Volvo Trucks’ ‘The Iron Knight’ has broken two world speed records for trucks on Goodyear tires – making them the fastest truck tires in the world.  The special tires developed and built by Goodyear are the result of continuous collaboration and strong OE partnership with leading truck maker Volvo Trucks. The Goodyear ‘The Iron Knight’ tires helped the 4.5 tonne 2,400 horsepower truck achieve an average speed of 169.09 km/h (105 mph) in a time of 21.29 seconds, over 1,000 meters from a standing start.  The Iron Knight also beat the record for the 500-meter distance, at 131.29 km/h (81.6 mph) in 13.71 seconds from a standing start.  If that is not impressive enough, during the record runs The Iron Knight reached a top speed of 276 km/h (171.5 mph).

The technology for the unique truck tires developed at the Goodyear Research Center (GIC*L) in Colmar-Berg for the new world speed record truck is based on the experience gained in truck racing.  The casings for the record truck tires are standard latest generation Goodyear truck tire carcasses, as used every day on European roads.  The new world speed records achieved on Goodyear truck tires demonstrate the technology leadership of Goodyear in the transport industry.

“With so much power and torque, ensuring that 4.5 tonnes of truck sticks to the track at speeds of up to nearly 280 km/h is a real challenge for the tires, “said Laurent Colantonio, Director Tire Technology Commercial of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.  “The ability to develop tires to break world speed records proves our prowess in using advanced technology and innovation to produce exceptional tires. This is true for The Iron Knight´s tires and also for our standard truck tires that offer highest levels of performance to our customers and help them to reduce their Total Cost of Ownership.”

The 315/70R22.5 Goodyear ‘The Iron Knight’ steer tires are based on Goodyear Truck Racing tires, as used by all trucks in the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) European Truck Racing Championship. The 495/45R22.5 drive tires are capable of withstanding the incredible torque that The Iron Knight develops.  Both tires are produced in the tire plant in Colmar-Berg and built on standard Goodyear truck tire carcasses with specially developed tread compounds and tread patterns. The world record tires carry specific Goodyear ‘The Iron Knight’ sidewall decorations.

The record run was carried out at a closed-off test track in northern Sweden. The Iron Knight was driven by Boije Ovebrink who has more than 30 years’ experience of both car and truck racing and has previously broken five speed records.  At the time of publication, the records are being reviewed by the FIA, the international motor sport association.

Volvo Trucks and Goodyear have a long and strong history of partnership – especially when it comes to world speed records.  The Mean Green, also driven by Boije Ovebrink, became the world’s fastest hybrid truck in 2012 when it broke two world speed records also on specifically developed Goodyear truck tires.