Double Coin announces a widebase-single tire for trailers, and a seven-year casing warranty for several of its tire models.

The FT125 will be offered in size 445/50R22.5 with an 18-inch tread width and a capacity of 10,300 pounds, says Bob O'Donnell, OEM and fleet accounts manager. It is due for production in China late this year.

It is the fourth in Double Coin's OptiGreen series of special tires that are designed for energy efficient production and fuel-efficient operation.

The FT125 should have EPA SmartWay validation later in 2012 and certainly by the time it's available early next year, O'Donnell says.

The tire weighs 168 pounds compared to 200 to 225 pounds for a pair of standard dual tires. Along with fuel savings, lower tare weight is another major advantage of wide-base single tires, O'Donnell says.

Select OptiGreens now come with a seven-year limited warranty on casings with a two-retread guarantee. This compares to five years for many competitors' warranties, he says.

The longer Double Coin warranty includes the FR605, a steer-position model that comes in six sizes; FD405, a strong drive-axle tire; and the FT105 standard-profile trailer-position tire.

Double Coins are made by China Manufacturers Alliance and sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico through its U.S.-based subsidiary. It is a "value" brand that aims to offer fleets the lowest cost per mile, says Aaron Murphy, the U.S. company's vice president.