Continental Introduces a Stronger Truck Tire for Site Usage
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 8th June 2011: Continental Tires launched a new truck tire with high grip and higher resistance to damage on job sites.
With a high load capacity, the Continental HSC 1 ED tire is the tire for use in applications that require the trucks to go into construction sites and on unpaved roads. Developed as a result of target product improvement in close cooperation with its customers, Continental continues to introduce better products to serve its customer needs.
Operating parameters change swiftly, particularly in site logistics. This means that tires that have to carry 40 ton multi-axle vehicles out of quarries and along roads or stony terrain need to be built differently from tires used exclusively for long distance operation on asphalt roads. Whereas for the latter low rolling resistance, good track holding and low noise generation are the prime requisites, site tires have the difficult task of combining quiet running, high grip and extreme resistance to damage with good traction in muddy soil, on smooth roads and over stony tracks.
This specification was of major relevance when it came to the development of the HSC 1 ED tire series, where long polymer chains are the secret for success. “Longer polymer chains in the tread compound intertwine better, giving the tire greater elastic toughness. Tear damage is contained and cannot extend deeper into the tire. This means tread breaks are kept to a minimum” explained Bernd Korte, Head of Product Development for Commercial Vehicle Tires.
The belt layer on the new site tires has been considerably modified: there are three times as many belt wires in the second and third plies and they have all been coated with special rubber. This design means that even under extreme load, driving over rugged terrain on construction sites, there is less risk of the steel breaking. And should a sharp stone work its way right through to the belt, this area of damage remains isolated and does not pose a threat to the surrounding wires. This reduces the risk of extended damage to the belt. With these preventive measures, down time is minimised and cost for maintenance reduced.
Clients in Malaysia are already confirming the findings of the development team. “Continental tires provide good traction on challenging terrains. The high durability of these tires leads to reduced damage and optimum performance”, Tan You Meng, Director of ChipSeng Heng Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. states. The stiffer design of the sidewalls ensures greater resistance to deformation under load.
Thanks to these advances in development, Continental’s top performers for construction site use have been improved, not only in terms of mileage performance and durability – as the casing is now perfectly protected, it is even better preserved for remoulding. With the art of delivering the overall lowest driving cost in mind, remoulding and retreading are key considerations for the Continental R & D team when designing new tires.
The HSC 1 ED is available in 11R22.5 and 295/80R22.5*.
