Goodyear adds regional Fuel Max version

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2017) — Goodyear is adding a regional/long-haul version of its Fuel Max radial truck tire line, the Fuel Max RSA, that it claims is a substantial advance over its predecessor, the G661 HSA.

The Fuel Max also offers improved traction, long life and enhanced toughness for multi-stop driving in urban environments, Goodyear said during its 2017 Goodyear Customer Conference in Orlando.  

“The Fuel Max RSA is for fleets that want greater fuel efficiency on a regional basis with a SmartWay-compliant tire,” said Brian Buckham, Goodyear general manager, product marketing.

The customers Goodyear is targeting with the FuelMax, Mr. Buckham said, are regional/long-haul fleets that operate mainly on highways but also experience some urban driving to make deliveries.

“A driver that goes from Columbus to Indianapolis, and stops in Dayton on the way, would be the perfect customer for the Fuel Max RSA,” he said.Goodyear's Fuel Max Technology contains cool-running compounds, as well as special tire construction and tread designs, to lower rolling resistance and improve fuel economy, the company said.

Other features of the tire include:

• Goodyear's "IntelliMax" rib technology, with contoured sipes for tread stiffness, yielding regular wear, high mileage potential and enhanced snow and ice grip;

• A tri-layer tread compound for increased mileage, lower rolling resistance and improved curb impact resistance;

• A non-evolving tread to help maintain traction through the tire's life;

• Super-tensile steel belts to add stability and enhance toughness;

• Steel casing construction for optimal retreadability; and

• A computer-optimized tread design and footprint designed to give the tire more miles before removal.

The Fuel Max RSA is designed to give regional/long haul fleets a complete package of improvements, according to Mr. Buckham.

“We never try to improve just one thing,” he said.