CapriRacer wrote:
dsrace wrote: ......
the info is not easy to find but if one simply asks themselves..... why do tire manufacturers advertise more fuel efficient tread and/or tire compound in trailer trailer tires? what are there explanations? .
"Our most fuel-efficient trailer tires
Reduced rolling resistance and increased fuel economy.
Discover our tires designed for fuel savings, durability, and exceptional traction for driver confidence."
borrowed that directly from michelan's trailer tire web site.
most of the info you will find are from fleet companies. 3% reduction is a lot with an over the road truck. in a pick up, 3% isnt much of anything. wind is a bigger factor but every little bit still helps so why not?
There are 3 things that affect tire rolling resistance: The amount of deflection (meaning mostly inflation pressure), the amount of material (mostly tread rubber), and the material properties of the material (again, mostly the properties of the tread rubber)
You're quoting Michelin's truck tires. They don't make RV trailer tires, so be careful there.
So applying those three things, my best guess is that they don't have as much rubber in their trailer tires, and the tread compound is especially formulated for low rolling resistance.
Could that be applied to other tires? Of course, but there is a tradeoff.
There is a technological triangle for tread rubber compounds involving treadwear, traction (especially wet traction), and rolling resistance. Change one and you affect one of both of the others.
Yes, there can be differences in tread rubber compounds that improve RR without affecting that 3 way relationship, but those are small compared to the big triangle.
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