Super Singles

[mchero]

Anybody running super singles on their class A???

For those of you unfamiliar with super singles they are a single WIDE tire/rim that replaces the duals on the rear axle(s) seen on some of the trucks on our highways.
They are very efficient BUT if you have a blowout your unable to limp to a station.

[cross21114]

There is a difference between cement and concrete. Cement is a powder. When mixed with aggregate and water it becomes concrete, whether it is still liquid or cured (hard).

[mchero]

Two Jayhawks wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Mchero, you are the one confused. :S
Cement and trash trucks often use super singles on the front that are wider than the one used on a semi. Heck, many of the big DPs are using 365/80/22.5 on the steer and tag axles... I would call that a super single as they will carry more than the 17,000 lbs/axle allowed on a semi with tandem axles.

Many trucks as well as Prevosts, Newell's, and many production class A's run a 20K steer. However a 365/80/22.5 isn't considered a super single. A 445/50/22.5 is a super single.

Super Single

Thanks for the clarification on the super singles two jayhawks.
Don't know how cement and trash trucks ended up in this thread.

[Ductape]

LOL @ all the wannabe CPAs counting the cost / benefit. Since when was a class A a smart financial decision? They're all an indulgence; if you want to modify it, why not? Spend your money any way you like. So far the results in the trucking industry are inconclusive, and there's a lot more data there than the MH market.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Ivylog wrote:
Mchero, you are the one confused. :S
Cement and trash trucks often use super singles on the front that are wider than the one used on a semi. Heck, many of the big DPs are using 365/80/22.5 on the steer and tag axles... I would call that a super single as they will carry more than the 17,000 lbs/axle allowed on a semi with tandem axles.

Many trucks as well as Prevosts, Newell's, and many production class A's run a 20K steer. However a 365/80/22.5 isn't considered a super single. A 445/50/22.5 is a super single.

Super Single

[slickest1]

mchero wrote:

slickest1 wrote:
Good luck when you blow one of them on your coach. I have run them on the front of gravel and mixer trucks ans would never consider it on my coach. I ran them on steer axles and in slippery conditions they were terrible and on the rear I can't see them being much better.

I think your a tad confused Slickest1

You run them on drive axles, not steer axles as you just stated above!

Also clearly stated in my post above that you Can't limp down the road if you have a blowout. Not looking for any luck.

LOL

Not confused at all! I realize you were talking drive axle use. My point was if one blows on the rear (drive) axle it will not be a nice experience. At least if one of your duals blows the other will keep that corner up. It is one thing on a truck or trailer but totally different on a coach with the lack of clearance. No you can't limp into town.
I have drove trucks with the big tires on the front (different yes)and in snow and mud they do not handle better. They are like ski's. That is my opinion and after seeing super singles on trucks and talking with different drivers I would not consider them an improvement. Thats just my take others will differ.

[SCVJeff]

I've seen them for sale off and on at Quartzsite too. It gets allot of lookie-loos but never saw much more interest than that. I sure wouldn't want a blowout and try to find a replacement tire or rim on short notice.

BTW- those "stupid" looking wind deflectors work amazingly well as it really cleans up turbulence around the truck/ trailer, making passing them in light, high profile vehicles almost effortless. No idea how the trailer performs..

[mchero]

Lots of trucking companies purchasing those stupid looking tires and those stupid looking wind deflectors under and on the backside of rigs to save mileage. The super singles I have seen are the same width of standard duals and do not extend past the fender wells.

[DutchmenSport]

I had to look them up on the "net" to see what you all were talking about. Yup, I've seen these, but not on motor homes. Seems the latest 'fad', which is gaining momentum where I live, is to put those tires/wheels on single axle, single wheeled pick-up trucks and cars so the tires extend beyond the fender. I hate that every time I see someone who has done that and wonder why they don't get traffic tickets. It's actually a danger to traffic behind them, as those tires can easily pickup road debris (like rocks and pebbles) and sling them into the vehicle behind them! Personally, I think they are stupid!

[cbshoestring]

According to the Trucker's Forum, I occasionally review, the results are in on Super singles.....50/50.

People seem to love or hate them. Some say they ride better on dry, smooth highways. Most say they get real loose on wet pavement.

The reduced weight seems to be the biggest advantage (lowering your GVW allows more payload before you reach that magic 80,000 GVWR).

Fuel mileage is negligible. MAY, MIGHT, COULD be saving less than 1 mpg...or might be saving a bit over 1 mpg. One MPG over 100,000 miles run in a year....could add up...especially for a fleet.

When compared to the additional cost of singles over duals, the numbers get kind of fuzzy when considering a break even point.

BLOWOUTS seem to be manageable as far as getting safely stopped. Of course, you then are STOPPED until a replacement comes...no limping to the tire store.

For what it is worth....most fleets I see on the highway are still using duals. Trust me, if they thought they could save a penny, they would.

Putting them on a class A rv?????? I can't see the advantage. I can sure see where it may become a dis-advantage. The limited return, when compared to the added cost/risk...doesn't make sense to me.

BUT....they do look COOL :B

[mchero]

crasster wrote:

moisheh wrote:
They were never designed for RV's and will not improve your MPG as they do on a class 8 truck.

Moisheh

Why wouldn't they improve MPG on an RV but they will on a truck?

Exactly Moisheh!
And if they were not designed for RV's why did I see a tire dealer displaying a set at the Quartzsite RV show back in January 2016?

[Mr_Mark1]

I've noticed that super-singles sit a little more inwards. Seems to me that in strong cross-winds, that the tractor trailer is a little less stable (thinking physics).

If I were to put super-singles on our drive axle, the tag axle tires would stick out further unless there is an adaptor of some sort to even them up.

We have 365's on the steer and tag. The extra width of the 365 on the tag makes it even with the drive tires (315's). If you ever noticed a Greyhound bus and how the tag axle tires are more inward, they are probably running 315's all around.

Safe travels,
MM.

[mchero]

Ivylog, no confusion her, sorry.
Drive axles, not steer.
Close friend of mine has a cement company and my younger brother manages 15 drivers for a trash company. I know of those big tires your referring to but the single slicks im referring to are MUCH different.
Just asking about super slicks intended for drive axle. Thanks four your post.
Thanks for the link Bruce.

[crasster]

moisheh wrote:
They were never designed for RV's and will not improve your MPG as they do on a class 8 truck.

Moisheh

Why wouldn't they improve MPG on an RV but they will on a truck?

[crasster]

I am curious for real world MPG gain.

[Tvov]

Two friends of mine opinions: One guy has an excavation company, he loves super singles on his dual axle dump trucks... which are mostly run on local roads. Another guy is a long distance trucker - he does not want super singles, mostly due to the costs: initial cost, repair cost, and replacement cost. So I have no idea if this helps anyone!

Also, why would a super single get measurably better fuel mileage than duals? I would just assume that two narrow tires would have less rolling resistance than one big wide tire.