Dana Outlines Strategies to Help Linehaul Truck Owners Optimize Tire Performance in New White Paper

MAUMEE, Ohio, Feb. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) has published a new white paper for the commercial-trucking industry that presents optimized tire pressure as a solution to prevent blowouts and other tire events, improve fuel economy, and reduce operating costs. Titled "Optimized Tire-Pressure Management," the paper is free and may be downloaded at danacv.com/optimizedtirepressure. Authored by Jason Sidders, engineering manager for advanced chassis control systems at Dana, it describes the benefits of an optimized tire-pressure management system that not only monitors pressure for all tires on a linehaul tractor, but has the capability to automatically adjust that pressure, inflating or deflating as needed for optimal driving conditions. The paper also describes the advantages and disadvantages of currently available tire-pressure monitoring systems. Recently proposed Phase 2 standards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) support the need for more technological options to help manufacturers further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency, including systems such as Dana's optimized tire-pressure technology. These agencies specifically identify the need for optimized tire pressure in order to maximize the efficiency of low-rolling-resistance tires and also recognize the benefits of automatic tire inflation versus monitor-only systems. "We support these new standards proposed by the EPA and NHTSA, which introduce the concept of a 1 percent credit toward fuel-economy targets for linehaul truck owners that utilize automatic tire-inflation technology – a credit that does not apply to monitor-only systems in the proposal," said Mark Wallace, executive vice president of Dana and group president of Dana On-Highway Driveline Technologies. "In fact, we believe the incentive should differentiate between inflate-only systems and technology such as Dana's, which features both inflate and deflate capabilities to boost efficiency even further." In addition to details on Dana's technology, charts in the white paper help illustrate the data presented, including the impact of underinflated tires on fuel economy and a comparison of benefits between monitor-only systems and Dana's optimized tire-pressure management technology. Dana has been a longstanding leader in tire-pressure optimization, with decades of experience engineering tire-pressure management technology for the U.S. military. Building on this expertise, Dana's tire-pressure optimization system overcomes the significant challenges that other systems for linehaul trucks do not currently address. Dana's system eliminates dependence on the malfunction indicator lamp to alert the driver to potential problems, freeing the driver from making judgment calls that could affect safety and efficiency. Additionally, drivers can spend more time on the road and less time stopping to check the pressure of each tire. The system will adjust tire pressure as needed and record each occurrence, alerting maintenance personnel to examine seemingly minor issues and address larger problems before a major failure occurs. Available in 2017, Dana's system is optimized for use with 6x4, 6x2, and 4x2 configurations. The first integrated system of its kind, the technology will be installed at the OEM level and is compatible with J1587 and J1939 SAE communication protocols. Overall savings will vary from fleet to fleet depending on a variety of factors, including the number of miles driven annually and truck configuration, along with average fuel prices, service expenses, and tire-replacement costs. Visitors to the Technology & Maintenance Council's 2016 Annual Meeting, which takes place Feb. 29 through March 3 in Nashville, Tennessee, can get a printed copy of this white paper and learn more about Dana's optimized tire-pressure management system in booth 710. About Dana Holding Corporation Dana is a global leader in the supply of highly engineered driveline, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. Serving three primary markets – passenger vehicle, commercial truck, and off-highway equipment – Dana provides the world's original-equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with local product and service support through a network of nearly 100 engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities. Founded in 1904 and based in Maumee, Ohio, the company employs approximately 23,000 people in 25 countries on six continents. For more information, please visit dana.com.