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MOTORINDIA
l
April 2012
Continental
displays first wide,
single drive tyre
Following last year’s challenge to Mid-
America Trucking Show attendees to
provide feedback on tyre designs, Con-
tinental 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 ef-
ficiency 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 reduc-
tions in rolling resistance. This translates directly
into both fuel and maintenance savings for cost-con-
scious 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 compres-
sion for increased strength, according to Armstrong.
Its advanced groove geometry separates the forces
at each side of the groove bottom and reduces pre-
mature wear, says Roger Stansbie, director of com-
mercial vehicle tire research and development.
The release is the first of a series of drive tyres
from the company to feature evolving sipe technolo-
gies where a void in the middle of the tread blocks
creates a regenerating sipe as the tread wears.
w
MATS 2012: Technology Watch
“Additional features for lower rolling re-
sistance, and thus better fuel economy,
include straighter, narrow groove designs
and Continental’s Eco Plus advanced com-
pounding.”
– Mr. Cliff Armstrong