Bandvulc debuts next-generation bus & coach tyre

Bandvulc has launched a new tyre for bus and coach operators. Introducing Citymaster 5, the Continental-owned retreader states that the tyre “majors on delivering exceptional reliability, durability and safety for operators of passenger carrying vehicles.”

Key to achieving these standards with the Citymaster 5 is, says Bandvulc, the all-new reinforced sidewall, which it developed exclusively for the bus and coach market. Tyres used in urban applications are frequently exposed to sidewall scrubbing, with buses and coaches especially vulnerable when pulling over against a kerb to collect and drop off passengers. This can cause damage to the tyre, resulting in the need to fit a replacement prematurely.

The Citymaster 5’s reinforced sidewall adds an extra layer of rubber compound to the outer sidewall for added protection against kerbing. The tyre also features a dimple indicator, moulded into the sidewall rubber in three places. This allows operators and technicians to easily see when a tyre has been ‘scrubbed’ enough to begin compromising its performance and should be considered for a change.

Bandvulc developed the high polymer rubber compound used in the Citymaster 5 to resist punctures and withstand the punishment of start-stop use. Both are vital to maintaining passenger safety and reliability of service.

Exceeding customer needs

“Our bus and coach customers demand the very highest standards from their tyres,” comments Tony Mailling, Bandvulc’s head of Hot Retread Production. “We created Citymaster 5 to not only meet their needs, but to exceed them. These operators are responsible for transporting large numbers of passengers on a daily basis, so safety is critical.

“As with all of our retread tyres, every casing is checked by our experienced team of specialists, and we have multiple processes, standards and ISO accreditations in place to ensure every tyre that leaves our factory is of the uppermost quality.”

Great handling characteristics

Along with the added resilience afforded by the reinforced sidewall, Bandvulc reports that Citymaster 5 also promotes great handling characteristics through its solid shoulder design, a wide contact area to combat lateral forces and additional deep sipes to provide excellent traction and grip. The tread pattern is retained from the tyre’s predecessor, the Citymaster 2, and is offset for noise reduction, with grooves designed to lessen the impact of any punctures.