LOUISVILLE, KY. A new wide base trailer tire and a prototype drive tire are on display this week at the Yokohama Tire Corp. booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) here.
The RY407 wide base single, which officially debuted at last year’s MATS, is now in production. It is a SmartWay verified tire, meaning it meets low-rolling resistance standards, said Rick Phillips, director of commercial sales.
Available in 445/50R22.5, the RY407 offers fuel efficiency and less weight than a traditional tire. According to Yokohama, the tire’s advanced profile will lead to better durability and less casing fatigue and high-tech compounds lead to improved fuel economy.
“There’s less weight because there’s one tire and wheel assembly instead of two,” said Phillips. “And because of its unique design and construction we expect the RY407 to be a very durable and retreadable product.”
A zero-degree mid-belt that distributes load evenly, lessens running distortion and has a more consistent footprint, and straight grooves for enhanced wet traction and cross sipes for wear resistance are other advantages of the tire, the company said.
The 702 is a prototype using Yokohama’s Zenvironment technology. It is slated to debut in the U.S. in early 2012 in sizes 295/75R22.5 and 11R22.5.
The drive tire offers low-rolling resistance; improved fuel economy; a unique tread design; solid shoulder rib and serpentine grooves for extra rigidity and stability; Yokohama’s patented stress control groove that redistributes shoulder load to prevent step-down wear; and a Z-block design to offer improved wet traction.
