BBTS comes out with new drive axle retread, trailer tire
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) has introduced a new Bandag drive axle retread for LTL applications and fuel-efficient Firestone trailer tire.
The two new products were introduced to dealers at the company’s Bridgestone Bandag Executive Symposium. The Bandag brand BDR-HT3 retread is designed for single-axle tractors and features a new tread compound and pattern that resists tears and improves fuel mileage, the company says.
“Bandag BDR-HT3 is a problem-solver for our fleet customers,” said Chris Hoffman, manager, TBR and retread product marketing, BBTS. “In the most severe cases, fleets that operate single-axle tractors have experienced tread lug chunking resulting from the high torque of single-axle tractors. Stress to the tread elements is further aggravated when applications require hauling up and down steep grades.”
The company says it combats tread chunking and improves mileage by using a new breakthrough tread compound, new tread design and splice optimization. A bow tie-shaped tread block distributes torque evenly to reduce block stress, the company says, while the wider, buttressed shape design strengthens the blocks.
The company’s new Firestone trailer tire, meanwhile, has been dubbed the Firestone FT455 Plus. It’s built with fuel economy in mind without sacrificing removal mileage, the company claims. It’s approved for use on EPA SmartWay-certified equipment and is designed for free-rolling positions, including trailer axles, tax axles and converter dollies.
“Building on the ultra-economical performance of the Firestone FT455, the new FT455 Plus radial adds innovative cap, base and sidewall compounding for exceptionally low rolling resistance,” said Hoffman. “With traditional tandem drive tractors pulling single trailers, our research has found about 43% of tire fuel economy was attributable to trailer tires. Selecting the right tire for the job helps our fleet customers cut their cost per mile while meeting the technology recommendations of the SmartWay transportation partnership.”
Firestone says its FT455 Plus promotes long, even wear thanks to its classic five-rib design and shallow 12/32” tread depth.
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