Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) has rolled out several new products, including a Firestone brand trailer tire that has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program.
The tire, the FT455 PLUS, has been engineered for free-rolling wheel positions, including trailer axles, tag axles and converter dollies. It will be available next month.
"Building on the ultra-economical performance of the Firestone FT455, the new FT445 PLUS radial adds innovative cap, base and sidewall compounding for exceptionally low rolling resistance," says Chris Hoffman, manager, TBR and Retread Product Marketing, BBTS.
"With traditional tandem drive tractors pulling single trailers, our research has found about 43% of tire fuel economy was attributable to trailer tires."
In addition, the FT455 PLUS meets California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements. "Starting this year, all 2011 model year trailers must use low rolling resistance tires verified by SmartWay in order to run in California. Within three years, that rule applies to all trailers longer than 53 feet."
The tire contains a shallow 12/32-inch tread depth, solid shoulder ribs, "straight flow-through tread grooves," and "extensive" rib siping, according to BBTS officials.
It will be available in size 295/75R22.5 in the G Load Rating.
Also new from BBTS is the Bandag BDR-HT3 tread for LTL fleet customers operating single-axle tractors. "Used in the drive axle position, the BDR-HT3 incorporates an innovative tread compound and tread pattern that resists tears and delivers outstanding mileage and exceptional wear."
The tread contains a bow tie-shaped tread block to distribute torque forces evenly, plus a "wider, buttressed shape design" for extra strength. "Tie bars link tread blocks to neighboring blocks, reducing the effects of tearing and cracking. An interlocking tread design and slightly angled block edges combat heel and toe wear."
