BFGoodrich launches 2 Route Control regional truck tires for U.S., Canadian markets

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michelin North America Inc. has introduced the BFGoodrich Route Control S and Route Control D commercial truck tires for regional and urban fleets.

The launch coincides with the BFGoodrich brand's 150th anniversary.

"Since Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich purchased the Hudson River Rubber Company in 1869, BFGoodrich has been on the path of making many firsts in the tire industry," said Adam Murphy, vice president of B2B marketing for Michelin North America. "BFGoodrich was responsible for the first U.S.-built pneumatic tire and selected by Henry Ford as original equipment for the Model A. Now, 150 years later, we continue the legacy with this winning regional market offer."

The BFGoodrich Route Control S steer tire and Route Control D drive tire are designed for trucks used for less-than-truckload and last-mile delivery applications in the package and delivery, food and beverage, and other same-day and next-day delivery segments.

"It's about winning in urban and regional markets and with customers that are serving those markets. which are marked by some of the most difficult conditions," he said.

"Even during this extraordinary pandemic, many of the segments they are serving are experiencing an unbelievable level of growth, really being driven by the increasing demand that all of us, as consumers, have everything quicker and faster. ...

"When we think about what's required by fleets to deliver that uptime, for them to be able to stay up and running, even during the toughest conditions, it very much comes down to benefits, like traction and durability," he said.

Since 2018, Michelin has been in the process of refreshing the entire BFGoodrich commercial tire portfolio. Mr. Murphy said the refresh is expected to be completed in the next year or so.

The BFGoodrich Route Control S (steer/all-position) tire is SmartWay-verified and replaces the BFGoodrich ST 230.

The Route Control tire features include:

• Advanced compounding for improved performance in the demanding, high-scrub regional environment;
• Enhanced sidewall design that resists curb impact and withstands shocks; and
• Improved retreadability.

The tire is engineered to provide long tread life and even-wear performance as well as improved traction in rain and snow, the tire maker said.

The steer tire features optimized microsiping technology to reduce the onset of irregular wear across the tread, while zigzag, flow-through grooves provide water evacuation and grip.

The tire is available in the U.S. and Canada in sizes 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 275/80R22.5 and 285/75R24.5, with the 255/70R22.5 (Load Range H) arriving in the third quarter.

The 245/70R19.5 urban size was previously released with the 225/70R19.5 size arriving in the third quarter.

The Route Control D offers the traction and long-wearing tread necessary in regional applications, the company said.

The drive tire has an open-shoulder, directional tread pattern for all-weather traction.

The tire is available in sizes 11R22.5 and11R24.5 (Load Range H) and 275/80R22.5 (Load Range G). It is also available in urban size 245/70R19.5, with the 225/70R19.5 (Load Range H) size arriving in the third quarter.

Michelin is offering a road test guarantee for the first six months of use or up to 50% of the tires' usable tread life. It also offers a five-year/two-retread manufacturer's limited casing guarantee.