GOODYEAR

Brand launches new line of KMax truck and bus tires in Brazil

Goodyear is launching the KMax S GEN2 in Brazil. The new tire for trucks and buses arrives in measurements 295/80 R22.5. According to the manufacturer, it is an evolution of the Max Series, launched in the country in 2015. Thus, the KMax S GEN2 family will have new members soon.

Therefore, by the end of the year, Goodyerar promises to launch the measure 275/80 R22.5. That is, intended for medium and semi-heavy road trucks and buses. The brand started offering heavy vehicles because the segment represents 50% of its total sales of tires for cargo vehicles.

First model of the new range arrives in the measures 295/80 R22,5; Photos: Goodyear

"We brought a tire that meets all customer demands. Thus, we want to gain (market) share. Therefore, we started the launch of the new generation by this version", says Goodyear's senior marketing manager, Fábio Garcia.

Market in Brazil moves R$ 9 billion per year... In this sense, Goodyear estimates that the market that this tire line is part of moves around R$ 9 billion per year. Thus, in 2023 the segment should absorb 3.3 million units. However, the numbers are growing. Thus, for 2027, the expectation is that 3.6 million of these tires will be sold.

In other words, growth should be 9%. However, the manufacturer does not reveal its sales share in this segment. Nor, how much it plans to grow in 2023.

KMax has been evaluated in real tests...Before being launched, the new KMax S has traveled around 49 million kilometers in real transport operations. Thus, the tire was evaluated by IC Transportes, Transportes Bertolini and Transportes Cavalinho.

As a result, according to Garcia, the KMax can run 11% more kilometers than the first-generation model. In other words, in a grain transport operation, for example, this represents another 750 tons of product handled.

In turn, in the case of passenger transport, the advance represents about 2 thousand more passengers. In this sense, the tread is stiffer and 4% wider, which also improves drivability. As well as the four steel straps. According to Goodyear, this contributes to the tire's robustness and allows for a greater number of recaps.

In addition, the KMax S line has a technology named by Goodyear as Intellimax Rib. According to the company, it is a construction technique that includes metal bars in the central grooves in order to reduce their movement. In practice, this increases the durability of the tire. Wide internal channels prevent stone retention.

Management and monitoring...Like the previous generation, the new range has identification by means of an RFID chip (radio frequency identification). The system may come from the factory or installed later. Thus, the device works like a label, glued to the inside of the tire.

The feature, offered as an option, allows you to monitor and manage fleet tires, for example. According to Garcia, you can reduce tire costs by up to 15%. For this, the system warns about the ideal time to carry out the recapping. As well as monitoring groove wear, for example.

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