AKRON, Ohio, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company (NYSE: GT), the nation's leading commercial tire
manufacturer, announced today it has joined the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership, which previously
approved using the company's Fuel Max linehaul tires on SmartWay tractors
and trailers.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050204/GTLOGO )
SmartWay is a collaboration between the truck transportation industry
and the EPA to increase energy efficiency and significantly reduce
greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution.
"We continue to do our part for the environment with our innovative
technologies that reduce tire rolling resistance and energy use at all
facilities and eliminate all waste disposal in landfills. We also offer
solution-based business tools that calculate fuel consumption and help
fleets lower their costs of operation, said Steve McClellan, Goodyear vice
president of commercial tire systems.
"Through the SmartWay Transport Partnership, we see opportunities to
further our relationships with America's fleets and truck and trailer
manufacturers in the pursuit of even greater gains in fuel efficiency and
emission reductions. The savings are substantial," McClellan said.
The fuel-efficient line-haul tires deliver up to 4 percent improved
truck fuel economy, and when used with other SmartWay-qualified components,
each 18- wheel tractor and trailer used in long-haul can produce savings of
up to 4,000 gallons per year, or more than $11,000 annually, according to
Goodyear and EPA officials.
Goodyear tires featuring Fuel Max Technology include the Unisteel G395
LHS steer tire, Unisteel G305 LHD drive tire and Unisteel G316 LHT trail
tire in standard (11R22.5) and low-profile (295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5)
sizes.
While company officials are citing up to a 4 percent hike in fuel
economy with the new tires, actual Society of Automotive Engineers lab test
results showed an 8 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with
standard Goodyear over-the-road tires. The difference reflects adjustments
for real- world variations, including vehicle speed, idling time, varying
road grades and different driving styles.
McClellan suggested that fleets and owner-operators consider specifying
equipment to improve fuel economy, even if it means retrofitting existing
vehicles. SmartWay has developed a set of specifications to help guide the
process and even offers low-cost loans to make it easier. In addition,
several truck makers are now selling trucks that are SmartWay-certified as
being highly fuel-efficient vehicles.
The SmartWay Transport Partnership, a collaboration between freight
shippers, carriers, and logistics companies, voluntarily improves fuel
efficiency and reduces emissions from freight transport. By 2012, SmartWay
aims to save between 3.3 and 6.6 billion gallons of diesel and eliminate
between 33 and 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and up to
200,000 tons of nitrous oxide emissions per year.
Goodyear's environmental activities include its zero-waste-to-landfill
initiative, which helps to recycle materials or use waste materials for
fuel or energy. In mid-2007, the company's U.S. chemical operations became
the first to achieve total zero waste to landfill.
Goodyear commercial tire systems offer complete products and services
to the trucking industry, including a full range of original equipment and
replacement tires. In addition, the company's cradle-to-grave tire and
service network includes retreading, tire management tools and business
solutions for tomorrow's trucking fleets.
For more information on Fuel Max Technology, go to
http://www.goodyear.com/truck.
For additional information on the SmartWay Transport Partnership, go to
http://www.epa.gov/smartway.
CONTACT: Dave Wilkins
+1-330-796-3758
dfwilkins@goodyear.com
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