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What goes around
Page 44
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Truck tyre makers face an uphill, task of combining safety, durability and longevity into one package: CM looks at the latest offerings.
Words: Ian Tonkin Choosing the right truck tyre can be a daunting task, especially when you consider the wide variety of manufacturers, sizes and applications available — and that's before settling on remoulds or new rubber.
Continental recently launched its second-generation regional and long-distance tyres for fitment on steer, drive and trailer axles. What distinguishes this latest tyre from its predecessor is the development of the casing, which features a steel-reinforced bead (previously nylon) as well as a redesigned inner lining that helps reduce air loss, keeping the tyre at its optimal pressure for longer.
To reduce rolling resistance and road noise, tread patterns on both Series 2 versions have been reworked. The regional tyres have a wider, flatter contour and built into the tread are narrow grooves to squeeze out any stones that might get stuck, which Continental says will help reduce premature tyre wear.
Furthermore, the manufacturer claims that both its second-generation regional and long-haul tyres can reduce fuel consumption and extend mileage by up to 20% before retreading. Sizes for the R series range from 295/80 R22.5 to 445/65 R22.5, while the long-haul tyres start at 295/60 R22.5 and increase to 445/45/ R19.5.
Another manufacturer, Goodyear, is aiming to capitalise on the retread market, which has grown by 5% since the onset of the recession. The TreadMax forms part of the manufacturer's Max technology range of regional long-haul tyres, and, according to Goodyear, can reduce tyre costs by up to 25%.
The Max Technology range has also been extended to include two smaller sizes, namely 17.5-inch and 19.5-inch on both RHS II steer and RHD IT drive tyres.
Danny van Essche, retread manager at Goodyear Dunlop Europe, says: "Every operator wants the best possible value for money, particularly in today's market conditions. TreadMax not only extends the life of our top-performing tyres, but also extends performance in terms of mileage and fuel consumption."
The same tread patterns and rubber compounds used on the new Max Technology range are used on the TreadMax remoulds, which Goodyear says gives them "near-identical" performance to brand new tyres.
To compete with independent retread firms Goodyear has invested £.1.6m in new equipment and production processes at its retread facility in Wolverhampton.
Nigel Sowerby, director for truck tyres at Goodyear UK, says: "Retreads are roughly 30% cheaper than brand-new tyres, which is a significant saving for any fleet operator."
Bridgestone is also targeting the retread market, adding four new products to its Qualitread range. Bridgestone has added new sizes to its range and the first to benefit is the M729 drive axle tyre that is now available in 17.5-inch, while the M749 long-distance rubber includes a 295/60R22.5. The R168 trailer pattern now encompasses two new dimensions — 385/55R22.5 and 425/65R22.5.
Bridgestone is also planning a retread offensive through various acquisitions. It has already bought Lincolnshirebased retread manufacturer Bulldog, which will see the independent firm utilise Bridgestone tread patterns on its own brand of cost-effective remoulds. •