Can anyone explain how the wide big rig tires for the Smart Way program have less rolling resistance than two smaller "dually-style" tires? It seems like there'd be more resistance due to the larger contact patch. Any truckers on this site?
A lot of the rolling resistance of a tire comes from the compression of the sidewall which happens like a "wave" as the tire rolls.
The section that is pressed against the ground is always bulged slightly...and that flexing requires energy.
If you have two fewer sidewalls to flex, you'll save a lot of that energy. This is probably offset a little bit by the greater contact patch and more flexing of the remaining sidewalls...but there's certainly a net energy saving.
