Goodyear has just announced a new medium-duty commercial drive tire “that features long life and quiet performance” in city and regional applications. Available in six sizes and load ranges, the Goodyear Unisteel G182 RSD tire is designed with a deep (28/32nd inch) open-lug pattern aimed at handling wet or snowy conditions.

The tire also has a graduated tie-bar on the shoulder that provides added strength and improved traction as well as reduced irregular wear, the
company says. That tie-bar, according to Steve McClellan, Goodyear’s vice president of commercial tire systems, “…allows the tire to achieve the long tread life of a closed-shoulder design and the increased traction of an open-shoulder design. The graduated tie-bar also helps the tire
retain its ‘like-new’ appearance throughout the life of the tire.”

Goodyear says that testing has seen the G182 RSD deliver 12% more mileage while being 10% quieter than its predecessor. A “robust” casing should allow the tire to be retreaded “multiple times” and G182 pre-cure retreads will be available in early 2006.