Continental introduces five truck tires in Louisville

Continental Tire North America Inc. made a big splash during the Mid-America Trucking Show's opening day activities.

Held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, the show opened Thursday, March 19, and will run through Saturday, March 21.

Continental unveiled its next generation of truck tires on Thursday, five tires in all.

"We listened to our customers and used their feedback to create tires that maximize the efficiency of their operations and offer them the lowest overall driving costs," says Clif Armstrong, commercial vehicle tire marketing director for Continental Tire -- The Americas.

The five tires include two steer tires, a drive tire, and a trailer tire, all manufactured at Continental's Mount Vernon, Ill., plant. The company also introduced a wide-base trailer tire.

1. HSR2 (Heavy Steer Regional): The redesigned regional steer tire replaces Continental's HSR, introduced in 2002. The HSR2 features a tread compound designed to increase mileage by 15% over the current HSR.

Other features include a 23/32-inch tread depth; an improved cut-and-chip resistant tread compound; patented groove geometry "for better resistance to cracking and tearing"; an improved curb rib for sidewall stability; a Visual Alignment Indicator (VAI) that alerts users to vehicle alignment problems; and a patented stone ejection system.

HDL2 DL (Heavy Drive Long-Haul Deep Lug): The over-the-highway long haul drive tire sports a full inch of tread depth and a wide tread pattern. The design of this tire offers attractive wear and removal mile characteristics, plus the patented stone ejection system.

HTL Eco Plus (Heavy Trailer Long-Haul): Trailer tires contribute 42% of the rolling resistance of all the tires on a typical long haul truck, according to Continental. That's why Continental engineers were intent upon making the HTL Eco Plus "one of the most fuel-efficient trailer tires possible."

The company says the tire, which has a 13/32-inch tread depth, improves fuel economy by 10%. Other features include a stone ejection system, "scuff" ribs and the VAI.

HSU2 (Heavy Steer Urban): The tire has 8% more tread depth (26/32-inch) and 17% more tread volume than its predecessor.

Designed for waste haulers and construction fleet owners, the HSU2  features an enhanced bead design that gives it a load-carrying capacity of 10,000 pounds at 65 mph. It also has a cut-and-tear resistant tread compound and a VAI.

HTL1 (Heavy Trailer Long-Haul): This wide-based super single tire is designed to replace two trailer tires. The HTL1's tread features a 13/32-inch depth, a shoulder defense groove, a pyramid stone bumper/ejection system and scuff ribs.

Armstrong says Continental will release more information on the tires in the next few weeks.