Continental reports that its just-released HDR1 (Heavy Drive
Regional) Eco Plus is one of the few open shoulder drive
tires to be verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay program for low rolling
resistance.
The tire “will rapidly become the drive tire of choice for
local pickup and delivery fleets that require a true open
shoulder design for optimal traction, yet need the on-
highway fuel efficiency of a low rolling resistance truck
tire,” predicts Clif Armstrong, director of marketing for
commercial vehicle tires.
“We’re proud to offer this unique drive tire that meets the
strict requirements of the U.S. EPA’s SmartWay Transport
Partnership,” he says.
Tires verified under the program help reduce emissions and
fuel consumption for line-haul, class 8 trucks.
“Continental is committed to bringing innovative solutions
to trucking fleets throughout the Americas, and this tire is
no exception,” Armstrong says. “With its advanced fuel-
efficient compounding, regional fleets will find that this
tire lowers their driving costs, mile after mile, and has
the traction features they want.”
Designed and produced at Continental’s plant and research
center in Mt. Vernon, Ill., the HDR1 Eco Plus keeps the same
open shoulder design and reduced stone retention that fleets
came to rely on from the original HDR1 model, introduced in
2009, according to Armstrong.
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Continental’s truck tire engineers also included a lug angle
that resists irregular wear over the extended lifetime of
the tire; a high endurance tread design with grooves that
reduce stone retention; and advanced fuel-efficient tread
compounding, he notes.
While many manufacturers are offering SmartWay-verified
drive tires with a partially open shoulder – with tie bars
between the grooves – the HDR1 Eco Plus remains a true open
shoulder for the tire’s entire lifetime, explains Roger
Stansbie, Continental’s director of commercial vehicle tire
technology. “This ensures that the truck operator has the
security of traction in inclement weather that is typically
not found in closed shoulder designs,” he adds.
“Our engineers in Mt. Vernon have balanced the major needs
of the on-highway regional fleet – traction, durability and
fuel economy,” says Stansbie. “While the HDR1 Eco Plus still
offers the open shoulder and superior removal miles in the
drive tire position, we’ve now upped the ante with a 19
percent improvement in rolling resistance over our original
product.”
The fuel-saving capabilities of new tire “are particularly
exciting” for regional fleets that have been following the
proposals of the U.S. EPA and the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), according to Stansbie.
Regulations proposed in late October aim to further regulate
greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for vehicles
ranging from heavy duty pickups to commercial trucks,
starting in 2014 and 2018. “Since regional fleets may be
affected by these regulations, they’ve been awaiting a low
rolling resistance drive tire to meet their needs,”
Armstrong says.
“We recently conducted a demonstration of our regional tire
capabilities to fleets at the Continental Proving Grounds in
Uvalde, Texas,” Armstrong recounts, “and they were thrilled
to see how the combination of the HSR2 Eco Plus steer tire
and this new HDR1 Eco Plus drive tire performed against the
leading competitor,” he adds.
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“After fleets saw more than 5 percent fuel savings with our
tires on the track at Uvalde, they’ve been telling us how
impressed they are with Continental’s fuel-efficient
products. We’re happy to tell them that the wait is over,”
Armstrong asserts.
“The HDR1 Eco Plus is now available to help them meet not
only government standards for fuel savings, but to also
deliver the durability and grip they need in diverse driving
conditions,” he says.
It is now available in load ranges G and H, size
275/80R22.5.
For more information visit www.continental-
truck.com.