New Delhi: As India embarks on its journey to ‘Star Rating’ for tyres, Apollo Tires has claimed to be the first company to achieve 5 stars for radial light trucks.

In a press release, the company said that several SKUs of the 16-inch Apollo Endurace RA and LD received a 5-star rating from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), with several also receiving a 4-star rating.

Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tires said, “The BEE label program provides fuel/energy saving information to customers and helps them make an informed purchasing decision.”

“Saving fuel/energy, which is the highest cost for this category of consumers, optimizes the total cost of their operation. We are a leader in the CV category, especially in radial light trucks, and this star rating would help us continue to dominate the segment.”

The Apollo EnduRace RA and Apollo EnduRace LD radial tube ranges are designed for steer axle or all wheel and drive axle mounting. These variants offer 4×2 trucks with payloads of up to 9 tonnes to meet all the regional transport requirements of domestic customers for both short and long haul applications across the country.

In addition to trucks, these tires are also used for schools and tourist buses in the passenger market. The company also sells these tires to Mahindra, VECV, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors and VE.

According to the manufacturer, the EnduRace RA Steerable/All-Wheel tread pattern is designed with a sinusoidal groove and ribbing that offers better stability and control for vehicle handling and minimal rolling resistance. While the optimized downforce dampens noise, the tension-relieving lamellae promote lasting wear.

With its rugged, long-life blocks, the EnduRace LD tread offers drive axle traction in heavy-duty situations with smooth wear, reduced heat, and improved cut and chip resistance. The casing of these tires is manufactured with cords that are tension optimized for lower stress and maximum durability for multi-life performance.