Continental Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) presented its ContiEarth portfolio consisting of two earthmoving tire lines at the 2016 MINExpo trade show: the Continental EM-Master and the Continental RDT-Master.
The new tires, Continental EM-Master and Continental RDT-Master, are the latest addition to Continental’s portfolio of specialty tires. “The tires were specifically designed for the extreme conditions our customers are facing in the earthmoving sector,” says Christian Luther, Product Line Manager Earthmover Tires at Continental.
With the introduction of the new tire lines, Continental Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) follows the customized solution approach. This means, every tire line was developed for an individual vehicle type and therefore takes into consideration the requirements of each machine.
“The new tires perfectly fit our growth strategy for the future, as we will continue to expand and optimize our product and service portfolio for the earthmoving industry in the upcoming years,” says Luther. Continental underlines its strategy to be a solutions provider by demonstrating the ContiPressureCheck system as well as the upcoming technology around ContiFlexBox, which enhances efficiency in customer operations.
As a leading technology company, Continental combines its strength in the automotive and rubber sector and presents its iTire as essential part of the ContiEarth range. The iTire means that each tire of the ContiEarth range already comes with an integrated sensor. The sensor is able to constantly monitor inflation pressure as well as tire temperature and can transmit the information in real time to the ContiPressureCheck system. With the help of additional components, the data can be visualized either via handheld tool or display in the driver cabin.
“With the iTire, we prepare the path to the next service level. We want to enhance the efficiency and safety of vehicle fleets with a comprehensive tire management system,” says Luther. In future, the ContiFlexBox will be a major part, enabling the collection and provision of tire-related data from the sensor and transmitting it to a central server via Wi-Fi or GSM. This will enable the fleet operator to constantly monitor vehicle data on a dashboard and will even send alerts for quick maintenance reactions.
Continental EM-Master for ADTs, loaders and dozers
Articulated dump trucks (ADTs), loaders and dozers are used for transporting large quantities of bulk or aggregate material in extreme conditions ranging from soft and muddy soil to gravelly and rocky terrain in construction or mining sites. Durability, excellent traction, and superior resistance to rock cutting and heat generation are essential to operate in these extreme conditions.
Continental’s EM-Master is customized for these specific demands. The tire is available in two versions with different tire tread designs.
The EM-Master E3/L3 features a normal tread depth and wide spacing between the blocks. This results in excellent self-cleaning characteristics, good traction, and maneuverability even in muddy terrain. The open tread design and normal tread depth of 100 percent offers better cooling characteristics and therefore less heat buildup, resulting in a long service life.
Compared to the E3/L3 the Continental EM-Master E4/L4 features a greater block size with less spacing between the blocks and a deeper tread depth. The tire offers a high carcass protection and superior cutting resistance, minimizing the risk of punctures and downtimes. The smaller tread block spacing results in smooth running, even on hard surfaces. Due to its high tread wear volume, the Continental EM-Master E4/L4 also offers an excellent service life.
Both Continental EM-Master E3/L3 and E4/L4 will be available in the sizes 23.5R25, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25. The Continental EM-Master E3/L3 will be additionally available in the size 20.5R25.
Continental RDT-Master for Rigid Dump Trucks
The Continental RDT-Master is designed for rigid dump trucks, which transport heavy loads over long distances in rough terrain. In these severe conditions, tires have to offer high stability and good traction even at high speeds. In addition, the tires need to be extremely resistant to cut and tear.
The RDT-Master’s special tread design with a deep tread depth and a wide and flat tread radius offers high loading capacity and cutting resistance. The angled tread edges, in addition to the open shoulder design, facilitate high lateral stability which results in better driving behavior. Maximum traction is guaranteed even on winding terrain and while driving high speeds. Moreover, the open tread design results in excellent self-cleaning characteristics.
The RDT-Master E4 is available in the sizes 18.00R33, 21.00R33 and 24.00R35.