Goodyear: Cooler Treads Prevail During the Heat Wave
15 July 1998
Goodyear: Cooler Treads Prevail During the Heat WaveAKRON, Ohio, July 15 -- The heat gripping most of the United States this summer might put most motorists on edge, but new advances from America's largest tire company could leave them with nerves of steel. The revolutionary ultra-tensile steel reinforcements in two new Goodyear passenger car tires allow tires to run cooler -- even in the sweltering heat, according to Bill Egan, chief engineer of advanced product design. Ultra- tensile steel improves the load-carrying capacity of tires and further lessens heat buildup. Ultimately, ultra-tensile steel in the Goodyear Eagle F1 Steel ultra-high- performance tire delivers improved steering response and treadlife. In the Eagle Aquasteel EMT run-flat tire, steel offers the Eagle F1 benefits as well as improved run-flat performance. Already, 90-degree heat is marching northward into Canada with 100- and 110-degree temperatures broiling the Southwest. Death Valley, Calif., is sizzling in the 120s (at least it's a dry heat). Today, the Pacific Northwest and mid-Atlantic states are spared, but by Friday, the latter will suffer as the 90s and 100s spread nationwide. There's no need to spray cold water on those hot treads, however, Egan says. Tires are cured at 300-plus degrees, so "they can take the heat, even when you can't. And thanks to ultra-tensile steel, cooler treads will prevail," he said. Goodyear is the only tiremaker to use ultra-tensile steel to reinforce the tire carcass. The strongest tire reinforcement material ever replaces the two plies of polyester used in most other passenger car tires. The heat alone won't lead to summer tire problems; rather improper air pressure, out-of-balance wheels and bad driving habits are the culprits in irregular treadwear, Egan said. Running tires 20 percent underinflated -- by only 6 to 7 pounds per square inch -- increases fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent and reduces tire life by as much as 15 percent. In fact, an average passenger car tire could lose about one-third of its life at 20 psi, he added. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also estimates about 250,000 accidents a year result from improperly inflated tires. The Society of Automotive Engineers reports that 87 percent of all flat tires have a history of underinflation. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation printed on a vehicle's door placard or in the owner's manual, not the maximum limit stamped on a tire sidewall, Egan said. If the car is carrying extra weight, such as luggage on a vacation, additional air should be added to the tires, preferably 4 psi over the car manufacturer's recommended cold tire pressure (not to exceed the maximum on the tire sidewall), he said. Out-of-balance wheels also rob tires of thousands of miles. "For a tire to run true, weight of the tire and wheel assembly must be distributed uniformly. Improper balance could lead to 'cupping' and excessive wear of the tread at the heavy spot," he said. Radial tires should be dynamically spin-balanced before they are mounted on a vehicle the first time, after a flat repair or any time the tire has been dismounted, he added. Tire rotation a couple of times during a tire's life usually means more even treadwear, particularly for front-wheel and four-wheel-drive cars and light trucks. Goodyear recommends rotation every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, unless the auto manufacturer specifies otherwise. Americans are traveling more than ever, logging 800 billion miles a year on long-distance trips alone. A 1995 Department of Transportation poll of 80,000 households found that families take about 1 billion long-distance trips a year, twice the number of 20 years ago. More than 76 percent choose to drive on trips covering 500 to 999 miles. "With more tires on the road, in the heat of the summer, it's important to pay special attention to the palm-sized patch of rubber touching the road," Egan said. "Catching problems early can prevent frayed nerves later."