LAS VEGAS-Yokohama Tire Corp. has joined the growing list of manufacturers touting fuel efficient tires by announcing it has developed a manufacturing technique to lower rolling resistance for line-haul trucking applications. The company's Maximized Conservation Concept-MC2 for short-is being applied to Yokohama's RY083A steer axle, TY303 drive axle and RY112 trailer axle tread patterns in sizes 295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5.
Yokohama introduced the new low rolling resistance truck tires at the 1995 International Trucking Show, held June 23 in Las Vegas.
Using its regular tread compound mixed at a higher temperature and cooled at a lower temperature, Yokohama is able to create a low-rolling-resistance tire capable of increasing fuel economy for line-haul trucking fleets, a spokesman said.
The company claims a vehicle fitted with the tires at all wheel positions can realize a 4-percent savings in fuel costs ``over existing products currently available.''
Fleet managers annually spending $25,000 on fuel could save as much as $1,000 per vehicle per year, the firm said.
The Fullerton, Calif.-based tire manufacturer said its MC2 technology also produces ``improvements in retreadability over conventional tires. . . with no compromises in the areas of traction, durability and tread depth.''
The new tires will be produced in Japan and will become available to U.S. dealers by August, the company spokesman said.
Tires made with the MC2 manufacturing process will be ``premium priced,'' he added, because the method necessitates smaller production runs.