One of Our Favorite Tires Makes Its Way to the 2013 Fusion Lineup

[xcel]

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is an OEM tire for the base 2013 Fusion.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 26, 2012

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max shod on a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO we drove last year.

With fuel prices still at $4.00 or more per gallon in many locations around the country (California in particular) the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is currently one of the best tire choices available to maintain a high level of fuel economy without a loss of wet traction so common with other low rolling resistance competitors. Thinking of the Fuel Max as a coupon at the pump and instead of paying $4.00 per, you now receive a 4% rebate or "Cash Back" and pay just $3.84 by comparison.

With the new Assurance Fuel Max, Goodyear has introduced a tire tread compound that has been developed at the molecular level to yield improvements in rolling resistance while retaining or even enhancing tread life and traction over the original Goodyear Assurance tire.

Many fuel-efficient tires today depend on replacing carbon black material with silica in the tread compound, either in part or in total, to minimize rolling resistance.

At the heart of Goodyear’s new tread is a blend of polymers, which increase their selective reactivity with the silica filler, to help improve silica dispersion and to enhance the overall physical properties of the tread. The marriage of the Assurance Fuel Max tire construction and this proprietary tread, results in tires that help provide excellent fuel-efficiency, as well as confident wet and dry traction, and long tread life.

The tire structure and tread design, including two unique tread zones, contribute to the Assurance Fuel Max’s confident traction, braking and tread life performance. The Dry Zone, with strong shoulder blocks, helps enhance handling and grip for confident maneuvering on dry pavement.

The Wet Tread Zone in the center features Dual AquaChannel Grooves to help evacuate water from the tread face for great wet traction. Plus, Zig-Zagging Micro Grooves and Center Tread Notches help grip the road in rain or light snow.

In tests with both the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max and Goodyear Assurance tires mounted on a 2008 Civic, the Fuel Max was shown to increase highway fuel economy by 4 percent.

The Assurance Fuel Max have been OEM equipped on a number of high fuel economy automobiles including the Volt, Cruze ECO and third generation Prius and 2012 Prius c. Goodyear just announced that Ford has selected the Goodyear Fuel Max for original equipment fitments on the base model 2013 Ford Fusion.

No word on what the hybrid will arrive with but I “suspect” that it too will be fitted with the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max as well. We should know soon.

[ALS]

This should help with the bragging rights as they say. One thing competitors strive for is to knock the big kahuna off his pedestal. It shouldn't be too long before other tire companies bring out their own fuel economy tires that equal or exceed Good Years Fuel Maxes. With more choices that should help everyone across the automotive community save more fuel.

[tribosessive]

I am here to tell you that when my vehicle was brand new, I replaced the factory tires with Good Year Assurance Fuel Max tires. Also, I replaced the factory fill motor oil with a 0W20 synthetic oil. This resulted in a 20% increase in fuel economy. There was also excellent traction in all driving conditions.

[xcel]

Hi Tribosessive:

While 20% may be a bit high, I have no doubt about the increased FE and even wet traction. Goodyear put out a good tire and even after two years on the market, there are few that can top it. Michelin Energy Saver A/S's and Bridgestone Ecopia's off the Civic HF/HCH-III come to mind as competitors but my actual $’s are on the GY’s

Wayne