Tire manufacturer Goodyear presents the Kmax Gen-3 and aims to take the Kmax truck-tire range to a new level. It continues to rely on strong mileage while also improving traction, the company says.
Compared with its predecessors, the new range is said to offer up to 13 percent lower rolling resistance and to consist of at least 40 percent sustainable materials.
The goal: reduction of total cost of ownership as well as lowering operating costs. Goodyear cites a potential annual fuel saving of up to €1,236 per vehicle.
The reduction of rolling resistance is said to be aided by the further development of the tread compound and tire design. The Kmax
Gen-3 is, according to the information, the highest mileage and performance within the Kmax range.
For long-haul, regional transport and city use
The range includes the Kmax S Gen-3 for the steering axle, the Kmax D Gen-3 for the drive axle and the Kmax T Gen-3 for the trailer axle.
All tires in the product line are designed for exceptional mileage. The reduced rolling resistance is said to increase efficiency compared with the predecessor products. The tires are suitable for fleet operators on long-haul routes, in regional transport and in urban use.
“Through the combination of innovative tread compounds, suitability for electric drivetrains and digital traceability, our fleet customers can further
reduce their operating costs with the new range while also developing more sustainable transport solutions,” says Xavier Fraipont, Vice President Commercial PBU EMEA at Goodyear.
Ecoready and RFID
The new generation offers the so-called Ecoready Technology: tires that consist of more than 40 percent sustainable materials are, according to the report, marked with a corresponding logo. The Kmax Gen-3 tires reportedly contain rice husk ash silica (RHAS).
In addition, integrated RFID chips are supposed to enable exact digital identification of the tire and facilitate integration into the fleet's tire management and tracking systems.
For diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles
The steering and drive-axle tires of the new product line feature a
full-silica tread compound, which is said to contribute to increased wear resistance, lower operating temperatures and longer service life. By reducing rolling resistance the fuel consumption can fall, according to the manufacturer.
Moreover, the tires are designed for use with diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles. The load capacity and stability of the tread have been increased and optimized for the additional weight and torque of electric vehicles. The reduced rolling resistance should in turn enable longer battery runtime.
“Its proven mileage and a rolling resistance up to 13 percent higher contribute to measurable fuel savings for fleets and the possibility to reduce their CO₂ emissions,” explains Maciej Szymański, Marketing Director Commercial
