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Conti’s CSEasy Awarded ‘Archie’ for Innovation

Continental’s CSEasy industrial tyre has received the Fork Lift Truck Association’s (FLTA) prestigious innovation award. FLTA members, journalists and end-users selected the design effort of the Continental team, and the company received its award at the ‘Archies’ dinner and prize giving ceremony that took place in Birmingham on February 9.

The tyre is the first of its kind to be fitted with a torque-limiting wrench and to eliminate the need for a mounting press, and as such has brought what many view as a sea change to materials handlings departments. Lower ownership cost during the tyre’s lifespan have been reported for the CSEasy in comparison to standard forklift tyres, through the delivery of higher mileage and lower rolling resistance. Through this last feature energy consumption and CO2 emissions are also reduced with the Continental tyre.

21st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Going Natural

All tyres on the market today include a fossil fuel component, and numerous attempts have been made to minimise the use of such non-renewable resources. In March Sumitomo Rubber releases its Enasave 97 tyre, in which the use of fossil fuels is limited to 3 per cent – a major advance on previous attempts. However for Sumitomo Rubber a 97 per cent renewable ingredient content is not enough. On February 14 company president Tetsuji Mino unveiled Sumitomo’s vision of and work towards a 100 per cent natural resources.

“Relying on 3 per cent fossil fuels is a major hurdle,” Mino said. “I don’t think we can make it in one or two years, but I’m determined to put the tyre on the market even if it takes five to ten years.” The residual 3 per cent in the Enasave 97 is required for the antioxidant and the rubber accelerator used in the vulcanisation process, and previous attempts to eliminate it have drawn a blank. According to senior executive officer Takaki Nakano, “With the current technology, they cannot be replaced by natural resources.”

15th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Concept Tyre on Land Rover LRX

Land Rover recently displayed its vision of tomorrow’s 4×4 vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show. Called the LRX, the concept vehicle pointed towards the development of lighter, hybrid powered vehicles – and low rolling resistance 245/45 R 20 tyres, specially designed and supplied by Continental.

“We developed the tyre design in close contact with the Land Rover Design Group,” commented Conti designer Ulrich Behr. “We focused on making a tyre with low rolling resistance that is a symbiosis of design elements from off-road and sports tyres. And the 20-inch size is in tune with the vehicle size and appearance. The LRX logo was integrated in the flowing tread elements to accentuate the exclusive nature of the experimental vehicle.”

7th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Question of the Month: The Right Type

Recently there has been talk of how new EU laws favour low rolling resistance tyres. The concern is that the legislation would favour premium, energy saving tyres, but effectively outlaw budget products. While low rolling resistance tyres use less fuel, such a move would also limit consumer choice. So, is the concept of low rolling resistance type approval a good idea? Let your opinion count by voting online here.

24th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Question of the Month: The Right Type

Recently there has been talk of how new EU laws favour low rolling resistance tyres. The concern is that the legislation would favour premium, energy saving tyres, but effectively outlaw budget products. While low rolling resistance tyres use less fuel, such a move would also limit consumer choice. So, is the concept of low rolling resistance type approval a good idea? Let your opinion count by voting online here.

22nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg TM900 Now Available in 800/70R38

Trelleborg has added a 800/70R38 variation to its TM900 High Power line. Developed for very high powered tractor (over 350 hp), Trelleborg says the new tyre guarantees high efficiency on torque transmission minimizing soil compaction. The TM900 HP is also said to perform on the road thanks to a new shaped shoulder and low aspect ratio (70 series) for optimal lateral stability. Trelleborg also reports that the tyre features low rolling resistance and and longer tyre life due to “excellent” wear resistance.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo OE on 2009 Nissan Murano

Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation will supply its Proxes A20 tyre as original equipment on Nissan’s all-new 2009 Murano crossover vehicle. The 2009 Murano will reportedly be available starting in January of 2008. The Proxes A20 is an all-season tyre specifically designed to reduce noise and improve both wet and dry performance, while maintaining ride comfort. Improvements were also made to reduce rolling resistance. The Proxes A20 comes standard on the four-wheel drive LE trim level of the Murano in size P235/55R20 102T.

27th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

MRF Releases Silica Based PCR Range

India’s largest tyre manufacturer, MRF, has unveiled a new high performance PCR line. Called the MRF ZSLK, the tyre features a silica reinforced compound that is said to reduce rolling resistance, thus providing economic and green benefits. MRF reports that, in addition to in-house tests conducted by the company’s R&D centre, the ZSLK series has undergone testing with the globally respected technical services firm, Germany’s TÜV.

19th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TUV Test: Michelin Tyres Have Longest Life

Michelin car tyres have the longest life according to Auto Express. Tests carried out by independent testing body TUV Sud, and witnessed by Auto Express, compared Michelin tyres with six of their main European competitors. The 15-inch Michelin Energy E3A tyres showed a 35 per cent longer tyre life than the worst performing tyre in the test and a significant 18 per cent advantage over the second best tyre.

26th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Sizes Boost Avon Roadrider Range

Avon Tyres has increased the range of its general purpose Roadrider range to 33 sizes, and the company now claims there is a Roadrider tyre for every bike from a Triumph T140 Bonneville right through to Honda’s CB500.

Drawing upon the company’s sports pedigree and construction methods developed from its high-performance range of tyres, the technicians at Avon have designed a multi-arc tread profile for the Roadrider that Avon says forces the biggest possible contact patch onto the road, whatever the lean angle. The need for light and precise handling whilst moving at slow speeds through traffic also called for an advanced casing design to give low rolling resistance and positive feel.

23rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Tire America Launching New Tyre, Sizes at Truck Show

(Akron/Tire Review) Hankook Tire America Corp. plans to unveil its newest medium truck tyre and extensions to existing lines at this week’s Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.

New is the Hankook TL01, a trailer position six-rib radial. Hankook claimed the new tyre delivers low rolling resistance for fuel economy and long life, has multi-angled siping for wet traction, and a groove on the outer rib for irregular wear resistance. The tyre also has stone ejectors to protect against stone drilling.

The TL01 is available in sizes 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5.

Hankook is also adding sizes to existing truck tyre lines, including: AM02 – 445/65R22.5, AM06 – 315/80R22.5 (10,000 lb. load capacity), and AH12 – 275/70R22.5

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Truck Tyres Now More Appealing in Nova Scotia

(Akron/Tire Review – Halifax Chronicle Herald) A rule change introduced August 16 by the Canadian province of Nova Scotia will make a double-wide tyre produced by Michelin more attractive to local truckers.

Nova Scotia has increased the weight limit for axles equipped with the new-generation wide-based single tyres to 7,700 kilograms per axle from 6,000 kilograms per axle.

The tyres, called X-One and made by Michelin at its Waterville, Nova Scotia plant, are considerably wider than the older-style single tyres and have been specifically designed to replace dual tyres.

Transportation Minister Angus MacIsaac said the new rules make wide-based single tyres a more attractive option for truckers who want to cut operating costs and energy consumption.

Single wide-based tyres reduce rolling resistance, improve fuel economy and allow truckers to carry additional payload on roads that are capable of handling the increased weight, Michelin claims.

Peter Nelson, executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, welcomes the option. “Next-generation wide-based tyres are to be celebrated for their efficiency and safety,” said Nelson.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Iran Designs Nano Tyres

International News, Product News

Iran’s Polymer and Petrochemical Institute incorporated “highly friction-resistant” nanotechnology into the development of vehicle and aircraft tyres. According to a Meridian Institute report, Iranian researcher Mohammad Karrabi said: “In this method, the frictional resistance of tyres has been increased through calculating the mechanical characteristics of them. Lower rolling resistance and higher frictional resistance will lead to less fuel consumption.” He also said that the use of nanotechnology will help Iran’s automobile manufacturers compete in the market. The project, which was launched with support from the Presidential Office last year, will be completed by next year.

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti OE for New Fiat 500

Following the successful reinterpretation of the Volkswagen Beetle and the Mini, Italy’s iconic pint sized town car has made a comeback, and in its 2007 guise is equipped with tyres from Continental. The new Fiat 500, the visual if not technological successor to the hugely popular rear-engine car built between 1957 and 1975, will sport Conti rubber on all standard sizes of rim – 14, 15 and 16-inch.

The majority of tyres supplied by Continental will be in the 165/65R14 T size. Roberto Zazzara, who is responsible for the original equipment tyres that Continental delivers to Fiat, explains: “We supply Fiat with the ContiEcoContact 3, a tyre that offers low rolling resistance and thus reduced fuel consumption, and we are Fiat’s sole supplier for this size.” In terms of 15 and 16-inch tyres, Continental is equally well-represented with its ContiPremiumContact 2, which also offers low rolling resistance. Both tyres have been designed to ensure short braking distances on wet and dry roads, good lateral guidance and comfortable driving characteristics, combined with low rolling resistance.

7th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dow Moves to Maintain Long-Term Supply of SSBR

The world’s second largest chemical manufacturer, Dow Chemical Co., announced on June 11 that construction had begun on a new facility for producing Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR). This facility, located in the central German town of Schkopau, is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2008 and will have a production capacity of 60 kilotonnes.

SSBR is a key component in the manufacture of high-performance tyres, and according to Dow the substance is the rubber market’s fastest growing segment, with anticipated annual growth of five to six per cent over the next few years. To assure a continuing and cost-effective supply of the key raw components of SSBR – butadiene and styrene – Dow has invested in securing its own providers of these materials.

19th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors