ORLANDO, Florida—In preparation for trucking’s electric future, particularly along the final mile, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company launched the “Electric Drive Ready” Endurance RSA ULT tire, as well as the Fuel Max RSA ULT for regional haul applications. The new rubber debuted at American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting here.
“As electrification shapes the future of the trucking industry and the last-mile delivery market accelerates at a rapid pace, we’re relentlessly innovating as we develop new tires to help fleets meet evolving expectations,” said Jessica Julian, product marketing manager at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
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“The launch of the fuel-saving Fuel Max RSA and EV-ready Endurance RSA underscores Goodyear’s commitment to offering specialized tires for every application so companies can find the right solution for their fleets,” she added.
Endurance RSA ULT
The premium 17.5" all-position Endurance RSA ULT (215/75R17.5 size) was designed to meet the load capacity needs of electric last-mile delivery vehicles, pickup trucks, and light trucks. It can still be spec’d on gas- and diesel-powered light-duty CVs. Key benefits include higher durability, better traction, and longer lifecycle, Julian told FleetOwner during a tour of Goodyear’s TMC booth inside the Orange County Convention Center.
The 17.5" all-position Endurance RSA ULT (215/75R17.5 size) is Goodyear's first product developed for electric vehicles and will be available in Q2.
It features Goodyear’s new “Electric Drive Ready” designation, which means it's durable enough to handle the higher torque generated by electric axles, Julian said. Conventional tires may wear faster due to the instant acceleration available to EVs.
Goodyear has known there would be a need for a more robust tire to serve fleets with EVs for several years. Along with higher torque, EVs weigh more because of the battery, which can also accelerate tread wear.
“The standard [off-the-shelf] tire won't cut it and won't work with EVs,” said Cary Budzinski, senior director, North America commercial sales for Goodyear. “Because for fleets, it’s all about cost per mile, and they need a tire to run a long, long time. The Endurance RSA is really the first of what I'm sure will be many in our portfolio specifically designed for electric vehicles.”
The advanced tire technologies embedded in the Endurance RSA ULT durability include:
- IntelliMax Rib Technology to stiffen tire tread
- New tread geometry applied to the bottom of the grooves to reduce stress and casing damage
- Deep, open zig-zag tread pattern with stone-penetration protectors to help enhance traction and resist stone retention on urban streets
- Aggressive tread design with mud and snow (M+S) and three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) designations for better winter driving performance
- Durable casings to protect for maximum retreadability
The tire will be available in Q2, with more sizes rolling out mid-year, the company said.
Fuel Max RSA ULT
The 19.5” Fuel Max RSA ULT is available now in sizes 225/70R19.5 and 245/70R19.5. It's best suited for regional, last-mile, pickup and delivery applications, and balances traction, fuel efficiency, and mileage. The tire can also be used on emergency-response and electric-utility vehicles.
Here are some notable features:
- Better rolling resistance
- M+S and 3PMSF designations for all-season traction, including in the winter
- New enhanced casing for higher durability and retreadability
At TMC, Julian also showed Goodyear’s various retread options. These include severe duty, regional, and long-haul retreads.
