Debut of Goodyear Self-Inflating Technology for Commercial Tyres at the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) Commercial Vehicle Show

Goodyear technology can aid in fuel savings and CO2 reductions; potential to improve performance and eliminate need for external inflation pressure intervention.

AKRON, Ohio, September 19, 2012 – Over the past year, researchers at The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company have been working on a new Air Maintenance Technology application that can aid in fuel savings and CO2 reductions while potentially improving performance and eliminating need for external inflation pressure intervention. The commercial application of Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology will make its debut at the 2012 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany.

Tyre-related costs are the single largest maintenance item for commercial vehicle fleet operators with more than 50 percent of all truck and trailer breakdowns involving a tyre in some way¹. Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology mechanism allows tyres to maintain constant, optimum pressure without the use of external pumps, electronics and driver intervention.

Proper tyre inflation can result in improved fuel economy, prolonged tread life and optimized tyre performance. Customers should receive the following key benefits from Air Maintenance Technology-enabled tyres:

Improved Fuel Economy
Optimum tyre pressure is key in the commercial market. It is estimated that for every 10 psi lost in tyre inflation, there is a one percent² loss in miles per gallon.

While one percent may seem insignificant, it could cost a truck owner over $627.00 in fuel, based on a vehicle that has a fuel consumption of 6.6 miles per gallon, runs 100,000 miles a year with a diesel fuel price of $4.10/gallon³.

Prolonged Tread Life
AMT is expected to play a major role in optimizing tread life in the commercial tyre market. Tyres which are under inflated by ten percent decrease tread life by 9-16 percent⁴. By utilizing Goodyear’s Air Maintenance Technology, commercial vehicle fleet operators will be able to realize the full mileage potential of their tyres, thus saving money by prolonging the use of their tyres.

Optimized Performance
Properly inflated tyres are also necessary to keep a vehicle’s handling performance at optimal levels. Under-inflation means less evenly distributed pressure on the road. It also reduces the tread area that is in direct contact with the road and can impact the integrity of the tyre casing, which is key to the retreading process.

Commercial trucks pose a different challenge for AMT than that of consumer vehicles as their tyres are larger, have higher inflation pressures, drive longer distances and carry much heavier loads. Commercial tyres operate at a higher air pressure, typically 105 psi for commercial tyres vs. 32 psi for consumer tyres. This is a much more challenging performance requirement for the pump system. The life of a commercial truck tyre is often extended by retreading. The commercial truck AMT system is being designed to perform after the retreading process.

“We believe the Air Maintenance Technology application for commercial vehicle tyres will not only enhance the performance of the tyre , but will also provide cost savings to fleet owners and operators through the extension of tyre tread life and increased fuel economy” stated Goodyear’s Chief Technical Officer, Jean-Claude Kihn. “The progress we continue to make with this technology is very encouraging. We look forward to further testing of this concept.”

Engineers at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio, USA are credited with the development of the commercial application of this concept and the supporting technology. Prototype tyres have been produced in Goodyear’s Topeka manufacturing plant in Kansas, USA, and rigorous validation testing has confirmed that the AMT pumping mechanism works. An extensive fleet trial is planned to gather real-world information from customers in 2013.

A $1.5 million grant from The United States Department of Energy’s Office (DOE) of Vehicle Technology is helping speed up research, development and demonstration of the AMT system for commercial vehicle tyres. A grant from the Luxembourg government for research and development will continue to help fund Goodyear’s efforts in researching and developing the AMT system for consumer tyres.

About Goodyear
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tyre companies. It employs approximately 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the- art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com.

Note: Image can be found at www.goodyear.com/media

¹ American Trucking Association, (2008). Tyre Pressure Monitoring and Inflation. Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine.
² Goodyear (2003). Section 10: Factors Affecting Truck Fuel Economy. Radial Truck and Tyre Retread Service Manual, pg. 64-81.
³ Kotanides Jr., J. (2012).
⁴ Statistic according to “The High Cost of Low Tyre Pressure” by Mark S. Kuhar