Apollo Tyres receives 5-star rating for LCV tires
Gurgaon, India – As India initiates the journey towards ‘star rating’ of tires in the country, Apollo Tyres has become the first company to be awarded with 5 stars for its Apollo brand of light truck radials. Multiple SKUs of 16-inch Apollo Endurace RA and LD have received the 5-star ratings from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), while few of them have also received 4-star ratings.
Commenting on the same, Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres Ltd, said “BEE’s label program provides the customers information on fuel/energy savings, and helps them take an informed buying decision. The savings on fuel/energy, which is the highest cost for this category of consumers, optimizes their entire cost of operation. We are the leaders in the CV category, especially in the light truck radials, and this star rating would help us further dominate the segment.”
Apollo Tyres pioneered the technology for light truck tubeless tires a decade or so back, and simultaneously also developed tube type all steel radial tires for light commercial vehicles, based on market requirements. Considering the growing pace of infrastructure development and subsequent requirements in high-speed applications, these radial tires overcome the limitations of bias tires in terms of mileage, durability and tire life.
The tube type radial range includes Apollo EnduRace RA, which is for steer axle or all wheel fitment, and Apollo EnduRace LD for drive axle fitment. These variants cater to all the regional transportation needs of domestic customers, having 4×2 trucks with up to 9 ton load carrying capacity, for their short and long haulage applications across the country. In addition to the trucks, these tires are a preferred fitment in the passenger segment as well for Schools and Tourist buses. The company is also supplying these tires to the major OEMs like Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, VECV and Mahindra.
The Steer/All wheel tread pattern, EnduRace RA is designed with sinusoidal groove base with rib tapers to provide better stability and control for vehicle maneuvering and low rolling resistance. The stress relieving sipes facilitate uniform wear, while the optimized contact pressure reduces the noise. The EnduRace LD tread pattern is designed with strong and robust blocks providing drive axle traction in heavy load application with smooth wear, reduced heat and improved cut and chip resistance. The casings of these tires are made with tension optimized cords, with lower fatigue, to maximize durability for multi-life performance. The superior combination of compound, pattern design and casing durability – yield these 5 stars rated tires with better fuel efficiency, giving desired value for money to each customer, and enabling them to go the distance without compromising on the mileage and durability.