New OTR Tyres From Bridgestone To Be Shown At Intermat
Bridgestone/Firestone Europe is using Intermat 2000 to display its new generation of off-the-road tyres. Intermat is one of a series of exhibitions aimed at the construction and civil engineering industries and is being held in Paris from May 16-21. The first tyre on show is the new VTS (V-steel Traction and Stability); a 65-series radial for wheel loaders.
Computer design and extensive field trials have resulted in a tyre that is comfortable and with good self-cleaning properties. Sizes available: 650/65 R25, 775/65 R29. The VSDT (V-steel Super Deep Traction) is a radial tyre for loaders, dozers and graders with an extra-deep tread for longer service life.
It comes in size 23.5 R25, with two further sizes (26.5 R25 and 35/65 R33) planned for later this year.
A new tyre for reachstackers is the VCHS (V-steel Container Handler Safety and Stability), which has stiffened sidewalls for high stability and a high resistance to punctures. Sizes are 1800 R25 and 1800 R33. Also included in the comprehensive product line up are the established VLTS and VMTP tyres.
VLTS (V-steel L-Traction S) was developed for articulated dump trucks and in size 29.5 R25 for front-end loaders. It is, says Bridgestone/Firestone, ideal for working in all terrains.
Other sizes are 20.5 R25, 23.5 R25 and 26.
5 R25. The VMTP (V-steel M-Traction Premium) is a high-traction tyre with an extra-deep tread, for rigid dump trucks, especially those working on muddy surfaces. It comes in six sizes, from 18.
00 R33 to 33.00 R51. An Important Sector Off-the road tyres have proved very successful for Bridgestone/Firestone and the company claims a market share of over 40% in this sector, with sales in more than 150 countries.
Since 1996, Bridgestone has invested US$ 100 million in the off-the-road sector. Most of the OTR tyres for Europe – produced under the Bridgestone name – are made in Japan at the four plants at Amagi, Shimonoseki, Hofu and Kurume. Shimonoseki manufactures the world’s largest radial OTR tyre for monster 360-ton dump trucks; a tyre (size 55/80 R63) with a diameter of 3.
91 m and capable of carrying 94.5 tons. The complex at Hofu contains a special off-the-road R&D centre, with advanced equipment.
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