First, a 200km journey on public roads at an average speed of 80kph has been organised by the Dekra test centre. Michelin X Line Energy tyres competed in the test, and were found to have the best long-distance fuel efficiency, the manufacturer reports.
Tests were conducted on an articulated 4x2 tractor unit and tri-axle trailer running at 40 tonnes in ‘mega volume’ configuration with the following tyres: 315/60 R22.5 Michelin X Line Energy Z on the steer axle; 295/60 R22.5 Michelin X Line Energy Z on the drive axle, and 445/45 R19.5 Michelin X Line Energy T on the trailer axles.
It said that tests revealed that the tyres’ low rolling resistance would save an average 1.4 litres of fuel per 100km. Michelin X Line Energy tyres enable a 30% increase in mileage performance for the steer axle on 315/60 R 22.5 and 17% for the 295/60 R 22.5 Michelin X Line Energy Z, compared to the previous Michelin XZA2 Energy range.
In other news, Goodyear and trailer manufacturer Berger have developed new trailer tyres for mega-style trailers.
With a 10-tonne axle weight capacity and low rolling radius, the Goodyear Fuelmax T 435/50R19.5 HL 164K tires have been developed to increase weight capacity for tandem axle mega trailers. The other great benefit comes from taking advantage of reduced road tax for operators in countries such as Germany and Switzerland, where four-axle combinations pay less duty than five-axle vehicles.
However, the existing nine-tonne capacity axles limited payloads.
Armin Lechner, head of product management at Berger Fahrzeugtechnik, said: “The solution was to increase to 10 tonnes axle weight and for this we needed tires with a 164 5,000 kg load index”. The new tyre is said to be the first premium truck tire to be available in this size and load index.
Adds Benjamin Willot, marketing director commercial EMEA of Goodyear Dunlop: “We first introduced a 10-tonne trailer tyre at the 2010 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover. This was specifically to maximize the load capacity of tandem axle trailers. [It] was a 22.5-in tyre so it was not suitable for mega trailers, which use 19.5-in rims. Working with Berger, we have developed the new premium tire for lightweight tandem axle mega trailers so that operators can take advantage of the benefits of the lighter trailers as well as the lower road taxation in some countries.”
In addition, the operational costs of a tandem-axle trailer are lower than a tri-axle trailer as there are fewer brakes and fewer tyres to service and replace.
Giti Tire has added size 445/45R19.5 in the Giti GTL925 pattern, offering a lower diameter to gives high-cube trailer fleets the opportunity to maximise the inside loading volume of up to three meters height, while still respecting the total vehicle height of four metres allowed across Europe. Both tyres carry a load index of 160 and speed index J.
The 445/45R19.5 can use the same rim and be fitted to same axles as the existing 435/50R19.5.
The GTL925 pattern features an extra wide shoulder for enhanced resistance to tearing, a seven rib tread pattern for regular wear across the tread and high mileage potential and optimised rolling resistance that achieves a B label rating for fuel economy.
UPDATED: added Giti tyre details, 16:50 on 30/10/2017.