The new 101ZL steer tire model from Yokohama Tire Corp. is the latest addition to its Zenvironment product lineup – which the tire maker calls “eco-sensitive” because the tires boast  low rolling resistance that in turn improves fuel economy.

The 101ZL, which will be officially introduced at the Mid-America Trucking Show in March, is designed to provide at least a 10% increase in overall tread life, along with significant resistance to irregular wear, saidd John Cooney, Yokohama director of commercial sales.

It’s also been added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay list of verified technologies for tires – bringing Yokohama’s total to seven models now recognized as SmartWay “low rolling resistance tires.”

The 101ZL will be available starting in October  in these four sizes: 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5, 11R24.5 and 285/75R24.5. It joins three other models in Yokohama’s Zenvironment line: the 703ZL drive tire, 103ZR steer tire and 501ZA.

Cooney noted that the “Zenvironment” construction process is designed to help control casing growth and greatly reduce “strain energy” in the tire’s shoulder and bead areas for low rolling resistance and better fuel efficiency.

Other features include: Contact pressure equalizer “sipes” to optimize rib contact pressure to resist uneven wear and improve wet weather braking and handling; stress equalizer ribs that increase road contact at the shoulder’s edge to reduce step-down wear; serpentine grooves for added shoulder rigidity for greater tear resistance; and multiple sipes to create an better tire “footprint” for optimal rib edge contact pressure, reducing irregular wear.