Commercial Vehicle Tyres
Magna Tyres Group has supplied new tyres to a variety of projects on three continents. In Portugal, the company is providing its 17.5R25 MA05 for a tunnelling project on a Wagner/Atlas Copco Underground Loader, after previously proving a low cost price per hour and durability in past contracts.
Bridgestone has secured the largest commercial fleet contract in its history, a $110m, five-year deal with transport operator FirstGroup. Bridgestone will supply tyres to more than 60,000 of FirstGroup’s buses and coaches in the USA, Canada and the UK.
Michelin launched its new generation of truck tyres at the 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show in the UK and Ireland, stating that the new fitments deliver 15-20 per cent more mileage than the current Michelin X MultiWay 3D series, at no extra cost. The new X Multi tyre line-up has been designed to supply users with the lowest cost per kilometre and high levels of grip in all weather conditions throughout the life of the tread. Michelin has made the new tyres available immediately in four key fitments: 315/70R22.5 multi-position and drive tyres and 385/55R22.5 steer and trailer tyres. The range will be expanded with the launch of 295/60R22.5 and 315/60R22.5 X Multi D in September 2017 and then the 315/70R22.5 X Multi D Remix early in 2018.
Giti Tire’s GSW226, the brand’s first specific winter marked tyre, has won plaudits following a nine-day trip to Switzerland and Austria, fitted by one of the North East’s leading coach hire companies. Stockton-on-Tees-based Compass Royston, which undertakes transport for schools and travel operators, and counts Middlesbrough and Hartlepool United Football Clubs among its many sport clients, decided to trial the tyre based on brand feedback from its sister companies, Esk Valley Coaches and Proctors Coaches.
Giti Tire has released details of the six new Giti branded patterns that will be launched at CV Show 2017 (Birmingham NEC, 25-27 April). On show at stand 4G20 will be the GDR655 combi-road drive in 22.5”; the GTL919 long-haul trailer in 17.5”, 19.5”, and 22.5”; the GDR638 regional drive in 17.5” and 19.5”; the GT867 all-position urban in 22.5”; and the GAM837 all-position and GAM851 trailer mixed service patterns in 22.5”. The manufacturer said these models have been carefully selected to support its growing OEM presence throughout Europe or to target specific aftermarket sectors where growth potential has been identified. They each carry either the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) or M&S marking.
Michelin will start the process of replacing its most popular heavy truck tyre range on the Birmingham HEC’s stand 5A45 with the international debut of the all-new X Multi tyre line-up at the CV Show. The manufacturer states that its tests show the next-generation delivers 15-20 per cent more mileage than the current Michelin X MultiWay 3D series. The tyre is designed to deliver the lowest cost per kilometre with grip in all weather conditions. The new tyres will initially be available from April in 315/70 R 22.5 all-position and drive fitments, alongside 385/55 R 22.5 steer and trailer tyres. Additional sizes will follow later this year.
Continental has made its versatile Hybrid HD3 commercial vehicle tyre available as a ContiRe hot retread in sizes 295/80R22.5, 315/70R22.5, and 315/80R22.5. The retread has the same rubber compounds as the new tyre in both the tread and the sidewall, and retains the new tyre’s low weight, optimised rolling resistance and high ride comfort.
Full tyre service provision remains the ultimate goal of premium commercial vehicle tyre suppliers. Approaches to achieving such targets have become increasingly technological, and given the solutions developed by its corporate cousins, Continental’s tyre division is at the forefront. The German manufacturer will use its presence at the CV Show 2017 to highlight its operational solutions, designed to help inform fleets, put efficiency and safety first and provide a complete service to complement its comprehensive range of commercial vehicle tyres; products designed for LGV, HGV, and Materials Handling equipment will be exhibited.
Daimler’s homologation of Pirelli’s extra-load :01 Series commercial tyre products for city, highway and regional applications has continued, adding the latest Pirelli MC:01 (275/70R22.5). The tyre has been designed with an increased load index, suitable for new-generation transportation such as hybrid and electric vehicles, which require a greater axle load.
The introduction of Euro VI vehicles has naturally led to evolution in the tyre sector. As one of the premium brands responsible for original equipment supply to large HGV manufacturers, such as Volvo, Mercedes, Man, Scania, and Renault, Bridgestone’s newest products have been developed to take Euro VI into account, made to withstand higher front axle loads of the more fuel efficient vehicles. “Our new highway, regional, and on/off specifications have been developed with a higher load index to support these new vehicle designs,” Bridgestone UK technical / field engineering manager – north region, Gary Powell explains.
UK wholesaler and specialist in commercial vehicle products Kirkby Tyres continues to leverage its exclusive distribution deals in order to deliver the right tyres to the UK’s evolving commercial vehicle segment. The Speke, Liverpool based company has exclusive distribution agreements with Double Coin, Sailun and Longmarch, and these relationships are allowing it to fulfil customer requirements. “We believe that long-standing business relationships are essential,” Kirkby’s spokesman told Tyres & Accessories. “It is through such relationships that we are able to offer our customers assurance of quality, continuity of supply and a full manufacturers’ warranty.”
Giti Tire has renamed its UK retread programme Giti Genesis as part of its European truck and bus rebranding project. Originally known as GT REE-Tread, the next-generation products will keep the continuity of hot cure bead-to-bead retread tyres only manufactured using Giti casings. Retreading will be conducted in partnership with a leading UK-based operation. Giti Genesis is available in two patterns: the GDR690 regional drive axle tyre is available in 295/80R22.5, 315/70R22.5 and 315/80R22.5; the GTR990 regional trailer tyre is offered in size 385/65R22.5.
Giti Tire will unveil the first phase of its Giti branded truck and bus portfolio at the CV Show 2017. In total 20 patterns will make their European debut. The introduction of the Giti brand to European commercial vehicle markets was announced at Reifen 2016 last May. The manufacturer will present the products between 25 and 27 April on stand 4G20 at the Birmingham NEC.
Continental has introduced a new 19.5” fitment for its urban bus tyre, the Conti Urban HA3, part of its third-generation commercial vehicle tyre range. Tyres for this application are placed under higher stress in the inner-city public transport segment than in any other area of application, Conti states.
Fulda has launched the Ecotonn 2 HL high load trailer tyre to meet the demands of truck operators to increase payloads. Nearly 80 per cent of European countries now permit maximum permitted vehicle weights in excess of 40 tonnes, and operators naturally want to optimise the capacity of their vehicles. The Goodyear Dunlop brand has therefore introduced the new 385/65R22.5, allowing 10-tonne axle weights so that trailers can carry greater payloads.
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