The new Fuel Max LHSGoodyear unveiled March 4 in San Angelo, Texas, a new fuel-efficient steer tire for long-haul applications and a smartphone app aimed at streamlining roadside service.
The Fuel Max LHS complements the Fuel Max LHD G505D, Goodyear’s fuel-efficient long-haul drive tire, introduced in October.
Use of the two tires together provides savings of $560 to $1,300 in fuel costs per truck, per year, compared to comparable tires from leading competitors, said Gary Medalis, director of marketing. The company presented results of SAE Type II Fuel Economy testing, a leading industry standard for comparing products.
Brian Buckham, general manager of product marketing, said the LHS also has these attributes:
- Specialized, multi-layered tread compounding to promote even wear and longevity.
- Penetration resistance to help prevent stone drilling, which extends the potential for retreading.
- A steel belt and casing package for enhanced toughness and endurance.
Like the Fuel Max LHD G505D, the LHS is verified by the SmartWay program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The SmartTech app works with both iOS and Android devices.“If you’re a fleet, the quickest way to reduce your operating cost is to reduce your fuel consumption,” Buckham said. “That’s exactly what our Goodyear Fuel Max LHD G505D/Fuel Max LHS combination is designed to do, while at the same time delivering other benefits that are important to long haul fleets.”
The new Smart Tech app is designed to add efficiency to its roadside service programs and to provide the driver, the fleet and dealer personnel immediate access to the progress of a service call.
Smart Tech begins working “from the moment the call is accepted to the moment the technician returns home after having helped the customer’s truck return to service,” said Jose Martinez, business solutions manager. “There is no need for writing, memorization or phone calls, which saves valuable time and helps eliminate expensive errors.”
The app is free to all customers of the company’s Fleet HQ program, which serves the largest fleets, and Smart Fleet, which serves customers as small as one-truck owner-operators.
Smart Tech allows technicians to photograph tires that were replaced, plus unit numbers and truck license plates. These images are uploaded to a secure portal, where they can be viewed by customers.
“At any time during the process, both the fleet and servicing dealer can check the status of the service call,” noted Martinez.
