Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • LogIn
  • News
  • Technology Focus
    • Features
    • Technical Papers
    • Analysis: Rubber mixing plants of the future
      Analysis: US probes dumping by ESBR suppliers
      Opinion: Tire labels stuck in a rut
      Analysis: NR pricing takes one step forward, two steps back
    • White paper: Role of tire innerliners in improving 'in-use rolling resistance'
      White paper: Why tire air retention matters now more than ever
      Nippon Soda: Use of 1,2-polybutadiene in CSM rubber applications
      Elastomers for Sustainability Top 10
  • Events
    • ERJ Events
    • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Journey to Automation Awards 2020
      Sustainability: Top 10 E4S projects table
  • Maps & Reports
  • People
  • Directory
  • Digital Edition
  • Brainiac
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 22, 2021 08:15 AM

Conti manufacturing tires with new HL load index code

ERJ Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Hanover, Germany – Continental has started making passenger car tires with the new “HL” load index code, indicating that they have a higher load-capacity than those built to the former XL standard. 

    On the sidewall, products with the new high load capacity display the HL code ahead of the size, as in ‘HL 245/40 R19 101Y XL’, according to the tire maker’s 21 Jan statement. 

    The company is currently producing the first tires to the new HL standard for OE fitments, but said they will also be available on the replacement market.

    While large, powerful cars and SUVs with electric or hybrid drives are much heavier than conventional vehicles due to the addition of fuel cells, they offer little scope for fitting larger tires with higher load capacities, Continental explained. 

    At 825 kg (load index 101), the load capacity of the HL tire equates to a 10% increase over the XL standard of 750 kg (load index 98), the company stated. 

    Passenger car tires of this size built to the SL standard, adequate for many cars, up to and including mid-range models, can take a maximum load of 670 kg (load index 94). 

    “That makes the load capacity of the new HL tyres almost one quarter higher,” noted Continental, which expects growing demand from OEMs for tires with the new HL code.

    Increasing the load capacity while at the same time meeting customer requirements required changes in both the tire structure and the rubber compound, said Dr. Stefan Habicht, who led the development project for these tires. 

    The trade-offs “needed to be resolved at a very high level,” Habicht explaining how his team reinforced the bead and enhanced the contour of the tire to reduce tire/road noise, and also optimised the pattern compound. 

    As a result, he said, “we were able to achieve low rolling resistance, ensure precision handling and keep mileage at its customary high level.” 

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Bridgestone, Arlanxeo, Solvay launch tire technology platform
    Bridgestone, Arlanxeo, Solvay launch tire technology platform
    Trinseo taps KD Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
    Trinseo taps KD Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
    Cancarb starts up new carbon black unit
    Cancarb starts up new carbon black unit
    Free Newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Get the latest news impacting the European rubber industry, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Logo
    Contact Us

    @ 2019 European Rubber Journal. 
    European Rubber Journal is published bi-monthly by NUERJ Ltd.

    Registered Office: Castle House, 89 High Street,
    Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 2DF, United Kingdom. 

    Tel. + 44 (0)203 196 0141 

    Registered No. 13104613 England

    Email: [email protected]

    Website www.european-rubber-journal.com

    Customer service 

    Tel. + 44 (0)203 196 0141 

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
    • Technology Focus
      • Features
      • Technical Papers
    • Events
      • ERJ Events
      • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
      • Industry Events
    • Maps & Reports
    • People
    • Directory
    • Digital Edition
    • Brainiac