If you are putting high mileage on your rigs consistently week to week, you should look at removing steer tire flaps if you currently use them.  No doubt they look good, and they help keep steps clear of mud and ice.  These flaps however hang lower than anything else on the rig, catching the full force of oncoming air; and they represent another 2 square feet of surface area obstructing forward motion for the rig.  Kenworth published information early in 2009 confirming that their steer tire flaps generate ½% reduction in fuel economy over the road.  For a more aerodynamic profile, eliminate the use of steer tire flaps.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 6:02 pm and is filed under Trailer Aerodynamics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.