Continental Tire the Americas announced that its hybrid application drive tire for commercial trucks, the Conti Hybrid HD3, is verified by the U.S. EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership as a low rolling resistance drive tire for class 8, line-haul tractor trailers.

EPA has determined that certain tire models can reduce NOx emissions and fuel use by 3% or more, relative to the best selling new tires for line haul class 8 tractor trailers, according to the SmartWay Transport Partnership website. This tire is now the 20th in a line of Continental new and retreaded truck tire products that are currently listed as verified by SmartWay.

Conti Hybrid HD3 is a third-generation long-haul highway drive tire, named because it allows drivers to operate in the combined highway and regional application with a combination of long mileage, traction and fuel saving characteristics.

With advanced tread cap compounding, a self-stabilizing rib-block pattern, and minimized tread deformation from a stiff shoulder, drivers can expect the Conti Hybrid HD3 to have more than 10% improvement in rolling resistance against Continental’s HDR2 and HDL2 DL.

The tire is available in sizes 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5 and 11R24.5. Conti Hybrid HD3 will be available as a ContiTread retread product in late 2013, and will also be submitted to SmartWay for verification under the retread technologies program.