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Maintain proper pressure
While tire design and tire selection affect fuel economy, tire inflation pressure has the greatest influence on rolling resistance. "Tires are designed to work most efficiently at a specific pressure for the necessary load, providing the proper amount of vertical deflection," says White. "A properly inflated tire puts the correct footprint on the ground to provide traction and to reduce wasted energy caused by wheel spin. A properly inflated tire is also more efficient in regards to the energy needed to move the equipment."

Issues arise when tires are over- or under-inflated. "Under-inflation will increase fuel consumption due to increased rolling resistance," says Arve Opperud, Caterpillar, Inc.

"Over-inflation wastes energy by bouncing equipment upward, rather than propelling it forward," adds White. "And it increases energy wasting wheel spin."

Correct inflation pressure is based on load. Work with your local tire dealer or equipment manufacturer to determine the optimum pressure. Essentially, you will want to set the pressure for the heaviest load, then check it regularly, ideally every morning, to ensure the proper pressure is maintained. "You want to cover the situations where the bucket is completely full," indicates Rexroad. "Also consider the density of the material you're moving. If you're unsure, check with your manufacturer and use scales to weigh the equipment with different materials."

Inflation pressures often need to be changed when moving the machine from one application to another, says Blaine Pressley, Volvo. "Volvo lists the recommended pressure by application and tire brand in our operator's manuals," he points out. "It is that important. We also recommend that operators check pressures after the machine has been transported. Tire pressures are sometimes altered to make the machine better for transport, so it's always best to check and adjust as needed."