With all the wear and tear school bus tires take as they travel a variety of roads day after day, features that provide enhanced toughness for long mileage count for a lot. Features that lower operating costs and reduce downtime by thriving in the constant stop-and-go school bus environment are also a must-have, Double Coin company officials told SBF.

Additionally, “choosing the correct tire must go hand-in-hand with a complete tire program — tire pressure, axle alignment and tread depth,” Kumho Tire company officials told SBF.  “Correct air pressure is critical to gaining the most out of your tire. Given the correct air pressure and tire program, you will not only increase the life of your tire but you will also reduce your fuel consumption.”    

Continental Tire

Whether it’s a field trip or residential run, even driving down a dirt road, the Continental HSR2 is engineered to meet and exceed the requirements demanded by school buses, company officials said. Firstly, the HSR2 features a protective curb rib to increase the durability of the sidewall against abrasions, thereby protecting the casing and providing a safer product.

In addition, Continental-engineered Alignment Indicator (VAI) technology is placed into the shoulders of the HSR2 to help alert bus drivers and fleet managers to early signs of alignment wear. This very simple “early warning” system can extend tire life by allowing maintenance managers to take corrective action early and maximize the removal miles of the Continental HSR2.  

Lastly, since all school buses travel along a multitude of different roads, the Continental HSR2 features an innovative stone ejection system. This technology prevents the retention and trapping of stones in all sizes that can lead to stone drilling and potentially the loss of a valuable casing, according to the supplier.

All of the features and benefits developed for the Continental HSR2 were designed specifically for delivering a safe, reliable and long-lasting product, company officials said.

“The HSR2 is EPA SmartWay certified as well as having 23/32nds of tread, among the deepest in the regional steer tire market,” adds Cameron Lawson, CVT channel coordinator, commercial vehicle tires, Continental Tire the Americas.

Double Coin

Double Coin offers two tires that are designed to perform well in the school bus market: the RT606+ and RT600. Both of these tires help lower operating costs and reduce downtime by using features that work well in the constant stop-and-go school bus environment.

“One key feature required of a tire in the school bus market are unique tread compounds to fight off high scrubbing and the twists and turns that a school bus experiences. Also, the tires should contain sidewall casing protectors that block the effect of constant curbing occurring in this application; this allows [preservation of] the casing for retreading,” says Aaron Murphy, vice president at Double Coin Tires/CMA.

The RT606+ is an ultra premium five-rib regional steer tire. It was built to resist cuts and abrasions and perform well during the daily challenges that an urban/regional truck tire faces, company officials said. The RT600 is a premium low-profile regional steer tire that delivers strength, endurance and long-term use. It features a five-rib design for precise handling, lateral stability and superior traction.

 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Available for school bus applications, the Goodyear G661 HSA offers long mileage and enhanced toughness.

“The G661 HSA contains a scrub-resistant tread with multi-compound construction to help extend tread life in applications that require frequent turning, backing and braking,” says Norberto Flores, marketing manager, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems.

The tire also features sidewall protector ribs and a scrub-resistant compound to protect against curbing and sidewall abrasions; four full-sized, super-tensile steel belts for extra toughness; and a 22/32-inch tread depth to help deliver long tread life.

The G661 HSA is available in a wide range of popular sizes, including 11R22.5; 11R24.5; 12R22.5; 245/70R19.5; 225/70R19.5; 285/75R22.5; 295/75R22.5; 265/75R22.5 and 275/70R22.5.

[PAGEBREAK]

Hankook Tire America

Hankook’s AH24 is a premium regional haul/all-position tire, approved by SmartWay, and designed to provide exceptional vehicle fuel efficiency, according to the supplier.

“With a focus on high-scrub conditions, the AH24’s all-position, deep-groove design is an ideal choice for school bus and other pickup and delivery applications,” says Brian Sheehey, director of commercial tires, Hankook Tire America Corp.

Solid wide ribs are designed to  provide gratifying ride control, while the improved kerf design displaces water for outstanding road grip in adverse weather conditions. An enhanced sidewall fights against damaging abrasions and cuts to extend casing durability and tire life cycle performance. The AH24 also provides resistance to high-scrub situations where endurance, durability and high mileage are vital to intense driving conditions, company officials said.

Kumho Tire

Kumho’s KRS02 is a premium regional all-position steer tire that features fuel-efficient compounding, a solid shoulder to resist uneven wear in high-scrub applications, a five-rib design and Tread Centering Groove Technology (TCG). This all-position tire is designed and engineered to meet the demanding requirements of the regional tire application, company officials said.

Michelin

The MICHELIN XZE 2 is Michelin’s regional, all-position radial with extra-wide, extra-deep tread designed to help deliver the best wear in high-scrub applications, according to the supplier. Michelin’s school bus-focused products include curb guards and shoulders designed specifically for these situations. Extra strong curb guards help protect sidewalls against most impacts and abrasions for long casing life, company officials said. Solid shoulders are optimized for high-scrub applications.  

Additionally, the tire has Matrix Siping technology that helps to prevent irregular wear and increase traction. The Matrix sipes lock together for the stability normally associated with solid tread blocks.