Goodyear Launches Fuel-Efficient Truck Tire Lines
25 August 2006
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has introduced a new fuel-efficient commercial tire technology—Fuel Max—and three new tires for long-haul trucks that could deliver up to a 4% improvement in fuel economy, according to the company.
Actual Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) test results of the tires driven at highway speeds showed an 8% improvement in vehicle fuel economy compared with standard Goodyear over-the-road tires.
Since no one drives at constant speed on flat terrain for a 10-hour shift, Goodyear engineers adjusted the SAE results to 4 percent to estimate real-world conditions, such as varying driver inputs, road conditions and terrain, and truck aerodynamics.
Improving a truck’s 6 mpg to 6.24 mpg with Fuel Max Technology could save around 770 gallons of fuel (assuming the truck is driven 120,000 miles per year). At the current US average diesel price of $3.03 per gallon, that represents $2,333 in savings.
From a return-on-investment perspective, the tire payback is virtually immediate.
—Jon Bellissimo, Goodyear’s director of technology for commercial tires
The line includes new steer, drive and trailer tires and retreads for a complete tire system for trucking fleets and owner-operators.
The Fuel Max Technology uses a cool-running, dual-compound construction on the exterior of the tire to help reduce the amount of energy generated within the tread for lower rolling resistance.
Enhanced Casing Design (ECD) also helps reduce running temperatures and assists rust resistance. A uniquely shaped pressure distribution groove helped minimize shoulder wear, while a barrel-shaped footprint, edge blades and five-rib design offer even wear on the road surface of the tire.
If this is what they claim it is, this is very good news, especially for truckers. I wonder if they are singles or dualies?
Posted by: John W. | 25 August 2006 at 11:49 AM
Proper tire pressure and maintenance is key for safety, performance, and fuel economy for all wheeled vehicles. Perhaps cars and light trucks should come with a built in rugged, reliable, cheap, and accurate tire pressure monitor. That way, we can save a few more lives, and some fuel to boot. Better tires can help later on as their costs come down to the range that most can afford.
Posted by: allen Z | 25 August 2006 at 11:58 AM
Allen:
I think all new vehicles are required to have a tire pressure monitors starting for MY 2007. But I'm not certain.
Posted by: Cervus | 25 August 2006 at 01:02 PM
Cervus,
Correct, but some monitors only tell you when the pressure is not high enough (or too high) until it deviates 20-30% from recommended. This may be good enough, from a safety standpoint, for a vehicle that is lightly to moderately loaded, and performing a emergency or quick maneuver. This will not suffice for fuel economy, or with a heavily loaded vehicle turning to avoid an impending crash.
_
___Granted, some manufacturers (BMW, Lexus, Cadillac, etc.) will likely equip their models with the best pressure monitors, with pressure and temperature readings down to the tenth of psi and degree Celsius/Fahrenheit. However, what will GM fit the Aveo or Equinox with. What level of accuracy and data output will Ford decide to have on their cars? What will the average Joe or Jane get for their mid-priced automobile?
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___I do realise that the aftermarket for auto components (with qualified/certified mechanics) may render my point moot, to a certain degree.
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___Additionally, if safety can be achieved, then we should then go for fuel economy. After all, saving 1% is still alot of fuel. Hows 35+ million gallons of diesel/gasoline (and ethanol, CNG, LPG, biodiesel, etc) sound?
Posted by: allen Z | 25 August 2006 at 03:05 PM
"35+ million gallons of diesel/gasoline (and ethanol, CNG, LPG, biodiesel, etc)"
Not gallons, er, barrels. Which comes out to 1.5+ billion gallons a year.
Posted by: allen Z | 25 August 2006 at 03:08 PM
Hi,
Rather than precise Tire Pressure indicators, Real Time Fuel Economy displays would make better sense. If your tire pressure goes down, you will see it in the Fuel Economy. Besides, the Real Time Fuel Economy Indicator would be a better overall tool.
Safety level Tire Pressure indicators are sufficient, I think. Tire Pressure varies dramatically with trip history and daily temperature variations. Not going to make allot of sense unless studied against road loads. Which a driver does not have time for.
Posted by: donee | 25 August 2006 at 04:47 PM
donee,
I agree a real time fuel economy meter (with some other distance/time split and trip functions) would curb balky/jerky or aggressive driving. It might also show those carrying around too much junk in their vehicles to offload the unnecessary/encumbering excess weight. However, proper tire inflation is key to safety for large, heavily loaded trucks. Temperature is another important aspect to tires. Accurate and reliable readouts of tire temp, and pressure allows the driver to make judgement calls and avert potentially dangerous situations as they develop, but before they become catastrophic failures.
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___Perhaps what I am trying to get across is a system that monitors the various systems aboard a vehicle, better than current ones. A system that would not be like the "check engine light" or "brake light" of today's cars. One that is integrated, reliable, rugged, accurate, and affordable/cost effective for the majority of auto/truck owners. One that will notify the operator something is amiss, and later on help mechanics or maintenance if specified.
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___Remember the Hurricane Rita bus fire, the wheel well that overheated to the point of igniting and starting an inferno that killed many aboard. Improper maintenance was a key culprit. However, if temperature sensors and other monitoring gear were aboard and operational, the bus operator might had been warned and might had pulled over to the shoulder. He could then request Emergency services assistance, as well as taken the passengers off. Another possibility would had been the driver being warned of possible problems, and issues with the bus he was driving. Now this is Monday Morning Quarterbacking, but that would had been a possibility.
Posted by: allen Z | 01 September 2006 at 08:04 PM
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3288650346217110710
Check this out!
Posted by: Billy | 18 September 2007 at 11:33 AM
Here is the ultimate, easy to read, accurate, impact resistant, truck tire monitor
Ron J
www.abbacorp1.com/AirChex.html
Posted by: Ron Johnson | 11 December 2007 at 08:43 AM
I hope this claim has some truth to it. This will save a sufficient amount of money as well as bring convenience to truckers supporting Goodyear tire tubes .
Posted by: Bill Beck | 10 November 2009 at 09:54 AM
We just came across this news (Slightly late!). Anyone can confirm if these tires have been a success in the tire market? Have they made a considerable impact 4 years after launch?
We are interested in running some test with these tires and our tire studs
Cheers
The guys from http://www.maxigripstore.com/
Posted by: richard | 27 March 2010 at 12:04 PM
We just came across this news (Slightly late!). Anyone can confirm if these tires have been a success in the tire market? Have they made a considerable impact 4 years after launch?
We are interested in running some test with these tires and our tire studs
Cheers
The guys from http://www.maxigripstore.com/
Posted by: richard | 27 March 2010 at 12:04 PM