A new deep lug drive tire from Continental has been verified for meeting low rolling resistance standards by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to executives manning the company’s booth at the March 25-27 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.
A new low rolling resistance version of Continental’s deep lug drive tire, the HDL2 DL Eco Plus, is set for a June release in size 275/80R22.5. It has already been added to the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership’s list.
The Heavy Drive Long Haul Deep Lug edition is designed to provide long original mileage with the industry’s deepest tread offering that encompasses a full inch, according to Clif Armstrong, director of commercial vehicle tire marketing.
It also sports a closed shoulder tread design that provides excellent traction in both wet and dry road conditions and resists irregular wear. An innovative lug angle provides outstanding traction throughout the life of the original tire, and a wider casing increases handling stability, he says.
“Previously, tires could be submitted for SmartWay verification either as individual tires, or as a combined package of steer, drive and trailer axle tires with a collective rolling resistance (RR) index for all three positions,” notes Roger Stansbie, the company’s director of radial truck tire technology development.
“This latter combination procedure potentially meant that some tires with higher RR indexes than the limit for SmartWay could be verified, because the lower RR index of the partner tires in the combination could make up the difference,” he explains.
“However,” says Stansbie, “it is generally understood that during 2010, SmartWay will no longer allow this combined method to be used to gain approval. In addition, those tires previously approved using the combined method will have to be re-verified as individual tires before the end of the year,” he reports.
“The HDL2 DL Eco Plus meets the current standard for the drive axle, and all Continental truck tires currently verified by SmartWay are capable of qualifying on the individual basis. Fleets will not notice any change in our SmartWay lineup when the EPA changes this requirements for qualification later this year,” Stansbie says.
By anticipating this change to the guidelines and making sure that its tires meet the individual requirements, Continental is making sure that trucking fleets that select its SmartWay verified tires will be able to continue using these products for long haul applications, he continues.
“Trucking fleets can count on Continental to meet and even exceed EPA SmartWay standards for low rolling resistance and fuel economy, now and in the future, to help them lower their overall driving costs,” adds Armstrong
In addition to the HDL2 DL Eco Plus, the HSL2 (steer), HDL Eco Plus (drive), HTL Eco Plus (trailer) and HTL1 (trailer) are also included on the SmartWay list of verified tires.
Tires verified by the EPA for lower rolling resistance can provide a reduction in NOx emissions and an estimated fuel savings of 3 percent or greater, relative to the “best selling” new tires for line haul trucks, when used on all five axles on long haul class 8 trucks.
According to the EPA, its projected savings of between 3.3 and 6.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year represents an annual savings of as much as 150 million barrels of oil. “This is the equivalent of taking 12 million cars off the road, leading SmartWay partners to save nearly $10 billion in operating costs.”
For more information, visit www.continental-truck.com.
