Don't forget the wheels

摘要

Replacing 10 steel wheels with 10 Alcoa forged aluminum wheels (weighing 45 lbs. each) results in an average savings of 50 gal. of fuel and reduction of 0.5 metric tons of CO_2 per year on a Class 8 truck. Further efficiency gains are made from selecting wide-base wheels. Switching from steel single 22.5-in. by 8.25-in. wheels to Alcoa 14-in. wide-base wheels saves 1,429 lbs. on an 18-wheeler. In addition, wide-base tires (mounted to the wide-base wheels) are SmartWay certified to lower rolling resistance, further increasing fuel economy.