Upgrades and New Releases at the Tire Cologne 2018 for Giti Truck & Bus Programme
Giti Tire revealed a variety of crucial developments to its European truck and bus portfolio at Tire Cologne 2018, including two new tyres, two important upgrades and the German launch of its retread programme.
Firstly, visitors were able to see the Giti GTR955 Combi Road, which is available in size 385/65R22.5 (164 K) and is the new regional trailer pattern, which includes the company’s latest Combi Road technology. The tyre’s main characteristics include high mileage performance, whilst also having a B grade for rolling resistance, which therefore delivers reduced fuel consumption.
Moving on to newer developments, passers-by at the show were treated to the new GAU867v1 all-position urban city-bus tyre. This product has been developed for mid European and Nordic public transport operators who require 3PMSF accreditation.
It features a wide and robust tread pattern and advanced siping that reduces noise and improves passenger comfort. This is combined with a new casing construction and enhances mileage and handling. Reinforced sidewalls protect the tyre from curbing damage and abrasion, and a sidewall indicator shows the correct time to rotate or dismount.
The wide base GTL925 19.5” long-haul trailer range received a load capacity upgrade to 164 J at the Tire Cologne 2018, making them suitable for OEM and replacement markets for two-axle 10-ton trailers. The pattern, which is available in sizes 445/45R19.5 and 435/50R19.5, will also receive a tread compound upgrade that will enhance tyre life.
The sizes give high cube trailer fleets the opportunity to maximise the inside loading volume of up to three meters height, while simultaneously respecting the total vehicle height of four meters allowed across Europe.
Furthermore, the GTL919+ Combi Road will replace the GTL919 in sizes 385/65R22.5 and 385/55R22.5. This upgrade focuses on significantly increasing the tread wear-out in mixed regional and long-haul usage. This has been delivered by revising the casing construction to get an optimal footprint, and a new tread compound. Combi Road and M+S marked, the tyre has been tested widely across Europe by R&D controlled testing for a two-year period.
On the retreading side, the company presented the Giti Genesis range for the first time at a European show. This portfolio is the company’s premium, mold cured, bead-to-bead retread programme and is manufactured utilising Giti casings. Available in the UK and with test sales commencing in Germany, the main objectives of the programme are to lower costs for operators and reduce the environmental impact of tyres. It estimates that a recycled tyre saves 68 litres of oil, 44 kilograms of rubber and 88 kilograms of CO² across the entire life of the product.
The GDR690 regional drive axle position tyre, which is available in 315/80R22.5, 315/70R22.5 and 295/80R22.5 with load and speed capacities of 154/150 K, has recently been upgraded to 3PMSF winter certification making it an interesting proposition for fleets operating in Mid and North of Europe. Finally, the Giti Genesis program also incorporates the 385/65R22.5 GTR990 trailer tyre for typical combi road applications and marked M+S.