Goodyear UrbanMax MCA HL + for electric & hybrid buses

The city bus market is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Electrification, autonomy and accessibility, including on-demand services, are revolutionising urban mobility. Goodyear has launched a new tyre to provide a solution for operators seeking to maximise the efficiency of their current fleet and prepare for the future; the UrbanMax MCA HL + is an all-position tyre with high-load structure, enabling the 8-tonne axle load capacity required by modern electric or hybrid buses.

“Bus operators are under increasing pressure to meet environmental targets whilst adapting to changing trends in urban mobility. Goodyear’s focus is to simplify the move towards a climate-neutral future by providing the technologies to win in a fast-changing environment for personal mobility,” says Maciej Szymanski, marketing director commercial Europe for Goodyear. “Our aim is to support bus fleet managers in lowering the carbon footprint by driving energy efficiency with low-emission tyres as well as smart tyre monitoring systems.”

Electric drive ready

Based on the proven UrbanMax MCA design, Goodyear adapted the new MCA HL+ to support additional battery loads while enhancing lower energy consumption. The technology in the tyre, which includes a new tread compound, design and construction, supports the need for operators to reduce CO2 and noise emissions, particularly in densely populated areas.

“The UrbanMax MCA is known for its high mileage potential, traction and all-weather grip performance required in demanding urban environments,” comments Szymanski. “Since many years, this product line is a trusted choice of leading transportation companies across Europe as it is catering to the needs of both combustion and alternative drive trains. The new UrbanMax MCA HL+ size offers lower rolling resistance to further enhance energy and fuel efficiency as well as an increased load capacity supporting range extension for electric buses.”

For demanding city use & all-weather conditions

Whilst energy efficiency is often at the forefront of fleet managers’ minds, durability remains a key factor in running bus operations. Buses must tackle a wide range of demanding road conditions including kerb impacts, potholes, speed humps, urban areas with tight turning circles and regular stop-start driving.

As public transportation keeps cities moving, services need to run whatever the weather. The UrbanMax MCA range is fit for all-season operation and accordingly wears the 3PMSF snowflake marking on its sidewall.

Any downtime can heavily disrupt passenger schedules, so Goodyear has focused on a range of technologies that combine robustness with energy efficiency. The company also integrated RFID tags to allows simple identification and connectivity to tyre management and tracking systems, further streamlining tyre management. The full range is also compatible with the Goodyear retreading programme.

UrbanMax MCA HL+ technologies

• The tread design has an optimised rib layout to ensure even contact pressure distribution, shoulder robustness and stress reduction.
• A low hysteresis tread ensures cool running capabilities, reducing heat build-up or energy loss, thus improving grip.
• ‘Flexomatic’ sipes in the centre ribs, supported by block edge siping improve the braking performance. The Flexomatic sipes close when rolling through the footprint so that the tread blocks interlock. This makes the tread stiffer and more robust whilst still maintaining high traction in more challenging weather conditions.
• Incorporated Interlaced Strip Technology assures less deformation in the casing and creates a uniform pressure distribution across the footprint.
• UrbanMax MCA HL+ has a reinforced sidewall and will protect the tyre to the higher impact risk within the urban environment.
• Wear indicators show the protective layer’s remaining thickness and when the tyre should be reversed, effectively giving it a second life.