Page 29 - CTB n6 - 2014-02

PRODUCTS
Bridgestone Presents New U-AP 001 Urban Bus Tyre
Bridgestone has announced the launch of a new premium all-position bus and coach tyre U-AP 001. Developed to meet the challenges of today’s intensive urban transportation, the Bridgestone U-AP 001 outperforms its predecessor R192 in key performance criteria and provides operators with advantages in four major areasi:
• High level of safety all year round thanks to its improved grip and braking performance in all conditions, including winter and mud and fresh or melting snow, which have granted the M+S marking and Alpine symbol.
• Improved cost efficiency thanks to a 20% longer tyre life and therefore significantly lower cost per kilometre than R192, better regroovability and retreadability, improved resistance to irregular wear and tougher durability.
• Extended tyre life with Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Life programme which delivers a long first life and the opportunity for multiple retread lives through the company’s Bandag premium retreads.
• Increased load capacity (from 148 to 150) to cope with today’s
public transportation requirements (EURO VI regulation). “Bridgestone has focused on robustness for the new-
generation U-AP 001
bus tyre, ensuring that it
has the durability and
high casing value to give
operators superior tyre
life and retreadability,
leading to a low cost per
kilometre” says Harald
Van Ooteghem, Senior
Manager Marketing
Planning, Bridgestone
Europe.
Bridgestone engineers
have achieved this
higher performance by
optimising the casing,
tread design and
compound of the U-AP
001. The robust casing
has been built to support higher load capacity than its predecessor, as well as higher stress and deformation forces for many thousands of kilometres during the tyre’s new but also retread life.
Bridgestone has also applied its latest-
generation compounds, providing high resistance to abrasion and heat which helps to extend the casing life
and reduce rolling resistance, for better fuel economy. The advanced tread pattern of the U- AP 001 features a 5% wider tread than R192, increasing mileage, grip and cornering performance. Wider, solid shoulder ribs provide more durability and better scrub resistance while manoeuvring. Extra resistance to
damage is provided by a tough side guard which protects the casing against kerbing and a sidewall protector with a thick layer of special compound highly resistant to damage.
“Cost per kilometre is the bottom line for fleet operators. With high
mileage and maximum opportunity for regrooving and retreading, Bridgestone’s robust new U-AP 001 offers operators the chance to decrease cost per kilometre significantly” adds Harald Van Ooteghem.
Bridgestone introduced U-AP 001 in bus tyre size 275/70R22.5 for fleet contracts in Europe
in April 2014.
The plan is to make it available in the replacement market as from September 2014 and expand to size 245/70R19.5 in 2015.
weather handling and braking. FD622 is also suitable for use on mud and fresh or melting snow (M+S marked) and in winter conditions (marked with the Alpine symbol).
FT522 trailer tyre – High durability
The trailer tyre is designed for a long service life and provides good handling in wet conditions and excellent resistance against irregular wear.
The new Firestone tyres will initially be available in the major sizes 315/80R22.5 (FS422 and FD622) and 385/65R22.5 (FT522). Other sizes will be added in the future. The new products will progressively replace their predecessors in the launched sizes.
New Generation of Firestone Truck Tyres
At the Reifen tyre exhibition in Essen, Germany Bridgestone presented for the first time its new Firestone truck tyre generation,
manufactured with the latest technology – including advanced tread-pattern, groove and casing techniques – to offer truck
operators good all-round performance and a long service life at low cost. The new tyres feature a robust casing for longer tyre life and better retreadability, which reduces the tyre’s cost per kilometre over the entire lifecycle. They are also built with a slim bead to reduce bead filler volume, which reduces tyre weight and therefore helps to lower fuel consumption.
“The new Firestone line-up is designed to offer operators great value for money - a sensible price,
good trouble-free performance, and a long service life” says Harald Van Ooteghem, Senior Manager Marketing Planning at Bridgestone Europe.
FS422 steer tyre – Long wear life and great handling
This new steer tyre provides excellent wet and dry manoeuvrability and high resistance against irregular wear. Thanks to the innovative groove fence design, the tread pattern suppresses noise and gives good driving comfort.
FD622 drive tyre – Strong traction
The unidirectional pattern disperses water quicker from the centre of the tyre, improving the level of wet-
designed to offer truck operators a good and reliable level of performance combined with long service life at low cost.
The FS422 (steer), FD622 (drive) and FT522 (trailer), successors to the well-known FS400, FD600 and TSP3000 tyres, will be introduced progressively across Europe from July 2014. The launch of the new line-up is supported by the marketing promise “The road is yours” reflecting the reliability of Firestone, as expressed by the two main product messages “Fit and Forget” and “Trouble-Free”. Firestone’s enjoys a well-established position in the European truck tyre market as a reliable brand offering value for money. Building on this strength, the new line-up is
FS422 steer tyre
FD622 drive tyre
FT522 trailer tyre
Commercial Tyre Business 29