Goodyear UrbanMax a ‘Significant New Product Range’ in Europe

The UrbanMax is the latest member of Goodyear Europe’s Max Technologies family, a range promoted by Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe as featuring the latest technology materials, dedicated tread patterns and durable carcass construction. The UrbanMax MCA and MCD Traction comprise a new line-up of all-season tyres for municipal vehicles, including city buses, fire engines and garbage trucks, and the benefits the manufacturer states these products deliver include high mileage and superb braking on wet and snowy roads.

“UrbanMax is a significant new product range for our customers,” said Boris Stevanovic, marketing director Truck Tires for Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe BV. “The biggest improvement is in the mileage these tyres offer. The MCA can give up to 30 per cent more mileage than its predecessor, and the MCD Traction offers up to 40 per cent more (based upon tests carried out by Goodyear using a size 275/70R22.5 tyre in comparison with Goodyear MCS tyres). The all-season capability is very important for the more northern and alpine regions. In these areas vehicles can use these new tyres all year round. We believe that UrbanMax MCA and UrbanMax MCD Traction set a new benchmark in municipal tyres.”

By combining what the tyre maker calls dedicated tread patterns with latest generation component materials and robust carcass technology, the Goodyear Max Technology concept provides specific products offering enhanced mileage, braking and damage resistance. The new range comprises the UrbanMax MCA, a steer and all position axle tyre, and the UrbanMax MCD Traction, a drive axle tyre. These tyres are specifically designed for all-season use by municipal vehicles operating in tough urban environments and meet the forthcoming EU noise requirements.

The UrbanMax MCA, says Goodyear, offers outstanding performance in the areas of mileage and braking on wet and snow. As previously mentioned, mileage is 30 per cent better than the MCS, which it replaces. The new tyre features reinforced sidewalls, which provide increased protection against kerbing, and has sidewall wear indicators. Low noise emission is a further advantage for passengers and the environment. The tread of the UrbanMax MCA has a wide five-rib pattern intended to provide high mileage, low noise and good handling. Edge blading gives good wet and snow performance as well as even wear. The hi-amplitude centreline gives the MCA its all position capability as it provides traction. Finally, the shoulders are non-intrusive for damage resistance.

The UrbanMax MCD Traction offers similar benefits to the UrbanMax MCA. Its tread features 3D-BIS interlocking blocks, qualities Goodyear notes offer high mileage, superior handling and low rolling resistance and a blade density that provides very high levels of winter and wet performance. This wet and winter performance, the manufacturer continues, is further improved thanks to a new compound, which gives low rolling resistance and low noise. In addition to this, the tread volume and design are reported to give high mileage potential, low rolling resistance, low noise and enhanced handling. A further stated benefit from the tread design and construction is the ability to maintain a high level of traction as the tread depth reduces through wear.

The carcass for both tyres is designed for many demands placed upon a municipal tyre, and is thus comes with ‘super tensile’ steel belts. This construction is intended to improve crack resistance and internal corrosion by reducing internal strain and allowing full rubber penetration between the cords with the added benefit of weight reduction. The construction is said to improve handling, rolling resistance and protection against damage from kerbing.

The two tyres replace the Goodyear Metro MCS summer range and the Metro MCD, which were both M+S tyres. This, says Goodyear, simplifies the choice for operators and provides tyres that are suitable all year round.