Goodyear Launches ‘New Generation’ Mixed Service Tyres

At the Bauma show in Munich, Goodyear unveiled the first products in what it describes as being a “brand new generation of mixed service tyres.” The Omnitrac MSS II and Omnitrac MSD II form the foundation products in a range designed specifically to meet the needs of the construction industry and operators who encounter both on and off road conditions. Goodyear comments that the tyres have been developed to deliver users enhanced mileage and traction, along with greater damage protection.

The Omnitrac MSS II is a steer axle fitment, while the Omnitrac MSD II is intended for drive axles.  Both tyres feature Omnitrac Max Technology, the latest addition to the Goodyear Max Technology portfolio. Goodyear describes Omnitrac Max Technology as combining latest technology materials and design elements, including damage resistant tread compounds, robust casing construction and optimised tread patterns.  This results, the manufacturer notes, in excellent mileage and traction performance, combined with good retreadability for enhanced fleet efficiency.

Focusing on the construction of the casings used in the Omnitrac MSS II and Omnitrac MSD II, Goodyear reports the implementation of a high-tear resistant and ageing resistant tread compound, specific undertread compound, dedicated belt materials and ‘Ultra-tensile’ casing material.  The resulting benefits, the tyre maker adds, are enhanced mileage performance, improved damage resistance in tough mixed service conditions, corrosion propagation resistance, less ‘growth’ and improved robustness. All this adds up to a lower risk of damage in service and better retreadability; as Goodyear sums up – more reliability, less downtime and greater economy.

The Omnitrac MSS II features a wide tread with ‘Slalom’ centreline grooves and solid shoulder ribs.  Stone penetration protection combined with a double groove angle is intended to give better stone drilling resistance and better groove self-cleaning.  The stated benefits from this are enhanced mileage, improved on/off-road braking and better damage resistance.  The tread pattern, which features four or five ribs depending on size, has specific pitch sequencing to reduce road noise.  With regard to mileage and noise, the performance of the Omnitrac MSS II exceeds that of its predecessor, the Omnitrac MSS, and Goodyear comments it is “unbeaten in terms of rolling resistance.”  The Omnitrac MSS II fulfils the upcoming future EU regulation 661/2009 requirements for noise and rolling resistance.

The Omnitrac MSD II also features a wide tread for greater mileage.  A massive tread centreline rib, included to improve wear characteristics, is set between continuous opening grooves that are angled towards the shoulders in order to give better self-cleaning.  Mud traction, adds Goodyear, is enhanced thanks to shoulder-block edge offset.  As with the Omnitrac MSS II, specific pitch sequencing reduces road noise.  According to Goodyear, the new design’s main benefit is the greater mileage it offers – 17 per cent more than its predecessor, the Omnitrac MSD.  The manufacturer adds that the tyre’s rolling resistance properties have also been improve, and it is 20 per cent quieter than its predecessor. The Omnitrac MSD II also fulfils EU regulation 661/2009 noise and rolling resistance requirements.

Comparative testing with the two tyres’ predecessors shows improvements in a number of areas, most notably off-road traction.  Goodyear says the MSS II/MSD II combination gives six per cent better performance than the current MSS/MSD.  Braking is approximately three per cent improved on wet roads than the previous tyres, while the manufacturer says the wet circle test shows two per cent more grip than the MSS/MSD combination.

The two tyres will be available from June 2010 in the following sizes: Omnitrac MSS II in 315/80R22.5 (5 rib pattern) and 13R22.5 (4 rib pattern); Omnitrac MSD II in 385/55R22.5 (4 rib pattern), 315/80R22.5 and 13R22.5 (3 rib pattern). Both tyres, as is the case with all Goodyear truck tyres, are fully regrooveable and retreadable.