Goodyear Adds to US Commercial Tyre Range

Two new truck tyres are extending Goodyear’s US market range. These latest products, which the manufacturer is introducing to address the needs of multiple applications that range from city delivery to emergency vehicles and buses plus longer regional runs, are said to offer a deeper tread depth, enhanced tread designs and compounds in order to maximise tyre life in both urban and regional driving conditions.

“The local haul and regional segments are diverse and about as tough as it gets when it comes to wear on commercial tyres,” said Donn Kramer, Goodyear’s director of marketing for commercial tyres. “With the amount of scrubbing and curb damage the tyres undergo, fleets need tyres that are robust and able to provide a low cost-per-mile through multiple retreads. We’re excited to bring to market major advancements in tyre technology with the Goodyear G661 HSA and G662 RSA with Fuel Max Technology.”

Goodyear notes that the G661 HSA steer and all-position tyre is manufactured with a high scrub-resistant tread, utilising a multi-compound construction that helps to extend tread life when used in local applications which require frequent turning, backing and braking. “Beverage trucks, emergency vehicles, tow trucks and school buses are placed in some of the toughest driving conditions around,” said Kramer. “Tyres operate in challenging conditions, so these products have penetration protectors to help resist cuts and punctures, and sidewall protector ribs coupled with a scrub-resistant sidewall compound to help protect against abrasions from curbing.”

Goodyear’s G662 RSA with Fuel Max Technology is intended for regional and local haul applications as a steer and all-position tyre. “The G662 RSA with Fuel Max Technology is Goodyear’s first regional tyre to offer the fuel-saving capability of Fuel Max,” said Kramer. “This innovative compound reduces rolling resistance significantly, and the benefit for fleets using the tyre in longer direct routes is improved fuel economy of up to four per cent. For those running in high-mileage regional applications of 120,000 miles per year, that could equate to nearly $1,100 per year in fuel savings if the G662 RSA with Fuel Max Technology is used in all positions (based on fuel at $2.30 per gallon – £0.40 a litre).”

Kramer said the G662 RSA with Fuel Max Technology boasts another first. “It’s also our first regional tyre to offer a pressure distribution groove – to spread weight on the tread for enhanced uniform wear,” he said. The new tyre has a 22/32-inch tread depth, 2/32 inches deeper than previous Goodyear regional tyres. Additionally, Goodyear’s ‘TredLock Technology’, featuring interlocking microgrooves, helps to stiffen and stabilise the tread for longer tread life. “When the truck is running straight, the TredLock pattern is separated, which provides enhanced traction in wet weather conditions,” explained Kramer. “But on a turn, those microgrooves come together and interlock to create a block – stabilising the tread to help prevent irregular wear. It’s the latest technology from Goodyear.”

According to Kramer, a new casing design available for most sizes features full-sized, super-tensile steel belts, to help reinforce the tread for enhanced toughness. “Goodyear developed the casing with life-cycle costs in mind,” he commented. “A tyre’s true performance is not only measured by its initial life, but also by its second, third and beyond as a retread. You need a well-engineered casing to capture multiple retreads and a lower cost-per-mile, and our new casing delivers.”

The G661 HSA and G662 RSA with Fuel Max are already available in the US in 11R22.5 size, with the 295/75R22.5 size coming in June. During this month the G661 HSA will also be released in 11R24.5 size.