Goodyear Steel 'Treads' Beat The Heat
29 July 1999
Goodyear Steel 'Treads' Beat The Heat
AKRON, Ohio, July 28 -- The dog days of summer have most of
the United States in its grip, but engineering advances from Goodyear won't
let motorists lose their cool.
Keeping cool and drinking plenty of fluids are crucial to saving lives in
the summer heat.
For tires, revolutionary ultra-tensile steel reinforcements in two
Goodyear passenger car tires allow the rubber 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.
Egan said motorists should check their tires and coolant systems to avoid
being stranded in 90-plus-degree heat. So far, high temperatures have been
blamed for at least 30 deaths since the weekend from Missouri to North
Carolina.
Missouri road crews made emergency repairs to highways, which have buckled
under the scorching heat. Forecasters say there's no relief in sight. Car
air conditioners are breaking down at the worst time.
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 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 help you keep your cool."