“Take the challenge.” That’s what Rick Phillips, Yokohama Tire’s director of commercial sales, will be telling fleet owners at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Ky., March 31-April 2.
Phillips is referring to the “101ZL SmartSolution Challenge,” a contest that will compare Yokohama’s new premium long-haul steer tire against its competitors in head-to-head competition on the open road. The 101ZL is available in sizes 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5, 11R24.5 and 285/75R24.5, the company said.
“We’ll reveal the full details of the contest at MATS in our booth (14124),” said Phillips. “Essentially we’re going to guarantee the 101ZL will have the lowest cost-per-mile over the course of a year, or we’ll double the difference back in cost-per-mile.”
Phillips said the challenge will highlight the eco-sensitive steer tire that “runs longer and is more trouble-free and efficient than anything we’ve ever brought to the market. The 101ZL, part of our high-tech Zenvironment line, provides at least a 10% increase in overall tread life and significant resistance to irregular wear.”
According to the tire maker, the 101ZL is on the EPA’s SmartWay list of verified low rolling resistance tires. Other Yokohama SmartWay tires include the new RY407 super single wide base trailer tire, 103ZR and RY617 steer tires, RY587 trailer tire, and 703ZL and TY517MC2 drive tires. The tires meet the SmartWay program’s low rolling resistance criteria, which includes running cooler, helping to reduce fuel consumption, cutting costs and benefiting the environment. The other tires in Yokohama’s Zenvironment line are the 703ZL, 103ZR and 501ZA.
According to Yokohama, highlights of the 101ZL include: Zenvironment construction, which controls casing growth and greatly reduces strain energy in the shoulder and bead areas for low rolling resistance and better fuel efficiency; contact pressure equalizer sipes that optimize rib contact pressure to resist uneven wear and improve wet weather braking and handling; stress equalizer ribs that increase road contact at the shoulder’s edge ideal for withstanding step-down wear; serpentine grooves that add rigidity to the shoulder for greater tear resistance., and multiple sipes that create an ideal footprint for optimal rib edge contact pressure that helps to eliminate irregular wear.
