Vacu-Lug looks to the skies for new tyre production techniques27 November 2014

Tyre supplier Vacu-Lug has unveiled the first in its new flagship range of commercial vehicle drive axle tyres, which, says the company, uses aircraft tyre production techniques to deliver the lowest cost per kilometre for customers.

The Grantham-based commercial tyre remoulding specialist has already launched its Logistik 295/80R22.5 drive tyre, in the new Logistik drive pattern.

The 315/70R22.5 product will be available in early 2015.

Vacu-Lug plant manager Brian Barron says the company looked beyond traditional tyre manufacture to see how standards could be raised.

"Leading the way were the technologies used by aircraft and high-performance tyre manufacturers, so we adopted their methodologies and put them into our truck tyre technology," he explains.

Improvements include increasing the typical retread press of six segments to 12, he says.

"Some of our other competitors are at 10 but, as far as I'm aware, I think we are the only one with 12 at the moment," he adds.

This delivers an increase in true roundness, enabling "every millimetre of tread depth throughout the tyres' rolling circumference" to be used, he claims.

Additionally, the new press curing pressure is 300psi, compared with 200psi previously, so eliminates the micro-porosity remaining in cured rubber compounds.

"It means we can maximise the tread compound performance, not only in terms of kilometres, but also in terms of fuel efficiency," states Barron.

"We believe that the technologies we have employed will optimise the kilometre potential and fuel efficiency of the Logistik tyre beyond that of what is currently available."

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Ltd

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