Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. recently announced that it has developed commercial-duty light-truck tires that address the stringent regulations established by the federal TREAD Act. Unveiling its new Armor Max Technology, Goodyear introduced four new light-truck tires for commercial use.
“The TREAD Act’s testing is intense, and by developing tires for rugged urban and off-road applications, Goodyear’s research and development capabilities were allowed to shine,” says Steve McClellan, vice president of commercial tire systems for Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear.
The company says it developed four new load-range E tire models: Unisteel G949 RSA and G947 RSS all-position tires, and Unisteel G933 RSD and G971 drive tires for heavy pickups, delivery vans and trucks up to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (Class 3). A complete line of retreads also is available for use with Armor Max tires.
The tires, McClellan says, are constructed with steel-reinforced sidewalls and steel belts, providing long mileage and casings for multiple retreads, which help drive down overall lifecycle costs and deliver value to fleets.
In enacting the TREAD Act in 2000, the United States established reporting procedures on tire performance, new testing standards, information labeling on tires and a warning system to drivers when a tire is significantly underinflated. “These tires surpassed all standards in endurance, high-speed and low-inflation-pressure testing,” McClellan says.
The Unisteel G949 RSA all-position tire for regional highway and city street use, available for either steer or free-rolling wheel positions, features steel body construction. Bruce Woodruff, commercial tire marketing manager, says the G949’s tread rib pattern allows for good wet weather traction and helps promote even wear for more mileage to removal.
The Unisteel G947 RSS features special “scrub-resistant” compounds and raised sidewall protector ribs to help resist tire damage caused by constant turning, backing, hard braking and curbing. “If you’re running in a package delivery-type operation, this tire can really help you to reach your destination,” Woodruff says.
