IAA world premiere for Goodyear coach tyres

At this week’s IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, Goodyear is launching its first ever dedicated European-market coach tyres, the Goodyear Marathon Coach and Goodyear Ultra Grip Coach winter drive tyre. Both tyres are available in 295/80R22.5 and 315/80R22.5, with all products to be available on the market by the end of October.

In announcing the tyre’s debut on September 19, George Rietbergen, vice-president of Goodyear Dunlop’s Commercial Product business in the EMEA region, noted that the needs of coach operators have diverged from those of other commercial vehicles in recent years, making the development of coach-specific tyres necessary. “Coaches have sophisticated suspension attached to a rigid body,” he explained. “Comfort and low noise is important for the segment, particularly as a lot of coaches travel overnight.”

Feedback gained from customers prior to the new tyres’ development showed that truck tyres don’t give coach operators maximum benefit. The Marathon Coach and Ultra Grip Coach were tested with six European fleets over a two-year period prior to their launch and Goodyear Dunlop reports a favourable response. “We are very excited about the positive feedback that we have received from the operators who have been testing our new Marathon Coach and Ultra Grip Coach tyres”, said Boris Stevanovic, marketing director Truck Tyres, Goodyear Dunlop EMEA. “Our recent survey confirms that the performance criteria we have been concentrating on in the development of these tyres meet the demands of coach operators.”

The Goodyear-commissioned survey Stevanovic refers to showed that 89 per cent of interviewed bus and coach fleets see rising fuel costs as the main key challenge in the road transport sector.  Cost per kilometre was the most important characteristic operators look for in coach and bus tyres generally, with 64 per cent of participants listing this as top priority or very important.  Second was fuel efficiency/rolling resistance (62 per cent), with mileage coming in third (58 per cent). Comfort and wet grip followed, at 54 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.

The Marathon Coach is an all position tyre for year-round use. It is characterised by an asymmetric tread pattern, which Goodyear Dunlop says offers excellent even wear and mileage with a high comfort level. The Ultra Grip Coach is a specific winter drive tyre with enhanced snow traction. This tyre will be of particular benefit on coaches which operate in areas such as the Nordics and in Alpine regions. The tread design and width are intended to give the tyre excellent grip and traction in winter conditions, in hand with low noise levels.
 
The new Goodyear Coach tyres feature a combination of technologies that are included under the snappy title of TravelMax.  These technologies include Silefex tread compound, an asymmetric design and latest carcass designs.  TravelMax is a key element in the all-round performance these tyres offer, says Goodyear Dunlop.  A further advantage offered by both tyres is an increased load carrying capacity in the 295/80R22.5 size, resulting in a load index of 154, which represents 3,750 kg.