FINDLAY, Ohio (Nov. 29) — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.´s Oliver Rubber Co. subsidiary has developed a premium precure tread rubber using a proprietary rubber compound it calls "Black Armor."
The Vantage Drive premium tread rubber is designed to offer the benefits of premium truck tires, Cooper said. The tread design and compound provide low cost per mile and improved fuel economy for primarily long-haul but also regional applications, the company said.
The Vantage Drive is recommended for drive positions in long-haul, over-the-road applications. Cooper said independent testing and its own testing showed the tread delivers 4 percent better fuel economy over competitors´ "best-in-class" retreads.