. Sure not because they are cheaper.

Did you ask this over on Truckersforum.net? Duck or Injun or someone answered it there.

Ask Daniel B what he thinks of them

Lots of folks refer to them as "Super Singles" and they claim that you get about 1 -3 % better fuel economy with them. Cost wise, the tires are about $1500 each, the rims are about $1500 each. If you blow one on the road you lose the tire & the rim before you can get it shut down. So you do the math, for someone that only has a few trucks, it isn't worth it in my opinion to make the switch. Now if you have a large fleet of trucks and you make the switch, now I see how it can possibly be profitable to make the switch.

Just my humble opinion & observation. Me, I just a simple country boy truck driver.

Ernie

One of the main reasons people are switching to the "Super Singles" is the reduction in weight. When your drive axles and trailer axles are all using them there is a significant reduction in weight, which of course allows the truck to handle more cargo without the need for a permit. Many of the large flat-bed companies are using them in conjunction with the modern aluminum trailers and thus allowing them to carry a larger payload which results in potentially larger profits. All of this has to be weighed against the fact that Ernie mentioned about flat tires. If you have a flat, you have got to get yourself pulled over immediately - there is no such thing as limping along to the nearest tire dealer just to avoid a road service charge.

Another consideration is just that they ride a little different than the traditional tire set up. On snow they tend to float on top of the snow where as the traditional tires will sort of dig in a little providing better traction. Even on regular pavement I've heard driver's complaining that the truck feels a little like its walking around side to side at times in the lane. I've not heard anything about hydroplaning, but I would assume they tend to hydroplane a little easier in standing water.

On snow they tend to float on top of the snow where as the traditional tires will sort of dig in a little providing better traction.

Probably why you never see them on the Ice Road Truckers tv series.

When you blow a super single, you can guarantee a service call...even if you are 1/8th of a mile from the ts....you are where you land...and for service trucks, theres an upfront charge, and then they add a per mile charge....add that on with a new tire, and rim....it doesn't pencil out to me...I'd haveta get alot of fuel savings to afford that....

I hate super singles with a passion..

I've already had about four flat super singles, three of those popped while driving at 62.

And here's my favorite story about my experiences with super singles.

I was in Eastern Oregon, up the mountains to the East of La Grande, OR. Right before the 6% downgrade my passenger side super single pops. A foreign metal object got into it. Well, I pulled over.

It took 9.5 hours for someone to come to me. No joke! Commercial Tires of La Grande was very busy that day. When they finally got around to me they ran out of super singles. So they had to completely change out my rim and install duals.

I had to speak with ODOT on several occasions about why I'm still on the side of the road. Then I had an officer come by as well.

All of this could have been solved or expediated in two ways:

1. If I had duals then it wouldn't have taken as long. My company wouldn't have to do any thinking about what to do next because they don't have super singles in stock.

2. If I had duals I could have easily drove slowly 6 miles to the Pilot in La Grande. But instead, I was stuck there like a helpless man.

Guess what the bill came out to?

1,800$

Also, these tire repair/road side assistance companies charge a whole lot more than a Love's would if you would use their Tire Bay. So companies try to save some money on these costly services. Usually they buy a trailer tire over a drive tire because the trailer tires are a lot cheaper. Everytime I had a flat and it was replaced, it would always be replaced with a trailer super single and then I would need to go to a terminal to get that tire replaceded again.

So its not just the super single sucking, its that when it pops you're screwed and will most likely be given a trailer super single tire as a replacement,which in turn will cost you yet another trip to the repair shop in your terminal.