Earlier this month, I was one of a select group of truck journalists invited to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's Angelo, Texas, proving grounds to participate in the company's 2015 Tire Technology Showcase.
The event, which brought in fleet representatives from around North America, provided an inside look into Goodyear's tire development programs. It also afforded the company the opportunity to show off some of its latest new products. Among them were two new fuel-efficient tires: the Goodyear Fuel Max LHD G505D.long-haul drive tire and the Goodyear Fuel Max LHS long-haul steer tire.
Together, the two tires are said to "make up the most fuel-efficient long-haul combination in North America."
Smart Tech App
Also reviewed was the Goodyear’s new Smart Tech App. Available for both iPhones and Androids, this app is designed to make the road service process easier for the company’s servicing dealers and end users.
It does away with the need for technicians to write down and phone in information about service calls.
The Smart Tech App features buttons that technicians push to keep all parties informed of their location, activities and progress, from the moment the call is accepted, to the time the technician returns after having helped the customer’s truck return to service.
Tire sealant
We also got to see a demonstration of the effectiveness of Goodyear's DuraSeal Technology. The world's first built-in tire sealant for commercial truck tires, it instantly seals tread punctures up to 1/4".
In addition, we had a presentation of a SAE Type Fuel Test, watched wet stopping distance performance of tires and observed a coast down test to show the effect of the rolling resistance on different makes of tires.
Proving grounds
The San Angelo proving grounds is one of six that Goodyear operates around the world. It is the main one for tire development in North America.
Established in 1944, it encompasses 7,250 acres, has 53 test surfaces, 68 miles of roads and 300+ vehicles of all types and sizes.
San Angelo is an ideal location for a test track, Goodyear officials told me, because it typically has 251 days of sunshine per year.
