New From the Ground Up

After more than five years of development, Goodyear rolled out a new steer tire for long-haul trucks that promises more uniform wear and better retreadability than any steer tire before it.

A lot of steer tires hit the scrap pile prematurely, victims of irregular tread wear. So Goodyear engineers set out to produce a true-running long-wear tire to replace the G397.

Using what the company calls IMPACT technology, they analyzed and tweaked each part of the product development process — tread design, casing integrity, compounding, and manufacturing.

The result is the Unisteel G395 LHS. The tire has a 18/32 tread depth and comes in sizes of 11R22.5 G, 11R22.5 H, 11R24.5 G, and 11R24.5 H, with weight ranging from 118.6 pounds to 135 pounds. The company says 295/75R22.5 G and H, and 295/75R24.5 G sizes will be available later this year. In addition to what Goodyear says is the industry’s longest casing limited warranty — seven years/700,000 miles, regardless of where the tire is retreaded — the company also pledges to retread the casing if the tire fails to exceed the verified miles-to-removal of your current steer tire. “The steer position is the most critical on the vehicle … we’re more than confident in its ability to perform, and it’s why we’re offering a no-risk opportunity for our customers,” says Ted Fick, vice-president of the commercial tire division.

Fick says the G395 is ideal for colder climates, with its “wet/slush” lateral traction feature. The original tread, with an 18/32-inch depth and axle-specific compound, is designed with five straight ribs, lateral slots, and sipes.

As the tread wears down, angled grooves are exposed across the barrel-shaped footprint, which distributes pressure evenly, enhancing traction and handling. The pressure distribution groove features a larger radius and shorter rib than most steer tires, which helps prevent pressure build-up on the outside rib, and results in less shoulder wear and the potential for tearing. Especially when cornering, the reduced pressure improves shoulder wear and helps eliminate the risk of irregular wear and cupping, the company says.

For even more traction, all five ribs have edge blades — crucial for tread-wear performance and a lower cost per mile in sleet and snow.
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