Continental takes flight with new airport ground service tire

For tire dealers plying the aviation tarmac trade, Continental’s new ContiRV20 “is supplying a new benchmark for airport ground service industrial tires,” reports marketing director Martin Burdorf.

“The ContiRV20’s design sets a new standard in ride comfort and handling on airport sites,” he adds, calling it “the first pneumatic industrial tire developed with the durability, speed characteristics and comfort needed for the airport ground service application.”

Strength and durability is attributed to a closed shoulder that avoids tread tearing, plus a reinforced sidewall that resists damage, according to Burdorf. “Field tests have shown a reduction in tire replacement by 5-6 times compared to passenger/van tires or crossply (bias construction) tires in the airport ground support application.”

In high-speed applications, heat buildup can lead to reduced service life, he points out. “The ContiRV20 reduces this problem with a perfectly balanced tread depth. The tread also features a unique Continental compound that minimizes rolling resistance, leading to greater fuel economy, while still maintaining a full grip on all surfaces,” Burdorf continues.

“The lowered rolling resistance of the ContiRV20 allows customers to save fuel costs with every mile they drive on this tire,” he explains. “The extra mileage per gallon of fuel, up to 30 percent more than with a crossply tire, allows airlines to work toward lowering their overall energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions as required by law.”

Continental also designed elements that provide a smooth ride for airport personnel in ground support. Its ribbed tread design minimizes vibration, which reduces wear on the vehicle itself, while the radial carcass offers the maximum comfort level on this type of terrain, Burdoff says.

The new tire is thus “the ideal solution for airport ground service vehicles that often experience sidewall damage, excessive tread wear and damage that causes flat tires. This product, together with Continental’s commercial truck and passenger tires, rounds out our suite of tire offerings to the airport ground support industry,” he says. “Now, airport personnel can choose Continental tires for all of their equipment from service trucks to passenger vans, and enjoy a tire that is customized to their specific needs yet lowers their operating costs.”

Available in various sizes for industrial and drop-center rims, new TSR (tubeless sealing ring) technology allows it to be mounted as a tubeless application.

For more information, visit www.continental-industrial-tires.com.