Light Continental truck tyres redress Euro 4 weight gains

For a truck tyre to contribute to the operating economy of a fleet, it must be maintained at the correct pressure to achieve optimum fuel consumption and ensure low casing wear for long service life. But more significantly, it must possess low rolling resistance, an area of product development in which Continental Truck Tyres Europe excels.

Extensive in-house testing of its truck tyres against those of competitor brands confirms that Continental sets a leading edge in low rolling resistance. This has significant benefits to the operator in terms of fuel consumption which is achieved by a combination of tread design, specially developed rubber compounds and high tech materials

Depending on the vehicle application additional benefits from low rolling resistance can be achieved. These include extended mileage performance and reduced weight. In regional and long distance applications axle weight can have an impact on gross vehicle weight and load volume, but it is in construction and on-off road applications where the impact is greatest.

Research conducted for Continental Tyres has shown that its tyres are typically lighter than those of its competitors – enough on an eight wheeler to make up for the inherent weight penalties of the technical changes needed to attain the Euro 4 emissions standard.

This lighter weight benefit has been achieved by employing low rolling resistance tread compound and design which enables lower running costs with no loss of durability or strength – indeed tests show that Conti truck tyres perform at least as well their competitors. The higher technology needed to achieve lighter weight but high strength is available to operators at no extra cost compared with conventional tyres.

In addition to lighter weight, Conti tyres offer higher mileage and long-term economy of ownership is also assured by the lowest rolling resistance truck tyres available in the market. According to research and development carried out in-house, Continental truck tyres set the benchmark for rolling resistance: tests indicate that its 445/45 R 19.5 HTL1 trailer tyre, for instance, offers a saving of up to five percent in fuel usage over comparable trailer tyres.

Whether using SCR or EGR technology, Euro 4 trucks (all those registered after 1 October 2006) have got heavier, meaning a typical reduction in payload of up to 100kg. But choosing the right tyres could wholly offset that, Continental claims, following an intensive comparative ‘weigh in’ of truck tyres from its leading competitors conducted by the Entyrety organisation.

The Continental tyre weight research programme followed an approach it received from Mercedes-Benz at the CV Show in 2006 as it looked into ways of reducing weight on its Econic vehicles. Continental embarked on an exercise to compare tyre weights of its product range versus its main competitors.

Truck manufacturers and operators are constantly looking for areas to save weight in order to offset generic increases in chassis kerb weight, to increase payload and to avoid the risk of overloading. Reduced weight also leads to lower fuel consumption and harmful emissions.

All truck operators benefit from reduced vehicle weight but it is a less critical factor in general haulage. The operators most likely to benefit from lighter tyres are those with multi axle rigids, specifically 8x4s, where weight is critical. Mixers and waste collection vehicles will also benefit due to potential extra payload.

On behalf of Continental, Entyrety took the key tyres sizes used on both light and heavy trucks as well as trailers in regional, long distance and construction or off road applications and weighed the Conti product range along with equivalent products from its main competitors. Sizes weighed were as follows:

Light Trucks 215/75R17.5, 235/75R17.5
Heavy Trucks 11R22.5, 295/80R22.5, 315/70R22.5, 315/80R22.5
Trailer 385/65R22.5, 445/45R19.5

Without exception Continental’s tyres proved to be either of equal or less weight than its competitors across the entire range. Highlights of savings possible from Continental versus the worst case competitor are as follows:

Construction / Off Road Applications
- up to 10kg saving per tyre on steer axles
- up to 8kg saving per tyre on drive axles
- up to 9kg saving per tyre on trailer axles

Local Distribution Applications
- up to 9kg saving per tyre on steer axles
- up to 9kg saving per tyre on drive axles
- up to 5kg saving per tyre on trailer axles

Long Haul Applications
- up to 7kg saving on steer axles
- up to 6kg saving on drive axles
- up to 9kg saving on trailer axles

In a construction application the savings possible on an 8x4 are between 80 – 100kg per vehicle.

“This is a significant figure”, says Arthur Gregg, Sales & Marketing Director Truck Tyres, “Truck makers spend massive investment to make this sort of weight gain but we can offer it as a given”.

Mr Gregg added that, since the results of the independent weight trials have been shared with various truck manufacturers, positive interest has been received from several, all of whom are now considering specifying Continental tyres on their multi axle rigid products.

“There may be a perception that the reduced weight of Continental tyres is due to there being less rubber on the tyre but this is not the case”, says Mr Gregg. “Extensive research has shown where tyres are most vulnerable and this is where Continental focuses the material so that its tyres are specific to the application. It is therefore the tyre compound and construction that delivers the savings and in terms of grip, mileage and resistance to damage Continental tyres perform equal to or better than their competitors in construction or off road applications.”