In 2006, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) initiated a research plan to assess the potential benefits and challenges associated with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions by allowing the use of new-generation wide base single (WBS) tires. This would entail increasing the permissible axle weights up to 9000 kg. An experimental investigation was carried out at the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT) instrumented test sections at the University of Waterloo. The experiment was designed to assess the additional pavement costs, if any, as a result of increasing the allowable axle load on WBS tires up to 9,000 kg. The second part of the study was to identify potential benefits of raising the allowable axle weights from the economic, environmental and societal perspectives. The third area of study focused on assessing the potential impact on safety in terms of vehicle dynamic performance and collisions. The safety analyses was done by computer simulation. The results of these studies indicate that the potential benefits, from societal and trucking industry perspectives would be $80 million assuming 50% uptake at a fuel price of $1.00/litre and 1.5% fuel savings per axle. This includes the annual benefits of $5 million associated with reduced greenhouse gas emissions from fuel savings and safety benefits of $5 million associated with the potential collision avoidance. Pavement costs in Ontario could increase up to $34 million annually for the same uptake of WBS tires if the axle load was increased to 9000 kg. In conclusion, the overall benefits outweigh the adverse effects associated with the use of WBS tires carrying an increased axle load of 9000 kg.
Menu
