Wakefield, Mass.
Tire Business
Yokohama off-highway Tires America Inc. (YOHTA) has introduced the Galaxy Hippo all-steel radial tire for bucket loaders. The high traction pattern is designed for loaders working in dirt on construction sites or on farms and dairies, YOHTA said. It launches in two sizes, 20.5R25 and 23.5R25 and comes with a five year warranty. "We think of rock tread for most loaders, but many of those machines are working in dirt, whether it's on construction jobs, demolition sites or on farms," Dhanjay Bisht, national product manager of earth moving, construction and industrial tires for YOHTA, said. "The new Galaxy Hippo all-steel radial brings a dirt tread to the category to deliver the extra traction of many loader operators need. "On dairy farms and other live-stock operations, loaders are used to build silage piles, pack silage, pick of manure, load scales or do dirt work, so farm loaders need reliable grip in any conditions," he said. The Galaxy Hippo features deep, variable-angle lugs that are thicker than those on the bias-ply Hippo, adding durability and road ability, the company said. Along the outer tread, the lugs are almost perpendicular for maximum traction and feature aggressive, buttressed shoulders that add extra grab. Toward the center, the lugs curve to form a steeply angled overlap for steady roading and reduced wear at up to 25mph. Tire designers also extended and widened the nose of each lug to produce a smoother, more stable ride and reduce scrub wear while running on hard surfaces, YOHTA said. The Hippo radial also features an improved cut- and chip-resistant compound for wear resistance on pavement. Below the tread, steel radial belts provide puncture protection and create a larger, flatter footprint to boost traction, flotation and tire life, Bisht said.