As of Jan. 1, 2013, truck tractors operating in California using two or more open-shoulder drive tires were required to use tires verified as low rolling-resistance under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership.
Fortunately, there is a SmartWay-verified GT Radial tire for every long haul axle position – the GSL213 FS for the steer, GT669+ FS for the drive, and the GT979 FS for the trailer axles. According to officials at GITI Tire, which manufactures and markets GT Radial truck tires worldwide, a new generation of SmartWay-verified regional tires will be made available to the North American market in the near future.
The GT Radial GSL213 FS tire features advanced technology and an extra wide and deep tread pattern design for outstanding overall performance, resistance to irregular wear and extended mileage. Decoupling grooves and braking force ribs reduce the initiation and spread of irregular wear. The GSL213 FS is available in: 11R22.5 (14 and 16 ply), 11R24.5 (14 and 16 ply), 295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5 (all 14 ply) sizes.
The GT Radial 669+ FS drive tire features an advanced compound for long tread life and a deep aggressive pattern for consistent traction and optimum braking. The drive tire also has a wide tread footprint for stability and longer life, as well as a robust casing for outstanding retreadability. It is available in: 11R22.5 (14 and 16 ply), 11R24.5 (14 and 16 ply), and 295/75R22.5 (14 ply) sizes.
The GT Radial GT979 FS trailer tire provides long tread life and reliable retreadability for long haul operations. Its five streamlined ribs and shallow tread provide even, smooth wear due to its balance contact pressure distribution. The tire’s solid shoulders prevent damages in the tread during turnings and curbing. It is available in: 295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5 sizes.
Tractors using retreaded tires not verified for low rolling resistance under the SmartWay program may continue to use all such tires manufactured before Jan. 1, 2014, and continue to use them until Jan. 1, 2016, or until they wear out, according to California’s Air Resources Board (CARB).
After Jan. 1, 2014, all retreaded tires used on California tractors must be capped with tread material the SmartWay program has verified as low-rolling-resistance, the agency said.
CARB approved a regulation in December 2008 to require low-rolling-resistance tires on California tractor-trailers in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Tractor-trailers from model year 2011 and after were required to use SmartWay-verified tires beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
Retreads not certified by SmartWay that were manufactured before Jan. 1, 2013, may be used on model-year 2011 and later trucks until Jan. 1, 2015 (tractors) or Jan. 1, 2017 (trailers), according to the agency.
For commercial truck tires, SmartWay certifies which products provide a reduction in emissions and an estimated fuel savings of three percent or greater, relative to the "best selling" new tires for line haul trucks, when used on all five axles on long haul class 8 trucks.
“We are very pleased to have our California customers covered with a full long haul line-up of SmartWay tires, and we are working on SmartWay regional truck tires,” said William Estupinan, Vice President of Technical Service for GITI Tire in the Americas. “We believe other states will follow California’s lead in requiring SmartWay-verified truck tires, but fleets and owner operators should not wait; it is a smart move to go ahead and switch to SmartWay tires to save on fuel costs.”