Bias-Ply Design Still Favorite Among Heavy-Airframe Operators

Goodyear said at Paris this year that while it is "well-positioned for cost-conscious global airlines seeking to lower operational costs with radial tires," its bias-ply tire offerings still rule the skies. The "ground" portion of the skies, anyway, where tires are a necessity.

At Paris, the company is showing off its radial tires on the Airbus A320, Airbus A340-500/600, Boeing 737 and Boeing 777.

Many customers still "biased."

Yet Goodyear officials also announced three major long-term contracts for its bias-ply tires -- with FedEx Corp.'s global 350-plus jet fleet, ExpressJet Holding's 200 aircraft and American Airlines' 362 Boeing MD-80 jets.

Despite these profitable contracts, Goodyear Flight Radial tires are the future, according to a study by Southwest Airlines as well as by giant Aeroflot Russian Airlines. The tiremaker said the airline industry should consider installing radial-ply tires over the more popular bias-ply tires, where available.

But radials are the tire of the future.

"The time is ripe to go radial," said Donald Roulett, global marketing manager for Goodyear aviation tires. "Cost-conscious airlines easily can justify the switch from bias-ply tires."

Aeroflot, Russia's largest carrier, has selected Goodyear radial-ply nose and main gear aviation tires for its new fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. Aeroflot officials said the Goodyear selection "again demonstrated their commitment to cost-effective quality products."

Roulett said Aeroflot's selection comes on the heels of a radial tire study at Southwest Airlines, which operates with the lowest cost-structure in the U.S. airline industry. Southwest said Goodyear Flight Radials on the nose landing gear of 133 Boeing 737-700 aircraft registered 28 percent more landings per tread compared to bias-ply tires.

Cost-effectiveness, Roulett said, is the driver behind the radialization of aviation tires. For example, Goodyear Flight Radials for commercial aircraft are tough, durable tires that weigh 10 to 20 percent less than comparable bias-ply aircraft tires, and have reduced rolling resistance; both leading to increased fuel efficiency.

The radial tires also have extra load-carrying capacity and can deliver more landings per tread. All add up to reduced overall operational costs, Roulett added.

Two years ago, Goodyear announced that it would triple radial aviation tire capacity at its Danville (VA).

FMI: www.goodyearaviation.com