According to Rick Phillips, Yokohama’s director of commercial sales, a preview version of the RY407 was on display last year at MATS. “Now it’s in production and available in limited quantity. It’s also just been named a ‘SmartWay’ tire by the EPA, meaning it’s recognized as a low rolling resistance tire,” he says.
The RY407 super single, size 445/50R22.5, offers excellent fuel efficiency as well as a weight savings potential for fleets, says Phillips. “There’s less weight because there’s one tire and wheel assembly instead of two. And because of its unique design and construction we expect the RY407 to be a very durable and retreadable product.”
Phillips describes the highlights of the ultra-wide tread RY407:
- Better durability and less casing fatigue thanks to an
advanced profile.
- New, high-tech compounds for improved fuel efficiency.
- A zero-degree mid-belt that distributes the load
evenly, lessens running distortion and has a more consistent
footprint.
- Straight grooves for enhanced wet traction and cross sipes for wear resistance.
“MATS attendees definitely need to come by the booth to see the prototype 702, which utilizes Yokohama’s renowned Zenvironment technology,” says Phillips. “It’s going to be the most fuel efficient drive tire on the market. The 702 will be available in the U.S. in early 2012 in 295/75R22.5 and 11R22.5. It has a very sleek appearance and is totally unique. It looks more like a brawny steer tire than a drive tire.”
Key attributes of the 702 are:
- Low rolling resistance and superior fuel economy,
thanks to the new compound using Zenvironment technology
- Unique drive tire tread design.
- Solid shoulder rib and serpentine grooves for extra
rigidity and stability.
- Yokohama’s patented Stress Control Groove that
redistributes the shoulder load to prevent step down wear.
- Z Block design to improve wet traction and lower rolling resistance.
