Wider tires could leave mark on trucking sector

The big tires are still only a small part of the more than 17 million truck tires shipped in the U.S. this year. Braswell says wide-based tires now account for far less than 5 percent of the truck tires on the road. Peggy Fisher, president of Fleet Tire Consulting in Rochester Hills, Mich., says the wide tires probably account for less than a half a percent of the 17.5 million tires in use.

Michelin has marketed the tires in the United States since 2000 and expanded into Europe in 2003.

All of the wide-based tires Michelin sells in North America are made at a factory in Spartanburg County, where Michelin has invested $98 million since 1999 — most of it on facilities to make and retread truck tires. The company also makes the wide tires in Europe.

Competitor Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. decided not to introduce its own line after the company found a variety of problems in testing its version, said spokesman Dave Wilkins.

A key issue was the reliability of retreaded tires, said Wilkins. That’s a huge consideration for trucking companies accustomed to sending worn tires off to be wrapped in new tread two or three times during their life spans.

Michelin spokeswoman Lynn Mann said that’s not a worry for Michelin. The company says some of its tires can last more than 800,000 miles with its retreading process.

Goodyear sees the wide tires as a niche market, Wilkins said.

“We don’t really think there’s a market there,” he said.

“It’s a niche marketplace that has more than doubled sales every year since 2000,” Mann countered. She would not provide wide-tire sales figures.

Michelin says Contract Freighters Inc., one of the nation’s 50-largest trucking outfits, has become a big believer in the tires. By next year, its fleet of 2,300 tractors will be using Michelin’s wide tires and the company has ordered them for 1,000 new trailers it will buy next year, Michelin said.

The tires have downsides. For instance, a flat puts the truck on the side of the road, while trucks with dual wheels blow by on the Interstate. Before tire dealers like Exit 11’s Smith stocked the tires, that could mean more downtime while a driver sought repairs or a replacement, Braswell said.

That will be less of a problem as trucking companies embrace technology that monitors tire pressure, Braswell said. And some technology is now being used that keeps tires inflated at the proper pressure to take care of leaks caused by small punctures, he said.

Goodyear’s Wilkins said that’s expensive technology and it’s “an expense we don’t think a lot of fleets will be willing to make.”

MORE FROM AUTOS

Autos Section Front

GM to shut down Saab after deal talks collapse Hyundai unveils new Sonata GM names new head of Buick, GMC brands New small cars might struggle in market UAW leaders nominate Bob King to lead union CEO: GM to repay $6.7 billion in U.S. loans Chrysler won’t repay $3.7 billion TARP loan China's influence on automakers is growing GM in talks to sell Saab brand, old technology The best and worst used cars you can buy Autos Section Front   Add Autos headlines to your news reader: