Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS), a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, said its new Bridgestone-brand R197 low rolling resistance radial offers superior fuel efficiency and long, even tread wear. The R197 is approved for use on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay-certified equipment and is ideal for fleets running California Air Resources Board (CARB)-compliant vehicles. The new tire is suitable for all-position use but is designed for single and tandem axle trailer and dolly applications in long haul and regional haul service.
“The R197 is the next generation trailer tire for fleets who demand exceptional fuel efficiency without sacrificing mileage,” said Chris Hoffman, manager, TBR & Retread Product Marketing, BBTS. “Its innovative casing and tread compounding promote lower rolling resistance for improved fuel economy, both when R197 is new and when it’s retreaded, which reduces total life cycle costs.”
Building on an energy-efficient casing and adding low rolling resistance tread and sidewall compounding, the tire maker said the R197 combines fuel-efficient tread designs and a shallow 11/32nds tread depth to further increase fuel economy, offering fleet owners exceptional cost per mile. Also, for long, even tread wear, R197 incorporates the Defense Groove design that helps create uniform pressure across the shoulder to minimize edge wear and cupping. Stress relief siping along the rib edges promote even wear for higher mileage. A classic straight-rib tread design evacuates water from the footprint for wet traction, while cross-rib sipes provide solid grip on wet roads, the company added.
To enhance durability, the R197 incorporates tough shoulder protector ribs on both sidewalls to fight damage from cuts and abrasion from curbing. When one set of ribs is worn away, the tires can be reversed to expose a fresh set of ribs for continued protection, according to the company.
The R197 low rolling resistance radial is being introduced in the 295/75R22.5 size with a “G” load rating.
