Why are two slimmer wheels paired on each side of the axle in buses and container carrying vehicles, instead of a single large broader wheel?
In: Engineering
The big reason is so that tire companies can make a smaller amount of standard sized tires. A truck that needs 4 tires versus one that needs 6 can use the same tires, just with the truck that needs 6 using more of them. If you started making a significant amount of different tire widths, you create even more specific products in the market, and make it that much harder for a store to keep a relevant amount of stock.
Beyond that, there are going to be other issues like the inside edge of the tire traveling a significant different distance than the outside edge over a turn, which is going to cause uneven wear on the tires.
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