SAN ANGELO, Tex.– Goodyear is launching a series of three heavy-duty linehaul tires the manufacturer says could deliver as much as a four-percent, mile-per-gallon increase in fuel mileage.

The tires — in drive, steer and trail configurations — will cost about four or five percent more than traditional tires, Goodyear says, but the fuel savings will be worth the extra money.

And while company officials are citing a four percent hike in fuel economy with the new tires, actual Society of Automotive Engineer (SAE) test results showed an eight-percent improvement, when compared to standard Goodyear over-the-road tires, the company says.

Said Jon Bellissimo, Goodyear’s director of technology for commercial tires, “The test showed what our tires are capable of achieving in a controlled test environment. But since no one drives like they would on a controlled track, Goodyear engineers adjusted the SAE results to four percent to estimate real-world conditions.”

Still, Bellissimo estimates that a four-percent boost in fuel economy could mean significant savings for truckers. If a truck goes from six to 624 mpg, a company can save up to $2,100 a year, assuming the truck is driven 120,000 miles annually and fuel costs $2.85 a gallon.

If you want to figure out whether it’s worth the investment, Goodyear has included a “fuel calculator” on the company website, so if you know your cost per mile and how much you spend on tires, you can figure out whether it’s worth considering the purchase of this new rubber or not.

Tires featuring the Fuel Max technology include the Unisteel G395 LHS steer tire, the Unisteel G305 LHD drive tire and the G316 LHT trail tire in standard (11R22.5) and low-profile (295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5) sizes.

The Fuel Max technology is also available on Goodyear retreads, but the fuel savings are estimated to be about half of what the non-retreads obtain.

The key to the new tire is minimizing roll resistance through changes in tread as well as the composition of the material.

A 26.32-in tread of large, stable blocks help reduce “tread squirm” on the roadway for improved fuel economy. Two circumferential and extended lateral grooves, coupled with anon-evolving tread design enhance traction and a closed shoulder design promotes even tread wear.