In a series of back-to-back events last week, Continental Tire the Americas introduced the latest products in its next generation of construction tires – the HSC1 and HDC1.
The tire maker rolled out the new products to key fleet customers, tire dealers and trade media at CTA’s Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas. And while some much-needed rain threatened to cancel the media event’s demonstrations, bright skies appeared for the afternoon, allowing attendees an up-close look at the new rollouts and the performance their new, improved features make possible.
According to Roger Stansbie, director of truck tire technology, the new tires feature a new, long-chain polymer compound designed to prevent deep tears; a 4-ply belt with reinforced second and third layers to withstand highly concentrated pressure and provide added stiffness; an improved bead core design for durability and extended life; and a special contour shape with steeper sidewalls, which provides greater stability and minimized sidewall flexing, even under high loads.
The HSC1 (heavy steer construction) offers a wider tread and shoulder ribs to improve wear and increase performance, while the tire’s tread pattern and contour provide reduced stone retention and improved impact resistance. Stansbie said the HSC1 has a wider, deeper tread than its predecessor, resulting in a 13.8% increase in wear volume. The new tire, which replaces the original HSC, is available in sizes 11R22.5 and 11R24.5 for load range H, with 12 sizes scheduled for introduction later this summer.
The HDC1 (heavy drive construction), which replaces the HDC, offers an extra-deep 32/32nds tread pattern and compound that are formulated to provide greater original mileage, Stansbie said. Compared to the HDC’s 30/32nds tread depth, the new tire offers a 9.5% higher wear volume. In addition, the HDC1’s altered tread block angle provides a 50% reduction of trapped stone retention – a feature that was demonstrated during the Uvalde event. The tire is available in sizes 11R22.5 and 11R24.5 in load range H.
“The addition of the HSC1 and HDC1 has completed our portfolio of truck tires that are ideal for coal or waste hauling, logging, construction and other on/off highway service,” said Clif Armstrong, director of commercial truck tire marketing for CTA. “Last year we introduced our new trailer tires for this segment, the HTC1 and HTL1. So with the steer and drive products launched at Uvalde, Continental now offers a new generation truck tire for every wheel position in construction and severe duty trucking.”
Last week’s event featured sidewall durability, belt durability, stone retention and traction performance demonstrations at CTA’s 5,000-acre testing facility.
Also featured in demonstrations at the event was the previously released HSU2+ (heavy steer urban), designed for waste haulers, construction and other on/off highway service. In addition to a deep rib tread design for added life and high removal miles, the tire offers a wide contact patch for improved wet traction and a cut and tear resistant compound for excellent wear in high scrub applications. The HSU2+ also features Conti’s VAI+ visual alignment indicator, which alerts users of mechanical wear conditions while also indicating the tire’s removal stage, Stansbie said.
CTA said it would offer ContiLifeCycle retreads in the new patterns in a couple months.
