Goodyear will launch AMT tire test for commercial vehicle tires

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that it will use US trucking fleets to carry out automatic control technology (AMT), the team tested the tire pressure for months, involving the technology research projects have been supported by the US Department of Energy's Office of Vehicle Technology.

Since 2011, Goodyear’s R&D team has been focusing on the development and testing of tire pressure automation technology; this technology not only helps to save fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but also extends the tread life and improves the durability and safety of the hub. Sexually, there is no need to manually inflate the tires. In the next phase of testing, multiple freight fleets in the United States and Canada will use the routine operation to test tire pressure control technology within the next 18 months.

Goodyear Tire Starter Control Technology

Goodyear chief technology officer Joseph Zekoski said: “This is an important milestone in the development of tire pressure control technology for the commercial vehicle tire market. The superior performance of tires with tire pressure control technology has made many fleet customers eager to join us. We are delighted and proud to cooperate in the next phase of testing."

The tire pressure auto-control technology can keep the tire in the best inflated state without any external air pump or electronic inflator. The system uses a pump-pipe technology that keeps the tire pressure at normal values. All the components of the tire pressure control technology application system, including the micro-pumps, are completely wrapped inside the tire.

For commercial fleet operators, the tire-related costs are the single largest expense for vehicle maintenance. Of all truck tires, only 40% of the tires differ from the target air pressure by no more than 5 pounds per square inch (psi), while 7% of the tires are 20% or more by air.

Insufficient tire pressure will also reduce the life of the tire. In comparison, tires with normal tire pressures have lower emissions, longer life, and higher safety. Commercial tire pressure autocontrol systems are designed to give the tires outstanding performance in a variety of driving conditions, even after several renovations.

Zekoski said: “This phase of testing is critical and determines when we can apply this technology to the commercial vehicle tire market.”

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Vehicle Technology spent US$1.5 million to assist Goodyear in accelerating the research, development and validation of tire pressure automation systems for commercial vehicle tires. In September this year, representatives from the Vehicle Technology Office held a meeting with the Goodyear tire pressure control technology team to check the progress of the project.

Although not yet available, tire pressure control technology has won awards from several magazines for innovative technologies, including:

• In December 2011, the tire pressure autocontrol technology was selected as one of the “Top 10 Most Potential Future Technologies” of the magazine Car & Driver.

• In 2012, tire pressure automation technology won the "Breakthrough Technology Award" from Popular Mechanics Magazine.

• In 2012, tire pressure autocontrol technology was hailed as "The Best Invention of 2012" by Time Magazine.

Goodyear is committed to helping global commercial truck drivers and freight fleets effectively control their fuel costs. Earlier this month, the company launched a new fuel-saving long-distance tire in North America - FUELMAX LHD G505D. This product can save hundreds of dollars of fuel per truck per year. In Europe, the latest FUELMAX S and FUELMAX D commercial tires have achieved the highest rating in rolling resistance comparison tests with major competing tires, saving more than 1,200 euros per vehicle per year compared to the second.