Rolling resistance is the name given to the force resisting your tyre as it rolls. This force is a combination of gravity, your vehicle’s weight, air resistance, and the friction between your tyres and the road surface. The greater the rolling resistance, the more force (and therefore fuel) it will take to move your vehicle forwards. Simply put, tyres with low rolling resistance require less energy to roll.
When it comes to choosing tyres for your fleet, tyres with low rolling resistance will maximise fuel efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. Therefore, whether you run a small urban transport operation or a fleet of international highway trucks, a tyre’s rolling resistance should be a key consideration.
Goodyear’s range of FUELMAX tyres are A rated for rolling resistance. This means you can minimise your fuel costs by fitting FUELMAX tyres to your fleet of trucks. The FUELMAX range has A rated tyres for each axle position: steer, drive, and trailer.
There are several external factors which affect rolling resistance. Factors that you can’t control include the road conditions and the weather on any given day. For example, poor road conditions and a strong headwind will increase the force required to move your vehicle forwards. It is on days like this that having tyres designed for optimal rolling resistance will be especially important.
The load of your vehicle and weight distribution also affects rolling resistance. The heavier the load your carrying is, the more fuel you will use to keep your vehicle moving. And if the weight your carrying isn’t evenly distributed, you will suffer from increased pressure on individual tyres.
When it comes to your tyres, optimal rolling resistance is achieved through the tyre’s design. Goodyear’s engineers are always looking for innovative solutions to improve rolling resistance when designing tyres for trucks, buses, and coaches. That’s because we know how important it is for you to maximise your fuel efficiency. From the tyre’s bead and belt to the sidewall construction and tread, every aspect of the tyre impacts rolling resistance.
As well as the tyre’s design, tyre pressure also plays a big part in the efficiency of a tyre’s rolling resistance.
All tyres are designed to be inflated to a certain PSI. Overinflated or underinflated tyres not only impact rolling resistance but can also affect tyre safety and the lifespan of your tyres. Therefore, keeping on top of your tyre pressures is especially important.
But maintaining your fleet’s tyre pressures can be a time-consuming operation with lots of downtime that you simply can’t afford.
Instead, you can fit your tyres with Goodyear TPMS sensors that will keep you on the road and ahead of the game. The Goodyear TPMS sensors detect changes in tyre pressure and send an alert to your mobile or desktop device. This way, you’ll minimise downtime and keep your fleet running, safe in the knowledge that your tyre pressures are not reducing your fuel efficiency.
Discover Goodyear TPMS.
Check your tyre pressure, tread depth, wheel alignment and overall tyre health regularly to make sure your tyres are able to perform at optimal levels. You can automate this process with Goodyear CheckPoint – a drive-over-reader that checks the health of your tyres in seconds.
When carrying heavy loads, try to evenly distribute the weight in your truck to avoid excess force weighing down on one axle or tyre position.
When your tyre treads are at a low level, consider whether you need to retread your tyres or replace them. By retreading them, you’ll extend the life of your tyres and improve your green credentials. Retreading will also improve the rolling resistance by increasing the tread depth which makes contact with the road.
