Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Fountain Tire in Quesnel, B.C., have released results of tire testing they conducted with Western Canadian logging fleets.
Tested was the Goodyear Unisteel G288 MSA, successor to the G286 mixed service tire which as been used for years in the mining, logging and construction industries.
The Unisteel G288 MSA offers up to 30% more miles to removal, Goodyear reports, plus better resistance to cutting and tearing, improved off-road and wet traction and a quieter ride.
Among the fleets testing the tire was Unimac Carriers, a logging contractor based in Quesnel. Owner Larry Mack says his fleet runs 60% on highway, 40% off-road with trucks often running 60 miles on gravel. The fleet tested the G288 MSA on the steer axles of seven of its trucks, and reported realizing a 26% improvement in tread wear compared to its previous tires.
"The tires performed really well off-road and were much easier to steer in mud than our previous tires," said Mack. He also noted improvements in traction and ride characteristics.
Also in B.C., Cruise Transportation tested the tire on a seven-axle, setback front axle logging truck. Truck owner Ron Metz said he achieved an 85% improvement in tread life on his steer axle. He also reported improvements in traction, cornering and ride.
