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MOTORINDIA
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April 2012
109
Bridgestone’s
eco-friendly Ecopia tyres
Bridgestone debuted its new Ecopia truck
tyres and Bandag FuelTech retreads at the
Mid-America Trucking Show. These two prod-
uct lines, five new tyres and four retreads are
designed to work together.
According to company sources, spe-
cially engineered compounds paired with
matching retread patterns promote an eco-
friendly system that continues optimal
low rolling resistance from new Ecopia
tyre to FuelTech retread while extending
the casing life.
The Ecopia line includes the Greatec
M835 Ecopia drive and Greatec R135
Ecopia trailer radials for fleets that have
adopted wide base singles. Both tyres
utilize Bridgestone’s patented NanoPro-
Tech polymer technology in the tread
compound and a high-rigidity tread pat-
tern that’s claimed to promote even
wear for long original tread life, while
reducing rolling resistance.
A proprietary ‘Fuel Saver’ side-
wall compound lowers heat gen-
eration to reduce fuel costs, both
new and when retreaded, says
Bridgestone. Its patented Waved
Belt casing and Turn In Ply bead are
claimed to enhance casing durability
for optimized retreadability. Retread
patterns based on the Greatec M835
Ecopia and R135 Ecopia are available in
the Bandag FuelTech retread line.
Ecopia radials are EPA SmartWay veri-
fied and comply with the CARB require-
ments.
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MATS 2012: Technology Watch
The Ecopia line also includes
the new R283 steer tyre plus
conventional duals for drive
and trailer positions – the new
M710 drive and R197 trailer
radials.