Aug 26 2006
In a dramatic move to lower trucking fleets' and owner-operators' total operating costs, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today introduced a new fuel-efficient commercial tire technology and three new tires for long-haul trucks at the Great American Trucking Show here.
The company's new Fuel Max Technology -- focused on trucking's fuel and tire costs -- is the "most cost-effective way to deal with rising fuel prices and improving vehicle fuel efficiency," said Steve McClellan, Goodyear vice president of commercial tire systems.
The line includes new steer, drive and trailer tires and retreads for a complete "cradle-to-grave" tire system for trucking fleets and owner- operators. An 18-wheeler outfitted with tires featuring Fuel Max Technology could achieve up to 4 percent improved fuel economy, McClellan said.
The technology blends fuel efficiency with long tread life and excellent performance, he added.
Actual Society of Automotive Engineers test results showed an 8 percent improvement in vehicle fuel economy compared with standard Goodyear over-the- road tires.
"The test showed what our tires are capable of achieving in a controlled test environment," said Jon Bellissimo, Goodyear's director of technology for commercial tires. Following SAE test procedures, the new tires were driven at highway speeds at Goodyear Proving Grounds in San Angelo, Texas, to benchmark the performance of the Fuel Max Technology line compared to conventional Goodyear commercial tires.
Since no one drives at constant speed on flat terrain for a 10-hour shift, Goodyear engineers adjusted the SAE results to 4 percent to estimate real- world conditions, such as varying driver inputs, road conditions and terrain, and truck aerodynamics.
Bellissimo said a 4 percent boost in fuel economy could mean significant savings for companies and owner-operators switching to Fuel Max Technology. Improving a truck's 6 miles per gallon to 6.24 mpg with Fuel Max Technology saves up to $2,100 in fuel per year (assuming the truck is driven 120,000 miles per year and fuel costs $2.85 a gallon).
"From a return-on-investment perspective, the tire payback is virtually immediate," the director of technology said.
McClellan agreed, saying, "The potential fuel savings with Fuel Max Technology will help customers reduce their operating costs. The use of innovative tread designs, along with advanced compound and manufacturing technologies, allowed us to drive improved fuel economy while maintaining a low cost-per-mile for our customers."
Goodyear tires featuring Fuel Max Technology include the Unisteel G395 LHS steer tire, Unisteel G305 LHD drive tire and Unisteel G316 LHT trail tire in standard (11R22.5) and low-profile (295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5) sizes. Goodyear also is offering UniCircle and precure retreading with Fuel Max Technology.
"Because retreads match the same innovative tread designs of our new Fuel Max tires, that's a huge advantage for our customers," McClellan said.
The three fuel-efficient tires are built in Goodyear's Topeka, Kan., and Danville, Va., manufacturing plants.