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INNOVATION DOWN UNDER
Page 49
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Tie tyre manufacturers focused on enhanced service life and fuel economy,
but a -yre maintenance
product stole the limelight at the CV show. Kevin
Swallow reports.
t the CV Show there was a lot of interest in a product designed to check Aril tyre quality:TruckFile'sTyre Life Check [TLC] system. It comprises a drive-over mat fitted with a sensor which measures changes in the magnetic field to check tread depth and reveal uneven wear.
TruckFile managing director Paul Clarke was fielding plenty of inquiries from operators keen to take on this product.The question now is who will manufacture it,and when it will be widely available.The good news is that it will make wandering around a truck with a clipboard, tread gauge and a pen in all weathers a thing of the past.
Elsewhere tyre manufacturers concentrated on reduced road noise, greater longevity and improved economy.
German tyre manufacturer Continental returned to the NEC for the first time in five years to launch two tyre ranges and a line-up of retreads. and 11TC 1 have revised tread patterns with increased depth and volume of rubber.
EISC1,1br steer axles, comes in 315/80 and 385/65 on 225in wheels; HDC1 is for steer axles,with HTC1 designed for trailers.
Continental also launched a widesingle van tyre, exhibited on the Mercedes-Benz stand specced for a 4.6-tonne Sprinter van. It is said to offer improved loadspace and tyre life when compared to twin drive-axle equivalents. Its third new product was the ContiRe retread tyre trailer with an 18mm depth. It comes in four sizes on 22.5in wheels and one on 17.5in.
Michelin launched two products for the trailer and steer-axle markets featuring its InfiniCoil design:Me X One Maxi'rrailer uses technology from its patented Durable Technologies brand; at 455/45R22.5, it is I 20in m wider than the 386/65 equivalent.The X Energy XF is a 315/60R22.5 steering tyre with a loading capacity of 7.5 tonnes aimed at car transporters moving larger vehicles such as 4x4s and people carriers.
A self-sealing tyre stood out on the Goodyear stand. Duraseal has a built-in sealant that surrounds any penetrating foreign object up to a depth of 6mm. It avoids the need for puncture repair and the subsequent downtime, the manufacturer claims.
Another noteworthy Goodyear highlight was the newly launched Regional RHS11 steer tyre which is designed to reduce road noise. Known for developing one of the bestestablished drive-axle tyres. the M729, Bridgestone is now concentrating on the short-haul market with the M749. It comes in three sizes on 22.5in wheels —315/80,295/80 and 315/70— and more sizes are on the way.
Bridgestone recently took over Bandag, which launched its own retread drive-axle product at the show. So confident is Bandag that it promises the new BDR-HT2 will deliver a lower operating cost than any other tyre product... or it will refund the difference.
liankook exhibited its AH22 steer tyre which will replace the AH11 over the next 12 months. It comes in four sizes:11.00 and 12.00 on 22.5in radial wheels and 295/80 and 315/80.
Hankook has revamped the tread compound and says its own testing indicates a 10% increase in durability with improved handling and steering response over the AH11.The company also launched a lowprofile premium wide-single trailer tyre,the Radial TH10, which is a 445/45R17.5. •