Continental Rolls Out ‘American’ Tyre
In November, Continental Tire the Americas launched the first tyre it has specifically engineered to both meet the needs of the people moving segment and to perform on roads throughout North and South America – the steer and all-position HSR2 SA. This heavy steer regional tyre was designed and will be produced at the company’s Mt. Vernon plant in Illinois, and according to Clif Armstrong, CTA’s marketing director for commercial tyres in the Americas, the HSR2 SA completes the tyre maker’s product portfolio for people movers. Conti’s American people mover range also contains a long-distance steer/all-position tyre for heavier buses and recreational vehicles (the HSL1 Coach, introduced in January 2010) and a steer/all-position tyre for urban bus traffic, the HSU1.
“A standard method of travel in Central and South America, bus and rapid transit is rapidly growing in the North American markets as public transportation systems are added and consumers look for ways to reduce their environmental impact,” Armstrong said. “By completing our product line-up for bus tyres with the HSR2 SA, we have introduced our first regional application bus tyre for the Americas that will help fleet managers and even RV drivers control their tyre and fuel costs.”
Conti states the HSR2 SA accomplishes the goal of maximum fuel efficiency on regional roads through its tread design and compound. Roger Stansbie, CTA’s director of truck tyre engineering for the Americas, reports the tyre was verified in July 2010 by the US EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership as a low rolling resistance truck tyre when used in line haul steer positions.
“Not only will fleet operators and drivers find the HSR2 SA to be fuel efficient, but other features we added to this tyre mean that it will perform well on regional roads in both North and South America, where you may find wet and muddy conditions, stones and other road hazards,” Stansbie explained. “We added customised tread geometry that aids in water evacuation for good wet traction, and reduces stone retention that can damage the tyre’s casing. We also balanced the pressure distribution with a five rib tread design and added our exclusive VAI + visual alignment indicator system to help ensure even wear.”
The VAI + system is described by Stansbie as a series of sipes that help detect faulty alignment conditions by allowing early detection of wear differences between the shoulder ribs. This feature also indicates tread wear by changing from a plus sign to a minus at 8/32 inches of tread wear and later disappearing altogether at 4/32nds.
The long mileage, reliability and fuel efficiency of the HSR2 SA are an unbeatable package that both bus fleet managers and owners of larger RVs will appreciate, Clif Armstrong added. “We’re proud to have engineered this uniquely ‘American’ tyre for bus and RV travel throughout our part of the world.”
The HSR2 SA is available throughout North and South America in sizes 275/80R22.5, 295/80R22.5 and 315/80R22.5.
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