Continental has introduced what the company describes as “a novel wheel/tyre system” which it believes could revolutionise the fitting of industrial tyres.
Called the CSEasy, the tyre can be fitted on any Lemmerz-type rim without using a mounting press and using only a special, conical-shaped adapter and a torque wrench. The advantages are obvious; no call-out delay and greatly reduced downtime as the tyre is fitted on-site straight away. “CSEasy,” says Continental, “will revolutionise Super-Elastic tyres forever.”

However, there is more to the CSEasy than just simple fitment, as the tyre claims to offer operational benefits compared with conventional Super-Elastic tyres. These benefits include lower rolling resistance, greater tolerance to heat build up and enhanced load-bearing capabilities.

CSEasy tyres will be introduced in popular sizes during 2006 and 2007. The sizes available from January 2006 are 180/70-8 and 7.00-12, with size 125/75-8 being introduced in April. Thereafter, size introductions will be as follows:
150/75-8, 200/75-9 and 225/75-10 (from July 2006); 6.00-9 and 250/75-12 (from October 2006); 5.00-8 (January 2007) and 6.50-10 (July 2007).

The CSEasy has been tested in the field by a number of companies, with Continental analysing the results. One operator has been trialling the tyres on a fleet of around 40, 4.5 tonne forklifts with an average of 2,500 hours operation annually. The current average service life is 1,200 hours, or around six months’ average use. After six months’ use, the CSEasy has nearly 40 per cent of its tread left, thus adding greater service life to the benefits gained from ease of fitting.

Case study number two involved a fleet of over 100 forklifts, ranging from 1.6 tonne to 7 tonne. Again, the tyres have been operating for six months and the indications are that the wear rate is better than the tyres in current use. When it comes to mounting the tyre, the person in charge of service and maintenance of the fleet described it in the following four words: ”Simple, fast, reliable, efficient.” When it comes to comfort, he adds: “There have been no complaints of fatigue from the drivers, it handles well on the vehicle and my personal impression is that it offers a soft ride.”