Goodyear releases new tires for city buses
Goodyear announced that it is releasing a new tire, the Goodyear Urbanmax, designed specifically for urban buses and engineered to handle constant stopping and starting, as well as regular curbing.
The production uses a rubber compound with a high proportion of silica, which allowed for a 40% increase in tire life compared to the previous model, as well as providing low rolling resistance and reliable traction on wet roads — in the EU labeling system, the novelty received a rating of "B" in both parameters (and a rating of "A" for noise). Additionally, the 4-rib tread pattern with additional lamellas and deep grooves is optimized for stable handling, even wear, and high traction in various road conditions.
The Goodyear Urbanmax also features reinforced sidewalls with wear indicators, redesigned for additional protection against damage from aggressive curbing, which is highly valued in the urban transport tire sector. In addition to this, the tires are suitable for regrooving and retreading, which makes it possible to extend their lifespan and reduce fleet expenses. Part of the tires will be made using the EcoReady Technology, meaning that 40% of eco-friendly materials, such as silica from rice husk ash, will be used in their production.
As many cities are now transitioning to new types of public transport, the Urbanmax tires are adapted for use on both diesel and hybrid and fully electric buses, and compared to previous generation tires, the load-carrying capacity has been increased, making the tires optimally suitable for heavy electric buses.
"The Goodyear Urbanmax represents the future of urban transport, combining increased durability, fuel efficiency, and eco-friendly materials," said Xavier Frepon, Vice President of the Truck Tires Division at Goodyear EMEA. "The new tires guarantee that bus fleets will be able to reduce their costs and operating efficiency, as well as contribute to the creation of more eco-friendly urban mobility."
Maciej Szamanski, Marketing Director of the Truck Tires Division at Goodyear EMEA, added that "we're not just launching a new tire — we're offering a solution adapted to the changing requirements of urban mobility". "The key elements of this product have been designed with the realities of modern urban transport in mind, and the tires are capable of handling frequent stops and sharp turns, as well as meeting the growing need to reduce environmental damage," he noted.
Goodyear also offers the Marathon Coach tires for tourist buses and the Urbanmax Commuter tires, which occupy a niche in the company's range between them and products for urban use.
The Goodyear Urbanmax tires will be launched in the 275/70 R22.5 size with the 3PMSF marking, indicating that the tires can be operated on snow, and by the end of the year, the 455/45 R22.5 size will be released.