Changing grooves add life
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• Continental has launched a steer-axle tyre with a claimed 15% improvement in mileage over its predecessor. The 11545 has a "self-optimising" tread pattern which changes with tread wear. The tyre will be available as an 11R and 12R 22.5, plus 80, 70 and 60 profiles.
The "self-optimised" tread is designed to compensate for the different performance characteristics as the tyre wears. A new tyre with a tread block depth of 14.5mm needs greater support than when it is worn to half that depth. At the same time, the drainage grooves in the tread will be halved in depth, adversely affecting wet weather performance.
By using a buttressed rib construction, the tread grooves change shape from a straight line when new, to a zig-zag as the tyre wears. This helps to ensure that tyre performance is optimised throughout the tyre's life and contributes significantly to the claimed 15% increase in life.
To allow for different performance characteristics which vary with tyre profile, the HS45 also has different tread configurations according to profile.