TORONTO — The Government of Ontario has finally allowed full parity between new generation wide-base single tires and a set of duals.

The change means that Ontario joins Quebec as the only two provinces which allow the fuel-efficient wide base single heavy truck tires to operate at the same weight limits (and payload) as conventional dual tires.

Previously, Ontario’s vehicle weight threshold for single tires was 8,000 kg per axle on a standard 53-ft tandem trailer, creating a 1,100 kg gap between single tires and duals.

Until the last few years, most provinces capped single tires at 6,000 kg per axle, making it economically impossible to spec single tires.

Several provinces, like B.C., Manitoba, and N.B., recently raised the weight threshold to 7,700 kg, making it easier to spec single tires for loads dedicated to the U.S., where the maximum weight is 17,000 lb (7,700 kg).

Ontario and Quebec now await other
provinces to mirror the 9,000 kg threshold

The Ontario Trucking Association, which has been pushing for the change as part of its enviroTruck initiative, welcomed the news.

"By removing the weight penalty on wide base single tires, carriers will now have the flexibility they need to use single tires on the majority of drive and trailer axle configurations," says OTA President David Bradley.

Wide-base singles are proven to be quieter, more environmentally friendly, and provide a much smoother ride than duals.

Tire rolling resistance accounts for up to 35 percent of fuel consumption. Wide-base tires have been found on average to produce between 4 and 5 percent fuel savings compared to conventional duals.