Truck tires are more than “where the rubber meets the road.” Understanding truck tire sizes, tire load ratings, why ply no longer matters, and more is important for today’s fleet managers.
Many factors continue to exert upward pressure on fleet maintenance costs (with longer service lives as the primary driver).
Most of the subject matter experts that we spoke to expect an increase in tire prices, although predicting future tire costs is difficult due to variables that influence tire pricing.
Fleets are being impacted by a variety of inflationary pressures ranging from higher acquisition prices due to the proliferation of onboard safety equipment, to increased material costs pushing up pricing on parts, upfits, and replacement tires.
Technology has increased a modern truck tire’s useful life, overall fuel efficiency, and rolling resistance as well as helped reduce failures.
Upward cost pressures on replacement tires have emerged in 2018, due to higher cost for the commodities used to manufacture tires and the trend to larger diameter 17- to 18-inch wheels, which are more expensive to replace.
The leading commercial truck tire sizes of 2018, as reported by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, includes the perennially popular 295/75R22.5.
Michelin North America Inc. will increase prices on its commercial tires on Dec. 1 by as much as 8%.
Higher commodity prices are putting upward pressure on fleet prices for replacement tires. National accounts are no longer as willing to absorb the majority of price increases, which are between 3%-8% on select tire lines.
It’s easy to mount a truck tire on a rim and torque down on the fasteners, but not everyone takes the time to do it right, and that can affect tire life and safety.
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