Tires Play a Critical Role in Last-Mile Deliveries

The last-mile delivery trend that accelerated during the Covid pandemic will continue to grow at an exponential rate. In fact, experts say last-mile delivery is projected to be a $90 billion industry by 2025.

Lots of opportunities for fleets and owner operators . . . and for tire manufacturers like Double Coin that provide the latest and greatest tire technologies to navigate a variety of regional and urban highway/road conditions.

Double Coin tires that perform well in regional/urban applications include:

RT500 - pictured to the right (sizes 215/75R17.5, 235/75R17.5, 245/70R19.5) -- a low profile all-position multi-use tire designed for various applications. This 5-rib truck tire provides superior handling, delivers extraordinary durability and features special tread compounds that promote long wear in high scrub applications.

RT600 (sizes 225/70R19.5, 245/70R19.5) -- ideal for P&D and regional applications. Built with protective sidewall ribs to withstand curbing, cuts and abrasions, this all-position tire features a 5-rib design for precise handling, lateral stability and superior traction.

RLB490 - pictured to left (sizes 225/70R19.5, 245/70R19.5) -- durable low profile drive-position multi-use commercial truck tire. Its unique tread design delivers outstanding traction and even wear, and its sidewall ribs are designed to resist curb damage and abrasion.

RSD3 (size 225/70R19.5) -- drive-position tire that features a dynamic tread design for ultimate traction. Built to handle harsh winter conditions in all types of applications, this unique product offers superior durability, performance and retreadability.

Durability is Job#1

Last-mile delivery vehicles are generally used for regional or urban stop-and-go driving, so relevant tire options must meet some very specific requirements. With frequent stops and turns, as well as contact with curbs and potholes, durability is job#1 for last-mile delivery tires. We all know what down time can do to the bottom line!

Tire companies and testing agencies such as Smithers place considerable resources into testing tires for endurance, curb impact resistance, heat aging and other factors to determine which tire products can deliver in last-mile delivery applications. Strong sidewall reinforcements and tread compounds that can combat road debris and curb impacts are desired attributes. Tread life is also an important consideration.

Tire testing is very sophisticated these days. For example, a specific driver profile and operating environment can be loaded into a computer for input before testing the tire on a test drum surface. Computer modeling has made a huge difference in creating more sophisticated and efficient tire testing.

The tire testers at Smithers note that in an urban environment, last-mile delivery vehicles could commonly encounter pooled water, snow and ice on side streets that require excellent traction. Wet, snow and ice traction performance are evaluated on a carefully prepared surface.

A common test for most fleet tires is rolling resistance. The lower the rolling resistance of a tire, the better fuel efficiency the vehicle will achieve.

IIt may be surprising to some that Double Coin TBR tires are among the most fuel efficient in the marketplace.

Double Coin, Michelin and Continental were invited to participate in tests by FPInnovations’ PIT Group, a neutral third-party research organization. The results among all three brands were close, with Continental coming out on top and Double Coin second.

The PIT Group ran two separate comparison tests on steer, drive, and trailer tires run on three identically spec’d tractors and trailers. The tests were conducted according to TMC Fuel Consumption Test Procedure – Type III, RP 1103A. One test was a line haul test and the other was a regional haul test. In each test a tractor trailer combination was mounted with a complete set of steer, drive and trailer tires from each manufacturer.

The regional test was run using the same methodology, but with tires designed for regional applications from each manufacturer. The Double Coin tires tested in the regional test were the RT606+, RLB1 and RR150. The Continental tires tested were the Hybrid HS3, HDR2 Eco Plus, and the HT3. The Michelin tires tested were the XZE2, XDN2, and the XZE2. The results were as follows:

Fuel Consumption (L/100 km)

• 32.41 – Continental
• 34.29 – Double Coin
• 34.58 - Michelin

Fuel Economy (MPG)

• 7.26 – Continental
• 6.86 – Double Coin
• 6.80 - Michelin

 

For the regional/urban routes, last-mile delivery vehicles generally require the above attributes before rolling resistance, according to Smithers. Urban stop-and-go driving profiles don’t generally see a large boost in fuel economy strictly from the tires. Driver habits as well as the route itself has a large effect on the overall fuel efficiency.

At this point, Smithers noted in a recent Tire Review article, it becomes a numbers game. If a sizeable fleet can save a fraction of a percent on fuel costs through more fuel-efficient tires (while not giving up benefits of other key attributes), it may be worth it. With thousands of vehicles in the fleet, this could mean significant savings.

Double Coin offers a comprehensive line-up of TBR tires for line haul, regional/urban and mixed service applications. Our retread warranty is seven (7) years and three (3) retreads for all Double Coin truck and bus radial (TBR) tire products.