Goodyear truck racing tyres celebrate

Jochen Hahn and Castrol Team Hahn Racing, recently celebrated success by clinching the 2012 FIA European Truck Racing Championship at Le Mans in France.

Official tyre provider, Goodyear, also celebrated with the news that the tyres driven on in the championship had achieved an ‘A’ grade in the wet grip category of the new tyre label, which is now seen on most tyres sold across Europe.

With the EU Tyre Label having being introduced on November 1, interest in a tyre’s performance is being particularly focused on rolling resistance and wet grip. For trucks performing their duties carrying goods, this translates into fuel economy and safety but truck racing tells a different story.
Whilst tyres used in truck racing are exempt from the new EU legislation, it is nonetheless interesting to see how ‘A’ graded tyres enhance the performance of truck tyres as they compete. The 315/70R22.5 Goodyear truck racing tyre, specially developed for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, has a rolling resistance equal to a ‘B’ label grade and a wet grip equivalent to an ‘A’, a level of grip that very few tyres are capable of achieving.

Rolling resistance is not a ‘must-have’ in racing although there may be some benefit in the fact that it can help keep tyre temperatures lower. Wet grip, on the other hand, is a very different matter. The importance of good wet grip needs no explanation. Wet races have been a common feature of the 2012 FIA Truck Racing Championship season, so this aspect of performance has been critical for drivers like Jochen Hahn in cutting through the wet to seal those critical extra few metres advantage against competitors.

The tyres, which are FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) approved, are built using the same carcass as the Goodyear Regional RHS 315/70R22.5. This casing has been optimised to enhance performance, mainly to reduce the risk of overheating and increase lateral rigidity.
Additionally, a special tread compound and pattern are used to improve ground contact. The tyre meets the quality standards adopted for the entire range of Goodyear products, conforming to the European ECE R54 standards.

All Goodyear racing tyres also feature Radio Frequency Identity (RFID), introduced in truck racing last year for regulatory purposes to help the FIA officials monitor tyre usage at every round of the championship.

Adam Stanton, Product Marketing Manager for Commercial Tyres at Goodyear Dunlop in the UK, commented following the conclusion of the 2012 championship: “Whilst truck racing tyres are exempt from the new EU legislation, it is great to see just how highly they do score in this respect. The benefits that these high gradings bring to both performance and safety in the races cannot be underestimated and they serve to showcase the dedication and innovation that goes in to each and every tyre that Goodyear Dunlop develops, regardless of the end use.”