Cooper Tire has launched a new long haul steer (LHS) tire as part of its Pro Series product line. The new steer tire will initially be available in size 295/75R22.5, with other sizes becoming available in June.
The new tire features Cooper’s ECO (Energy Conservation Optimization) technology that combines tire design, compounding and construction to provide an ultra-low rolling resistance tire that both exceeds SmartWay standard requirements by 15% and meets the EPA’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requirements set for 2021, the company said.
“We know the importance of this tire position, and it’s why we designed the tire to perform at a very high level—meeting the demanding needs of long haul fleets,” said Gary Schroeder, executive director of Cooper’s global truck and bus tire business. “We purposefully created this tire to give fleets what they are asking for—a low cost of ownership solution to reduce tire program costs and improve a fleet’s bottom line.”
The Cooper Pro Series LHS provides 18/32nds of tread depth and features a wider footprint than most steer tires on the market—a full inch in many cases. “This provides better traction while promoting longer, more even wear,” said Schroeder, “and it doesn’t sacrifice fuel economy in the process. When paired with our Pro Series LHD drive tire, that is also SmartWay verified, fleets can maximize fuel economy.”
To enhance even wear, the tire has a decoupling groove to minimize shoulder wear, the company noted. Cooper highlights the stone ejector design with a stepped groove wall in the tread pattern, which the company said helps prevent stone drilling to ensure the integrity of the casing for multiple retreads.
According to the company, Cooper’s Wear Square on the tire’s shoulder ribs helps improve tire maintenance. This is a visual indicator, which shows the tread depth through five different evolving image icons. A “square” shows full tread depth, while an “L” shape shows half the tread is left. An icon also shows when the tire should be pulled for retreading. Since the Wear Square is placed on both sides of the tire, it’s also an alignment indicator. If the icons don’t match, the tire technician knows there is an alignment problem or uneven tire issue and can take corrective measures.
The Cooper Pro Series LHS features four-belt steel design construction and a seven-year, two-retread warranty. The tire is also warranted for full replacement value for the first 50% of treadwear.
