MIAMI (March 31, 2014) — Vipal Rubber Corp. has launched the VL130 Eco premium tread line for long-haul freight applications, its first product to be SmartWay verified.
The new tread design, which Vipal said is already being sold in the U.S., features low-rolling resistance and a lighter tread weight, ensuring less casing fatigue and elevating the tire's retreadability index, respectively. Other features include tread grooves designed to minimize stone retention and rounded shoulders for reduced effects of lateral dragging.
“With the development of the VL130 Eco, Vipal has become a pioneer in South America by verifying a product according to SmartWay criteria to be used in the North American market, the largest in the world in the segment,” said Plinio de Luca, commercial and marketing director for Vipal. “This is not simply a new tread design—rather it is a launch that attests to the pioneering spirit, technology, quality and commitment of Vipal in terms of environmental responsibility.”
Vipal said the VL130 Eco also fully complies with European market requirements that focus on issues like fuel consumption efficiency, adherence to wet surfaces and noise levels.
Vipal Rubber Corp. is the North American subsidiary of Brazil's Borrachas Vipal S/A.