Goodyear joins EPA's Smartway programme in US

Akron, Ohio -- Goodyear has joined a US Environmental Protection Agency program aimed at cutting diesel fuel use and carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions.

The tyre maker now is a member of the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership. The federal agency certified Goodyear's line of Fuel Max line-haul tyres last July for use on SmartWay tractors and trailers, but the company wasn't part of the partnership, a Goodyear spokesman said.

“This gives us a more active role within the partnership to work with the various entities like the freight carriersàto find ways to improve their fuel efficiency,” the official said.

The Fuel Max tyres, which Goodyear claims deliver about a 4-percent increase in fuel economy, include the Unisteel G395 LHS steer tyre, Unisteel G305 LHD drive tire and Unisteel G316 LHT trailer tyre. Each model is available in sizes 11R22.5, 295/75R22.5 or 285/75R24.5.

SmartWay, a collaboration between the EPA and companies involved in the trucking industry, wants to save from 3.3 billion to 6.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel, decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 33 million to 66 million tons and reduce nitrous oxide emissions by up to 200,000 tons per year by 2012.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)