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Manufacturers Unveil Latest Tire & Wheel Products at MATS
By Sherri Middleton
Every fleet owner knows that tires are a major investment for their operations. Before the price of oil skyrocketed last summer and before the economy headed deeper toward recession, fleets listed major expenses as driver pay, then fuel, then tires.
With purchases constantly jockeying for position in the balance sheet, it makes more sense than ever to be informed about new innovations that affect the bottom line.
This year, as always, manufacturers converged on the biggest trucking show in America to introduce new technology to a weary, but hopeful trucking industry. The Mid-America Trucking Show gives fleets and owner/operators a chance to ask questions and learn more about the products that affect their day-to-day business.
If you weren’t able to attend this year’s show, March 19 through 21 in Louisville, KY, we’ve got you covered. We’ll provide in-depth articles about some of the more interesting products we discovered at MATS in upcoming issues. In the meantime, here’s a compilation of tire and wheel products introduced that we think might be of interest to fleet owners. I’m also tossing in some products that weren’t available at the show.
Tires
Continental Tire North America introduced five new truck tires at MATS this year.
“Continental is offering truck fleets outstanding new products that meet their needs; from steer tires, to drive tires, to trailer tires,” said Clif Armstrong, commercial vehicle tire marketing director for Continental Tire – The Americas. “We listened to our customers and used their feedback to create tires that maximize the efficiency of their operations and offer them the lowest overall operating driving costs.”
HSR2
The redesigned regional steer tire, the HSR2 replaces the HSR. Featuring an updated tread compound, the HSR2 is designed to increase mileage by 15 percent over the HSR.
This tire has a 23/32-inch cut and chip-resistant tread compound for optimal performance, better resistance to cracking and tearing and improved curb rib for sidewall stability.
HDL2 DL
This tires offers attractive wear and removal characteristics.
With a 32/32-inch tread depth for mileage and low cost per mile, the winder tread width is better for wear and improved mileage. The wider casing offers better handling stability, and a patented stone ejection system provides longer casing life.
HTL Eco Plus
Trailer tires contribute 42 percent of the rolling resistance of all the tires on a typical long haul truck. The HTL Eco Plus is the most fuel-efficient trailer tire in Continental’s line.
This tire is said to improve fuel efficiency by 10 percent, while tread depth increases by 3 percent. With a 13/32-inch tread depth to minimize squirm and irregular wear, the tire saves fuel. A stone ejection system reduces damage to the tire and scuff ribs protect the sidewall from curbing and cutting. A visual alignment indicator (VAI) also alerts users to alignment problems.
HSU2
Designed for waste haulers and construction fleets, the HSU2 offers longer life through a deeper tread and tread volume. The 26/32-inch deep rib design provides increased tread life and high removal miles. Cut and tear resistant tread compounds provide wear in both scrub and on/off road applications. With a 10,000-pound capacity at 65 mph, the enhanced bead design delivers value. The VAI alerts users to alignment problems.
HTL1
This wide-based super single is designed to replace two trailer tires and it minimizes irregular wear and maximizes fuel efficiency.
With a shoulder defense groove, the tire provides protection against rapid shoulder wear. The pyramid stone bumper/ejection system reduces stone retention and casing penetrations, and scuff ribs protect the sidewall from curbing and cutting.
Hankook AL07+
The new AL07+ long-haul steer tire uses a mixing system to ensure longer tread life without sacrificing safety or performance. With a decoupling groove to maximize tread wear, the amount of heat generated makes the tire less susceptible to tearing.
Four straight grooves help improve fuel efficiency and handling and the grooves become more aggressive throughout wear to increase performance when tread depth is eroded.
Michelin X One XDN 2
The X One XDN 2 is an on-highway drive tire. The tire lowers the rolling resistance 15 percent lower than its dual XDN2 tire counterpart. The wide single reduces casing growth and stabilizes the contact patch to reduce wear.
With corrugated grooves in the tread block that provide a zigzag appearance, the grooves provide tread block rigidity and traction, while resisting scrubbing.
XZA3
The XZA3 truck tire for long haul and regional truckers now increases safety on highways with a patented Antisplash deflector on both of the tire’s sidewalls. By reducing splash, less water is thrown on windshields of passing motorists.
With a 19/32nds-inch tread depth, the tire’s rolling resistance increases fuel efficiency. The 80 percent wider shoulder rib also offers enhanced resistance to uneven wear, and the tire’s multi-directional miniature sipes in the groove walls help defend against irregular wear and contribute to longer tread life.
The casing provides for multiple retreads when the tire is properly cared for.
Bridgestone Bandag
Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) exhibited its SmartWay tires at Mid-America.
To achieve EPA SmartWay certification, the tires must achieve at least three percent better total vehicle (steer, drive and trailer position) fuel economy than the EPA defined average or 15 percent reduction in rolling resistance per tire by wheel position.
Bridgestone brand radial tires currently certified by SmartWay are the R287 steer, R280 steer, M720 drive, R195F trailer, and Greatec wide base drive and trailer tires.
Alcoa LvL ONE
Alcoa presented the industry’s lightest forged aluminum wheel by reducing the weight by two pounds.
The LvL ONE’s reduction in weight accounts for 36 pounds less on an 18-wheel rig running on aluminum wheels, and nearly 650 pounds less than standard wheels.
The natural finish on both sides of the LvL ONE wheel provides a “stunning bright” finish that is six times brighter than competitive wheels in this class. The finish also reduces the need to order single-side inner diameter and out diameter wheels. Any wheel can be mounted on any axle for tractor or trailer because the LvL ONE wheel fits all.
GITI GT876 Wide Base
GITI Tire USA introduces the GT876 tire designed for heavy front axles. The wide base, all position radial provides exceptional service in on/off highway and heavy haul applications.
The GT876 features a wide footprint for maximum flotation and a special cut and chip compound for tread tearing resistance. The aggressive tread design is made for superior traction and the deep tread depth provides extended use.
The GT876 is available in 385/65R22.5 18 PR (TD 23/23), 425/65R22.5 20 PR (TD 24/32) and 445/65R22.5 20 PR (TD 24/32).
Aero-Series Wheel Covers
Brand your company and reduce fuel savings by adding wheel covers on the wheels.
By adding wheel covers Chicago area manufacturer, RealWheels Corporation says users can reduce airflow and increase fuel economy with a stylish wheel cover. The Aero-Elite covers create the look of a custom wheel, but they are created from light-weight, polished aluminum, and then coated with a highly reflective and eco-friendly process called RealGloss.
Other Tire and Wheel Information
P.S.I’s Commercial Fleet Tire Digest Available
The Commercial Fleet Tire Digest is a guide to reducing tire expenditures. P.S.I. is now offering a printed and spiral bound book of the complete set of Volume II issues covering January through November/December 2008 to fleet managers to use in their operations. The book is a tool for technicians and drivers involved in tire costs. To request a copy, visit wwww.psitiredigest.com.
The Importance of Proper Tire Inflation
The Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau offers sounds guidelines on tire pressure. Here is an important fact: Don’t think you can tell how much air is in your tires by thumping them.
To learn more about inflation, call 888-473-8732 or email info@retread.org for a CD containing a PDF of a booklet about the importance of tire inflation. The CD also contains information about retreading, new tires and maintenance.
TireStatT
TireStatT is a complete tire monitoring system that provides benefits such as increased fuel economy, enhanced safety, maximized tire casing life and extended tire wear.
The sensors are mounted externally on the valve stem allowing air input without sensor removal. This no-nonsense approach virtually eliminates limitations previously found to prevent the use of TPMS on fleet vehicles, including costly tire maintenance, time-consuming installations, lost cap mounted sensors and difficulty in roadside service.
TireStatT is preprogrammed by wheel position for effortless installation, yet can be altered by the user. The design allows users to optionally program their own warning alert levels by axles position for improved management of fuel and tire expense.
For fleet owners this provides a faster ROI, simplicity of driver participation and low on-going maintenance since there are no issues due to lose sensors.
TireStatT not only detects under-inflated, over-inflated and rapid leaking tires, it also monitors tire temperature. In addition, the TireStatT exclusive rechargeable Handheld Monitor functions as a portable tire gauge. As a result, the user can monitor actual tire pressure while adjusting each tire’s inflation level. All TireStatT systems include an easily mounted transceiver, which assures continuous transmission of the wireless signals without the inconvenience of installing multiple antennas.
Link Cat’s Eye Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Link Manufacturing’s Cat’s Eye tire pressure monitoring system saves time when checking truck tires. A glance at the eye tells whether the tire is properly inflated, under inflated or severely under inflated. One fill point is used for each dual set.
The system keeps both tires in dual tire assemblies equalized, and the internal check valve prevents both tires from deflating due to “blow-out” or a cut hose or slow leak.
By maintaining proper inflation, the wear on tires is reduced and fuel mileage is optimized. Link says Cat’s Eye is a low-cost practical and dependable solution.
The system includes a 2-pack or 4-pack stainless steel or rubber hose assembly.
Visit Link’s website at www.linkmfg.com to use the tire/fuel cost calculator or learn more about the product.
Meritor Tire Inflation System Offered to Truck Operators
ArvinMeritor has extended the availability of its Meritor Tire Inflation System Stimulus Package – buy four, get on free retrofit program for all North American fleets – and made it available from all Meritor distributors and dealers in North America.
Now available through July 31, 2009, the program allows fleets to purchase four retrofit kits, for any axle combination: TN/TQ, TP, WP, HP, HN, HQ and get a fifth kit at no charge. The entire product and labor cost of the MTIS retrofit can be financed with Wirth Financial.
Meritor says a fleet can typically pay for the retrofit from its existing tire expense budget. To assist fleets in calculating their own ROI and expected savings based on their specific operation, a free MTIS savings calculator wheel is available.
For the calculator or more information, contact ArvinMeritor at 800-535-5560. |
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