Following last year’s challenge to Mid-America Trucking Show attendees to provide feedback on tyre designs, Continental showcased its first wide single drive tyre at this year’s show.
The HDL2 Eco Plus (Heavy Drive Long Haul) in size 445/50R22.5 was officially launched for sale with its display at the Continental pavilion.
“Along with Continental’s HTL1 trailer tyre, the HDL2 Eco Plus represents the new standards in fuel efficiency and mileage for long haul fleets who want to maximize the benefits of wide single truck tyres,” says Marketing Director Clif Armstrong. “Not only are these tyres easier to check for inflation and easier to maintain, but their lowered weight from two less beads, sidewalls and rim assemblies and advanced compounding mean that they offer significant reductions in rolling resistance. This translates directly into both fuel and maintenance savings for cost-conscious fleets and owner-operators.”
The wide single tyre features 27/32nds of tread depth, a closed shoulder and a three-dimensional sipe in the center of each tread block that allows flexibility, but couples the groove under compression for increased strength, according to Armstrong.
Its advanced groove geometry separates the forces at each side of the groove bottom and reduces premature wear, says Roger Stansbie, director of commercial vehicle tire research and development. “Additional features for lower rolling resistance, and thus better fuel economy, include straighter, narrow groove designs and Continental’s Eco Plus advanced compounding,” he adds.
The release is the first of a series of drive tyres from the company to feature evolving sipe technologies where a void in the middle of the tread blocks creates a regenerating sipe as the tread wears.