Continental has launched a new telehandler and skid-steer loader tyre. The CompactMaster AG tyre is the first to be designed with a new Turtle Shield tread layer and twisted steel belt. “This is a reinforced tyre with a hard shell and a more flexible steel wire construction to help prevent cuts and damage, whilst offering greater stability for materials handling work,” explains Continental agricultural tyre specialist, Richard Hutchins.
“This tyre represents years of research and development by our agricultural research and development team in Lousado, Portugal. The new twisted steel belt construction has a unique Turtle Shield layer beneath the rubber to protect the tyre shoulder area from damage. The wider tread and lug widths have been specifically designed to offer better traction on a variety of surfaces and improve the self-cleaning properties of the tyre,” he adds.
The new tyre is capable of operating at speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. “This level of tolerance is an indication of the strength and flexibility of the tyre. The twisted steel belt provides a robust yet flexible tyre that can run at higher pressures on the road to enhance fuel efficiency, and lower pressures in the yard or field when carrying heavy loads,” he says.
Compared to a standard agricultural tyre pattern, the new lug design of the CompactMaster AG tyre provides five percent more surface area. “This lug design further enhances grip and will also contribute to the tyre wearing more evenly, which can improve the hours and mileages the tyre will deliver,” says Mr Hutchins. The tyre also has a land-sea (L/S) ratio of 30 percent which means a larger portion of the tyre stays in contact with the ground. “This ratio is particularly important for traction in wet and slippery conditions, so we anticipate operators will see a marked benefit by choosing these tyres for use on more challenging surfaces,” he adds.
Telehanders and skid-steer loaders also have to make stationary turns on hard surfaces which increases the lateral pressure that is put through the tyre. The twisted steel belt construction of the CompactMaster AG tyre makes it stiffer which provides greater stability. “Lateral turns are common in the tight spaces these vehicles operate in, so we have designed a tyre that is more resilient and robust to soak up the strain the vehicle puts on it,” he says.
Continental CompactMaster AG tyres are available for 24-inch wheels, size 460/70R24 159B.
