Commercial 
Automotive 
OTR Yokohama Tire has announced the launch of its new open shoulder regional drive tire—715R—designed to enable fleets in optimizing their operations.
According to the company, the tire is currently available in the size 11R22.5, with three additional sizes being realized in early 2020—295/75R22.5, 285/75R24.5 and 11R24.5. The tire is SmartWay verified for low rolling resistance and is manufactured in Yokohama’s West Point plant in Mississippi.
“The deep-tread, 715R is the answer for fleets looking to maximize traction and boost their bottom line by having tires that provide long, even wear, an open shoulder design and fuel efficiency,” says Tom Clauer, Senior Manager of Commercial and OTR Product Planning at Yokohama. “The 715R also offers high retreadability, so it truly delivers the performance and value fleets require.”
Yokohama lists the following benefits of the 715R tire:
- The tire’s 26/32-inch deep tread pattern helps provide longer wear. The strategically placed tie bars in the tread help with controlling block movement and reducing heel/toe wear.
- The open shoulder blocks are both sturdy and precisely spaced to help maximize traction as well as decrease retention of foreign objects.
- Yokohama also notes that its exclusive compound is designed to be cut and chip resistant and decreases rolling resistance. The compound aids in improving fuel efficiency.
- The 715R’s 16-ply construction ensures its higher load capacity and its H load-rating indicates that the tire carries heavier payloads with ease.