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HD HYBRID TREAD GOES FROM R&D TO MARKETPLACE OPTION

24th May 2012, Page 31
24th May 2012
Page 31
Page 32
Page 31, 24th May 2012 — HD HYBRID TREAD GOES FROM R&D TO MARKETPLACE OPTION
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As part of its regular R&D activities, Continental regularly develops and tests new tread patterns. However, not all remain in the experimental category and its latest HD Hybrid drive-axle tyre, launched at the back end of last year, is a classic example of a prototype product which has found a home in Continental’s product line-up through close market analysis.

The HD Hybrid – currently offered in 315/80 R22.5, 295/80 R22.5, 315/70 R22.5 295/60 R22.5 and 275/70 R22.5 sizes – is a jack of all trades drive-tyre for operators whose artics not only do long-distance motorway work, but also cover regular journeys on winding country roads. It features the manufacturer’s second-generation casing and new tread technology with a combined rib/block structure, which not only guarantees maximum traction, but also a high level of economy due to its low rolling resistance.

Bernd Korte, Continental’s vice-president for CV product development and industrialisation, says: “The longitudinal groove design with a considerably deeper tread leads to optimised rolling-resistance while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption and allowing a long life.” The HD Hybrid’s specially developed twin groove/sipe pattern guarantees the same proportion of sipes and grooves over the complete usage life of the tyre. Halfway down the tread, a sipe turns into a groove that reaches down to the base of the tread. At the same time, a tread structure shaped as a groove when the tyre is new becomes a jagged sipe. Consequently, although the tyre changes its appearance over the course of its life, it retains its good traction and rolling-resistance properties throughout thanks to the new 3D sipe technology. Its noise levels are said to be even lower than Continental’s standard drive-axle tyre.

According to Continental’s head of truck tyre marketing and sales Herbert Mensching, the HD Hybrid is a good example of the company finding a practical market application with operators for a tread design that was originally developed in R&D.

“It was one of our patterns developed in test runs. We got so much positive reaction from our test fleets that we said ‘Why don’t we launch it?’ which we did in the end of 2011.” Roger Sanders, Continental’s UK general manager technical services, confirms: “HD Hybrid sits between our regional and long-distance products and it’s rapidly becoming our most popular drive-axle tyre, and in time could be our main tyre offering. We’ve been monitoring its performance closely and so far haven’t found any disadvantages over regular long-distance and regional products. In some cases its rolling resistance is even a slight improvement over a normal regional product, without any mileage deficiency.”


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