ROUND ROCK, Texas — FlowBelow Aero Inc. is unveiling its wheel covers with Easy Air Access.
“Our wheel covers are very easy to take on and off, but our Easy Air Access version makes it safer and faster to check tire pressure with wheel covers than without them,” said Katie Breitschopf, executive vice president of business operations for FlowBelow. “We are pleased to have engineered an aerodynamic product that makes it easier for drivers and technicians to maintain proper tire pressures.”
According to FlowBelow, even without wheel covers, physically checking inner and outer tire pressures often requires stooping, kneeling and straining to access cumbersome valve stems, sometimes lodged deep inside wheel rims. With both inflation valves ergonomically located in the center surface of FlowBelow’s new wheel covers, drivers and technicians can check tire pressure and inflate tires in seconds, without kneeling or removing wheel covers, eliminating a common excuse for skipping critical pre-trip inspections.
How It Works
Wheel Covers with Easy Air Access extend the valve stems for both inner and outer tires and route them through the center ring of FlowBelow’s aerodynamic wheel cover. The configuration puts both inflation valves within easy reach, between 20 and 22 inches (50.8 to 55.9 cm) from the ground.
“FlowBelow engineers partnered with Pressure Systems International (P.S.I.), a leader in tire management systems for commercial vehicles, to develop and supply the air line components required for the Easy Air Access system,” FlowBelow said. “Optional auxiliary valves allow for installation of tire pressure monitoring systems, and FlowBelow is offering P.S.I.’s TireView LIVE TPMS as an additional upgrade.”
Impact on Fleet Operations
“Market feedback drove development of the solution, with fleets identifying pre-trip efficiency as a key objective,” FlowBelow said. “The redesign addresses multiple fleet priorities simultaneously: saving time, enhancing driver satisfaction, encouraging tire maintenance compliance, improving fuel economy and advancing worker safety.”
Properly inflated tires are essential for fuel efficiency, yet drivers often skip already tedious pressure checks when wheel covers add extra steps to their routine. By streamlining the process, FlowBelow’s Wheel Covers with Easy Air Access make tire pressure monitoring and maintenance easier than ever while helping fleets realize the full fuel-saving potential of aerodynamic wheel covers, according to FlowBelow
“Our team of engineers focuses on new product development to help fleets save fuel,” said Josh Butler, president and CTOr of FlowBelow. “If upgrading existing products will enable more customers to take advantage of a proven technology like wheel covers while making monitoring tire pressure easier, we’re happy to work on innovative approaches to meet their needs.”
Reducing Fuel Usage
“FlowBelow wheel covers save a proven 1.74 percent in fuel when installed on both tractor and trailer, according to track testing performed by MVT Solutions,” FlowBelow said. “That translates to approximately 2.16 gallons of fuel saved for every 1,000 miles driven. Wheel Covers with Easy Air Access have undergone 12 months of successful, real-world fleet testing, with close monitoring made possible by P.S.I.’s TireView LIVE telematics product.”
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
