So, apart from the obvious investments in research and development, how exactly has Michelin improved its XLine highway tyre range’s wet grip and rolling resistance? And what do we know about why these tyres perform throughout the life of the tread?
Continental has launched a new winter tyre for coaches, the Scandinavia HSW 2 Coach, saying that an increasing number of transport companies are now using its latest seasonal heavy commercial vehicle products. In several European countries, the use of winter tyres on trucks is a legal requirement with, in some cases, a minimum tread depth requirement of 6mm.
Heuver Tyrewholesale has established itself as a major European player over the past 45 years, a position it says works to the benefit of customers and end users alike. The Netherlands-based company shared with Tyres & Accessories that the decision to specialise in the truck, earth-moving and agricultural markets has proved to be a strength for Heuver and offers many opportunities. The company deals in all well-known brands and possesses its own comprehensive range of imported brands.
Nokian has unveiled a new addition to its Noktop Hakkapeliitta line with a product it calls the market’s first winter tread for wide trailer tyres. The Noktop Hakkapeliitta F is designed particularly for commercial vehicles with low trailers in international operation especially in Nordic conditions. The tread is available for tyre casings in size 445/45R19.5.
Passenger car tyre retreading will have its own exhibition area at October’s Brityrex International show, with the announcement of a dedicated Retreading Pavilion. The Pavilion’s aim is to showcase the latest and best in car retreading, which has declined in terms of both UK manufacturing and market share in recent years.
Visitors to Michelin’s stand at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, which opens to the public today, will be greeted by a whole new range of tyres from the French manufacturer. The world premier of the X Line Energy range is being held at the show; Michelin says the launch of the new range comes at a “special time” as it coincides with the introduction of the European tyre labelling programme.
With high durability in mind and with shoulders designed using Virtual Intelligent Prototyping technology to reduce wear, the Maxxis heavy truck range reportedly incorporates 22.5 inch steer, drive and trailer tyres as well as a super single.
Goodyear has followed its announcement that it will exhibit AA-labelled concept passenger car tyres at Reifen 2012 with the news that its Marathon LHT II long haul trailer tyre has achieved an A grade in fuel economy. The manufacturer says that fitting a combination of its Marathon LHS II + steer tyres, LHD II + drive tyres and LHT II trailer tyres to a typical five-axle 40 tonne truck could equip the vehicle with a fuel-saving combination of six A-grade, two B-grade and four C-grade tyres, depending on tyre size. The tyres also score well in the wet grip and noise emissions categories.
GT Radial has announced that it will launch four new truck tyres and two new car tyres in Hall Three at Reifen 2012, including a flagship product for the ultra high performance sector. The company’s first retreaded truck tyre – the GT REE Tread, or GTR990 – will also be displayed at Messe Essen, making its first European appearance having been launched at The Commercial Vehicle Show 2012. The retread is a hot cure bead-to-bead retread built on GT Radial casings, available in a regional trailer pattern and in 385/65R22.5 sizing.
Automotive and transport consulting group, CLEAR has shown that there was growth of 58 per cent in heavy trailer demand in Eastern Europe in 2011. Thirteen of the fifteen countries covered in the report had growth of over 30 per cent, while three other markets grew by more than 100 per cent. The stand-out nation was Turkey, which completely recovered from the downturn of 2009 to post record trailer demand in 2010 and 2011, making it the largest trailer market in Eastern Europe.
Continental has added two larger models to its range of premium commercial vehicle tyres with the introduction of new, larger steer and trailer products for volume-optimised transport operators. The HSR2 XL for front steer axle is designed for higher load capacities, while the second is the HTR2 trailer tyre in 55 cross-section for use on high volume vehicles.
Off-road tyre specialist, Mitas Tyres Limited – the UK distributor of Mitas tyres manufactured in Eastern Europe – has announced that it will give away copies of its new Tyre Pressure Management Guide as well as exhibiting examples from its three new tyre ranges at LAMMA 2012. The Mitas Tyre Pressure Guide highlights three steps to achieve optimal tyre pressures in the field and on the road. Mitas says the publication will help farmers to achieve significant financial savings by reducing fuel costs and wear-and-tear, whilst also improving performance.
Tyre companies are no strangers to sport sponsorship. Motorsport deals have become almost de rigueur in some circles of late, and football has provided other manufacturers with a respectable alternative to on-track involvement. Yet the sporting world offers a plethora of opportunities; tapping one of the more unexpected of these is Carlisle Tire & Wheel, whose Radial Trail RH trailer tyre has been named official tyre of the 2012 American Bass Anglers Tour.
The uncertain economic outlook in Europe looks set to hit sales of heavy trailers in 2012. Demand for new trailers is now forecast to fall below the level of 2011, according to some market analysts. As a consequence the sales figure for 2012 will be 10,000 trailers less than was forecast in May this year.
Reduced downtime, improved tyre management and greater security are three of the advantages Goodyear claims the introduction of microchips into its truck tyre range will bring. The tyre maker has released its first product to utilise the technology, the Goodyear Regional RHT II RFID (Radio Frequency Identity) 435/50R19.5 trailer tyre; the microchip built into the tyre helps deliver fleet operators the above benefits through interfacing with FleetOnlineSolutions, Goodyear Dunlop’s internet-based tyre management programme.
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