Continental Tire North America announced that it will release for sales on Wednesday, July 1, the next generation of its regional steer truck tire with enhancements that improve tire life. The HSR2 (Heavy Steer Regional) replaces the HSR model and is produced in Continental’s plant in Mt. Vernon, Ill.
The company says the tire’s four rib design offers higher lateral stability for greater resistance to side forces often found in regional applications. “The HSR2’s proven four-rib design takes stability to a new level and offers a 15 percent increase in removal miles over the original HSR,” says Clif Armstrong, director of commercial vehicle tire marketing for Continental-The Americas, based in Fort Mill, S.C. “Yet, our regional haul customers can expect this new tire to continue our leadership in durable even-wearing tires.”
Continental says proprietary compound technologies featured in the HSR2 allow for higher tread endurance and optimal product performance, but other important new features also are introduced; the HSR2’s patent-pending revolutionary groove geometry allows the use of more complex groove designs by undercutting (tunneling under) the groove features.
“This new technology allows for more aggressive groove designs, which are less likely to tear or crack at the groove bottom,” says Roger Stansbie, director of Continental’s radial truck tire technologies-NAFTA. “The groove base remains straight and avoids the stress risers that often result from a zigzag-type design.”
Continental says the HSR2 also will mark the NAFTA introduction of VAI+, the next step in the evolution of its proprietary Visual Alignment Indicator system; the addition of a plus (+) mark represents the useful remaining tread depth as the tire wears, allowing the consumer constant visual representation on the tread surface. At 8/32 inches of tread depth, these indicators change from (+) to (-), alerting the consumer that it is time to consider tire removal or movement to the trailer axle, according to the company; the (-) indicator remains visible until 4/32 inches, and when it disappears completely, this signifies the approach to the lowest depth limit allowed by law.
“This patent-pending feature is not only an early warning system for alignment problems,” Stansbie says. “Now, with the additional features of VAI+, these tread wear indicators will be beneficial throughout the truck tire’s entire first lifecycle.”
Continental says the HSR2 also features other desirable technologies that enhance tire life, such as its latest stone ejection system, an enhanced sidewall design, a curb/scuff rib to fight damage from curbing and abrasions, and 23/32 inches of tread depth.
The new HSR2 can be ordered now through Continental truck tire dealers and is available in the 11R22.5 size for load ranges G and H; 275/80R22.5 size for load ranges G and H; 11R24.5 size for load ranges G and H; and 285/75R24.5 size for load range G. For more information, go to www.continental-truck.com.
