During a special customer event at its Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas, Continental Tire the Americas, LLC launched two new medium radial truck tires to complete its suite of products for construction and severe duty trucking applications.

The Continental HSC1 (Heavy Steer Construction) is a new steer tire design developed by Continental's commercial vehicle tire research and development team for the Americas, and produced at its award-winning commercial truck tire plant in Mt. Vernon, Ill. The HSC1's tread pattern and compound were chosen by Continental engineers for optimal original mileage with excellent self-cleaning properties, as well as a three groove design that performs well, even on loose surfaces.

A wider tread and shoulder ribs improve wear and increase performance, while the patented tread pattern and contour provide reduced stone retention and improved impact resistance. The HSC1 promises optimum casing value and long lifetimes, and is available in sizes 11R22.5 and 11R24.5 for load range H, with 12R sizes scheduled for introduction later this summer.

An extra-deep drive tire for construction service, the new Continental HDC1 (Heavy Drive Construction) features a full 32/32" tread depth and a new self-cleaning tread pattern. A heavy duty compound and aggressive open shoulder design were chosen to provide superior original mileage and traction, while the tire's optimized contour ensures higher load capabilities with less deformation.

The HDC1 also features technologies to reduce stone retention, resulting in fewer casing penetrations. The available sizes are also 11R22.5 and 11R24.5 in load range H. The HDC1 was also designed and produced at the Mt. Vernon, Ill. research center and truck tire plant.

Both the HSC1 and HDC1 use Continental's new on/off road compounding, which increases resistance to tread cuts, chips and chunks and reduces the depth of tread damage. Continental's exclusive "Stable" bead construction was included in both new products for better structural durability and extended product life. Likewise, a premium four-ply belt with reinforced second and third belt for both new tires prevents fatigue fractures and withstands highly concentrated pressure.

The new HSC1 and HDC1 were unveiled May 9-13 to fleet customers and truck tire dealers at Continental's Uvalde Proving Grounds, located west of San Antonio. The event featured sidewall durability, belt durability, stone retention and traction performance demonstrations at the 5,000-acre testing facility, which is also home to a world-class vehicle dynamics facility and an 8.5 mile main oval track.

"The addition of the HSC1 and HDC1 has completed our portfolio of truck tires that are ideal for coal or waste hauling, logging, construction and other on/off highway service," said Clif Armstrong, director of commercial truck tire marketing for CTA. "Last year we introduced our new trailer tires for this segment, the HTC1 and HTL1. So with the steer and drive products launched this week at Uvalde, Continental now offers a new generation truck tire for every wheel position in construction and severe duty trucking.

"The great news for our customers is that we developed these tires specifically for the rugged conditions found throughout the Americas. We're confident that the HSC1 and HDC1 will prove themselves for durability and long mileage, on the toughest job sites and the worst roads our customers can find," Armstrong said.

The complete portfolio of Continental's construction and severe service truck tires is available online at www.continental-truck.com.