How tyres can contribute to sustainable transport and cost savings
The benefits of low rolling resistance tyres
The future's green for the transportation industry – increasingly so, and with very good reason.
In logistics, this means balancing the growing demand for transport of goods while working towards a more sustainable operating model. This type of business is under a great deal of time pressure, with every minute and every euro counting; optimising uptime, mileage and fuel efficiency are key, while legislation encourages them further towards reduced emissions.
Goodyear's strategy is to work directly with OEMs and hauliers to address their evolving business needs and support their efforts towards sustainable transport. Often overlooked by the external world but a key focus area for the company is the role of low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tyres and their direct impact on reducing emission levels of trucks and buses as well as the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the fleet.
The future's green for the transportation industry – increasingly so, and with very good reason.
In logistics, this means balancing the growing demand for transport of goods while working towards a more sustainable operating model. This type of business is under a great deal of time pressure, with every minute and every euro counting; optimising uptime, mileage and fuel efficiency are key, while legislation encourages them further towards reduced emissions.
Transport companies are more and more focused on sustainability, this is not only driven by regulation but they're also aiming to contribute to the sustainability objectives of their large customers, and so are we at Goodyear. For example — if you are active in waste collection and working for a city that has a very clear green strategy, you will align your operations in line with the customer's goal and take into account regulatory requirements.
2019 saw the implementation of VECTO, a simulation tool which is used for determining the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of trucks, and its use is now mandatory for specific categories of new trucks. If an OEM is not meeting these standards for emissions – namely, a reduction of 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 – the manufacturer will face severe financial penalties. carbon-neutral future.
OEMs are also setting clear sustainability goals, lowering vehicle emissions is about turning every stone to achieve those goals. They are selecting their business partners accordingly, focusing on reliable development partners to support them in meeting increasingly stringent legal requirements by reducing the carbon footprint of the total vehicle and that offer the right products to excel customer excellence at the same time.
Large logistics businesses are putting increasingly green buying criteria in place. They're focused on how responsible selected suppliers run their operations, such as the use of renewable materials and energy, lowering CO2, and seeking for products for which the full life cycle is as sustainable as possible.
Supporting customers' needs
Goodyear's strategy is to work directly with OEMs and hauliers to address their evolving business needs and support their efforts towards sustainable transport. Often overlooked by the external world but a key focus area for the company is the role of low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tyres and their direct impact on reducing emission levels of trucks and buses as well as the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the fleet.
A genuine win-win, however, an enormous amount of development goes into creating a tyre that ticks all the boxes on the operational side and is in line with current regulations and these that kick in this decade – and beyond. Sustainability is vital to Goodyear and is addressed with the four pillars of its Better Future framework – sustainable sourcing, responsible operations, advanced mobility, and inspiring culture.
Our aim is to provide the lowest rolling resistance tyres for heavy-duty vehicles, without trade-offs on mileage and other key performance areas. It's important, given all the technological innovation happening right now, to have a tyre supplier that can cope with a lot of versatility, and bring real value building the right products and smart digital solutions for now and the future.
OEMs are looking for a supplier who can help them meet current and upcoming regulations. At Goodyear, we are always at the forefront of innovation enabling us to take the lead when it comes to developing next-generation products and addressing the evolving needs of the industry.
The power of low-rolling resistance
It's truly incredible what difference a tyre can make. For a transportation fleet, the cost of the tyre is, on average, 3% of the TCO – but in reality, it can influence up to 40%. By keeping the rolling resistance as low as possible, the emissions levels and fuel efficiency of the vehicle are directly impacted.
A fleet of 100 trucks using an LRR range – such as the Goodyear FUELMAX GEN-2 – can lower its TCO by approximately €40,000 a year, through fuel-cost savings, while maintaining high mileage levels1
The design of this type of tyre is a complex process, as a variety of elements can impact rolling resistance. The company looks at the design of the tread profile and ways of optimising the deformation levels of the tyre caused by load and motion forces, as well as the use of advanced raw materials. Goodyear is also at the cutting edge of developing smart algorithms that prevent tyre-related breakdowns, further optimising the product lifespan and, by extension, saving the user money. Many customers have stated that real-time tyre monitoring and the ability to plan tyre maintenance proactively have had a positive impact on the carbon footprint plus the TCO of their vehicles.
When we talk about sustainability and tyres, I don't think we spend enough time explaining the added-value of LRR tyres as well as the importance of tyre monitoring and proper maintenance. Keeping the tyre at the right pressure will further enhance the rolling resistance and the vehicle will consume less fuel and have fewer breakdowns.
Advanced solutions such as the Goodyear Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, will not only report the pressure in real-time but will also prevent tyre-related issues before they even happen. The in-house developed algorithm, called G-predict, will send an alert to the driver and the operational manager whenever the pressure is not correct and indicate the gravity of the issue with straightforward colour code so the correct action can be taken. This might be that the tyre needs to be replaced right away, checked by a professional after the next delivery, or at the next service appointment.
The company continues to further enhance its offering in line with emerging expectations, by working on new technologies, intelligent designs, and innovative materials to support its customers in their efforts to reduce emissions.
On trucks, in urban areas, tyres may be responsible for up to 20% of the CO2 emissions. For fleets on long-haul motorway trips, the tyre can take up to 35% of the responsibility for CO2 emissions. CO2 has always been important, but now, that's tenfold, and it's so important to have a balanced product, overall.
Fundamentally, LRR tyres are nothing new for Goodyear – however, innovation is accelerating at a rapid pace, opening the door to new solutions and the use of renewable materials such as soybean and dandelion or even rice husk ashes. On top of this, the tyres themselves are long-lasting as a result of the Goodyear Multiple Life concept. This concept includes the retreading and regrooving of truck tyres and helps to extend their service lifetime meaning far fewer tyres need to be recycled — plus they’ll deliver up to 25% more mileage while lowering the tyre costs by up to 30%.2 The production of a retreaded tyre uses significantly less oil, chemicals and other materials than a new tyre and its production involves fewer emissions. All this delivers a more sustainable model of production and contributes to the EU’s objectives for a circular economy.
Low rolling resistance and excellent mileage
Low rolling resistance isn't the beginning or the end of sustainability, but it is a vital cog, supporting sustainable transport objectives.
LRR is a trend we are going full speed ahead with, but there is no compromise to be made – vehicles still need to maintain strong mileage, traction and deliver other optimal performances, to keep our customers ahead of the game. Our strategy is to be at the forefront of the rolling-resistance innovation, without trade-offs. You get LRR and excellent mileage.
From the development of the product to the new technology and the new solution, it's not just a tyre matter – it's a full end-to-end package of what we are doing for OEMs and fleets in supporting them to satisfy their customers, run their operations in an effective and sustainable way, and meet current and future decarbonisation goals for the industry. In this respect, we see important growth opportunities, especially in areas where sustainability drives enhanced performance.
With the aim of rendering Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the European Commission is rolling out the Green Deal strategy with the rationale that economic growth, environmental protection and societal prosperity go hand in hand instead of being in trade-offs.
Goodyear is firmly dedicated to continuously tailoring its value proposition, Goodyear Total Mobility, cradle-to-cradle. Goodyear's integrated product, data solutions, and service network roadmap firmly prioritise growing customer demands and emerging green goals of all industry stakeholders to ensure a sustainable, profitable, and carbon-neutral future.
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1 Potential savings based on a Goodyear calculation model, taking into account the rolling resistance performance of new tyres. Actual savings may vary based upon vehicle condition and maintenance, traffic conditions, driver behaviour and other factors.
2 Based on internal analysis by the Goodyear Innovation Centre Luxembourg (GIC*L) comparing the use of two sets of new Goodyear tyres versus the Multi-Life-Concept using one set of new Goodyear tyres, regrooving, one set of Goodyear TreadMax tyres and again regrooving.
