Continental Tires the Americas LLC is updating its lineup of regional all-position and drive tires, and also bringing a new tire for extreme winter conditions to the North American market. Additionally, the tiremaker has unveiled new ContiConnect solutions for fleets, with digital tire monitoring capabilities for every vehicle in a fleet.
The company unveiled the updates during the TMC Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition.
The new tires represent Continental's fifth generation of products for original equipment and replacement. The Conti HSR5 is a regional all-position tire, while the Conti HDR 5 is a regional drive tire. Both tires will be available in the North American market in the final quarter of 2023.
The Conti HSR 5 is made specifically with handling for class 4 and 5 trucks in mind. It has new tread compounds for improved rolling resistance and durability. Siping across the full width of the tire provides traction and improved handling throughout the tire's full life. It is available in size 225/70R19.5, load range G, at 16/32-inch tread depth.
The Conti HDR 5 features 3D matrix siping for both improved traction and tire wear. The open shoulder grooves provide traction without sacrificing tread life, and the tire's new compounding is designed to help with rolling resistance and durability. The tire is available in tire size 225/70R19.5, load range G, at 16/32-inch tread depth.
Both tires feature the Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) certification, and are sensor-ready and can be retreaded. The Conti HSR 5 and Conti HDR 5 are replacing the Conti Hybrid HS3 and Conti Hybrid HD3 tire offerings.
Some of the Generation 5 tires will have RFID capabilities enabling a fleet to know the make/model, serial number, unique identification number and size of the tire. This technology helps fleets improve tire asset management and tracking the total life cycle of the tire.
“Our Continental Generation 5 tires set a new bar in performance for our customers. When a tire is enabled with Continental digital technology such as Gen II sensor and RFID tag, the tire becomes an object for life with complete tracking for maintenance, retreading and transparency for fleet managers,” says Shaun Uys, head of U.S. market truck tires teplacement for Continental. “In fact, Ford has selected the Conti HSR 5 and HDR 5 tires in the 19.5-inch size as the OE fitments for its new 2023 Ford F450 and F550.”
For performance in extreme weather, the Conti Scandinavia HD3 is a regional drive tire coming to the U.S. and Canadian markets during the second quarter of 2023. The tire features a directional M+S tread pattern which allows for even wear and traction in snow or mud. The tire's all-season compounding allows it to perform no matter the weather.
The tire is engineered with multiple sipe technologies including 3D siping to provide traction during winter weather conditions throughout the tire's life. It also comes with the 3PMSF certification. The tire is available in two sizes: 11R22.5 and 11R24.5, load range H and 27/32-inch tread depth. The Continental 3G casing features high-tensile-strength steel belts to support multiple retreads and has an extended 4fourth belt for enhanced retreadability. The tire can be sensor ready and can have RFID capabilities. A matching retread - the ContiTread Scandinavia HD3 – is available.
The tires come with Continental’s Limited Warranty Adjustment Policy. This includes coverage against defects in workmanship and materials for seven years or three retreads from the date of manufacture when retreaded by an authorized dealer.
ContiConnect is Continental's cloud-based tire monitoring solution for fleets.
“At Continental we believe that in the B2B space, we are shifting to a digitalization model where connected products and services are the key to fleet efficiency and profitability,” says Uys,. “Our intelligent digital solutions are the future of tire management and allow us to partner with the fleet and the tire dealer to adapt to specific customer needs and not an ‘off-the-shelf’ product. This is exactly what fleets are seeking today.”
In March 2023, ContiConnect is offering a live truck and trailer solution for long haul and regional applications and fleets that don't frequently return to a central location. The solution offers GPS asset tracking to improve fuel efficiency, extend tire life, reduce labor costs equated with manual tire inspections, detect missing/stolen tires, and reduce tire failure.
This fall ContiConnect Live Stand-Alone Trailer Solution, for trailers that don't remain with the cab in regional and long-haul applications. For trailers in this "drop and hook environment," Continental is providing a battery-powered device so unhooked trailers can have real-time monitoring around the clock for up to a month. This solution will track GPS location, mileage estimation, tire pressure and temperature data, meaning tire issues can be addressed before the trailer returns to the depot. Stolen or missing tires can be detected when the sensors are read, and their location determined.
Continental also maintains the ContiConnect Yard Reader, which debuted in 2019, and serves vehicles that are near the yard station reader for about two minutes so tire and sensor data can be transmitted.
Continental's Gen II sensors provide casing temperature, as the brand-agnostic sensor is mounted to the inner liner of the tire. The sensor lasts about four years, and tire monitoring includes pressure and temperature, mileage and battery estimation, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
“Venezia operates 750 tractors and 1,500 trailers that utilize a ContiConnect Yard Reader,” says Bob DeAngelo, director of maintenance, Venezia Transport. “The ContiConnect Yard Reader gives Venezia the ability to quickly show our customers that we have implemented a solution to ensure on-time deliveries.” Venezia Transport has increased their trailer tire life span from 24 to 36 months.
