LAS VEGAS. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. unveiled a pair of new "mixed-service" truck tires here yesterday. According to Donn Kramer, director of commercial tire marketing, both new tires "provide targeted performance to help reduce tire cost per mile in specific applications."
The Goodyear Unisteel G287 MSA features high-mileage tread compounds, an improved belt package and a computer-generated tread design. According to Goodyear, it as a "highway commercial tire equipped to handle mixed service conditions, including vocational fleets that require off-road traction." The G287 MSA will be available in 10.00R20, 11.00R20, 11.00R22, 11R22.5, 12R22.5, 11R24.5, 12R24.5 and 315/80R22.5 (plus HSS version) sizes.
The Goodyear Unisteel G288 MSA tire features high-mileage tread compounds, a severe-service tread compound and robust belt package to resist cutting, chipping and tearing, and an open lug design. According to Goodyear, it is a "mixed-service truck tire that delivers outstanding performance in the toughest off-road conditions." The G288 MSA will be available in 10.00R20, 11.00R20, 11.00R22, 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 12.00R24, 12R22.5, 12R24.5, 255/70R22.5 and 275/70R22.5 sizes.
According to Goodyear, both tires will be available with the company's new proprietary DuraSeal technology, which it calls a "revolutionary technology that repairs tire punctures when they occur, greatly reducing vehicle downtime and service calls."
Steve McClellan, vp of commercial tire systems, said DuraSeal involves a gel-like, solvent-free compound built into the inner liner of the tire. He said it will "consistently and instantly" seal punctures up to 1/4-in. in the tread area and stressed that no other manufacturer offers tires with a built-in sealant.
DuraSeal technology offers superior sealing efficiency compared to aftermarket liquid sealants, McClellan said.
"The tire casing maintains its sealing capability even after it is retread," said McClellan. "The technology is a long-term fix for an age-old problem, while aftermarket sealants are a quick temporary fix. The built-in sealant means no messy cleanup for each repair, reduced fire risk during retreading and no negative impact in tire temperature, high speed performance, durability and rolling resistance." He noted that DuraSeal adds only about 5 to 7 lbs. per tire and provides excellent sealing efficiency from -40 degrees to 100 degrees F.
McClellan said the new technology initially will be offered on the new Unisteel G287 MSA and G288 MSA mixed-service tires, as they are run in applications "where tire punctures are a daily hazard." He said DuraSeal should be popular in logging, landfill, construction, road building and other severe-service applications. McClellan added that the technology "may evolve into other applications based on customer needs."
