Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co,'s DuraSeal commercial tire technology has been selected to receive one of Construction Equipment magazine’s "Top 100" awards.
Rod Sutton, editor in chief at the magazine, said editors considered about 700 product introductions before picking DuraSeal technology for one of the awards. It and 99 other products are featured in the magazine’s December issue.
Sutton said the awards "emphasize innovations, highlighting manufacturers who are investing in research and development. Their investments pay off for equipment users in the form of greater productivity, efficiencies and safety."
DuraSeal, introduced last January, seals tire punctures when they occur, greatly reducing vehicle downtime and service calls. The new technology uses a gel-like, solvent-free compound built into the inner liner of the tire. It is designed to consistently and instantly seal punctures up to 1/4-inch in the tread area.
Steve McClellan, vice president of commercial tire systems for Goodyear, said, "Obviously we're excited about this prestigious award. Customer acceptance of this technology has been overwhelming, and we’re being challenged to offer it in new applications.
"The tire casing maintains its sealing capability even after it is retreaded. The technology is a long-term solution for an age-old problem, while aftermarket sealants are temporary fixes.
"Unlike this unreliable fix, DuraSeal reduces repair, downtime and tire replacement costs. The built-in sealant means no messy cleanup for each repair, reduced fire risk during retreading and no negative impact in tire temperature, high-speed performance and rolling resistance," he said.
DuraSeal technology is available in Goodyear’s new Unisteel G287 MSA mixed-service tire for the refuse and sanitation industry. New sizes in G287 and G288 MSA mixed-service tires, available in early 2006, will be used logging, landfill, construction, road building and other severe service applications.
