The 500/70R24 DuraForce RT tyre

Firestone Agricultural Tire Company launched two higher-capacity tyres for the construction industry at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas last week.

Tom Rodgers, Firestone's marketing manager, says the tyres meet the industry's specific needs. "With higher load capacities than the tyres they replace, these new tyres are a response to the construction industry's diverse tyre requirements."

The new Firestone 12-16.5 DuraForce tyre is designed for compact telehandlers, skid steers, aerial lifts and backhoe equipment. It is fitted on the JLG G5-18A super compact telehandlers. The 12-ply tyre with a deep tread design can carry 6,320lbs (2,867kg) at 80psi inflation.

Rodgers says the tyre offers 13% more load-carrying capacity than Firestone's standard 10-ply tyre.

Also launched at CONEXPO was the Firestone 500/70R24 Radial DuraForce RT 157 Load Index tyre for telehandlers, rough-terrain forklifts, industrial tractors and backhoe loaders.

The tyre can carry 9,100lbs (4,128kg) at 46psi inflation.

"This new tyre also has an aggressive tread design for increased traction and greater push/pull," Rodgers says. "Compared with our standard tyre, the Firestone Radial All Traction Utility, the Radial DuraForce RT is designed to improve forward and reverse traction."

He adds that the tyre has a noise-treated tread design to minimise noise disturbance and vibration in cab-equipped vehicles.

Firestone Agricultural Tyre Company is a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC, the leading manufacturer of agricultural tyres in North America. Firestone boasts that it supplies about 40% of the replacement market with agricultural tyres and has about 50% of the harvesting and planting machinery market. It also sells forestry and construction tyres.