Initial Review: Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max

[Hokiefyd]

What does the door jamb sticker say? Does it specifically list the tires as "94V"?

The only downside to that is you're sometimes locked-in to buying V-rated tires. Fuel efficiency and higher speed ratings don't typically go together, unless for a very specific OEM fitment like this. Other 215/55R17 94V tires will probably not give the fuel efficiency that the OEM tires do. That statement is often true for other speed ratings also, but seems especially the case as the speed rating goes up.

 

[CapriRacer]

Sometimes it's great to be me.

I just confirmed that the list GM publishes of its tire fitments has only the H rated tire on the Cruze - not the V rated. The TPC nuumber for the H rated is 1406MS.

So if sciphi is reading this, what TPC number is on the tire?

BTW, that tire (the H rated) also is fitted to the Volt!

 

[sciphi]

TPC number: 1406MS. But as we know, there's clearly a V-rated tire on the car! The door jamb lists V for the speed rating, too.

Curiouser and curiouser...

 

[leeharvey418]

I was just talking with one of our (Tier 1 structures supplier) Purchasing guys about the particulars of GM's deviation approval process - it sounds like Goodyear is authorized to provide either tire under the same PPAP documentation.

 

[sciphi]

Maybe they have a set of tires for California-emissions cars like mine, and a set for federal-emissions cars. Then they just have to make sure the label matches the tire going onto the car.

It shouldn't be hard, considering the Eco version is only 20% of total Cruze production.

 

[leeharvey418]

Eh... 20% of Cruze production is still bigger than total sales of probably 90% of nameplates on sale today.

 

[CapriRacer]

I find it very peculiar that GM has allowed both the H rated and the V rated tire to use the same TPC number. I didn't think that was kosher.

Further, the constructions of H rated tires and V rated tires is usually different - which would trump the PPAP process.

I suspect there's a story here.

 

[leeharvey418]

I also suspect there's a story here, but the fact that they're both marked with the same TPC number would seem to point to either tire being a planned option. My guess is that GM would prefer the H-rated tire since it's undoubtedly cheaper (and probably has lower rolling resistance as indicated by the lower UTQG wear rating) but Goodyear has enough pull with GM that they got them to accept the V-rated tire as an alternative. I know that we have gotten GM to agree to things like multiple fastener suppliers, and all options end up being covered under the same PPAP buyoff as long as we lay out the business case for the alternate supplier up front. I realize a tire's a little more complicated than a weld nut or a ground lug, but things don't always make perfect sense in the world of GM Purchasing.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
I find it very peculiar that GM has allowed both the H rated and the V rated tire to use the same TPC number. I didn't think that was kosher.

Further, the constructions of H rated tires and V rated tires is usually different - which would trump the PPAP process.

I suspect there's a story here.


They might have one set for the manual transmission Cruze Eco's and one set for the automatic transmission Eco's. Mine's a manual transmission. It's the "MPG special" that weighs less than other Cruzes. The AT Eco is basically a regular Cruze with the Eco bits and wheels popped on.

Maybe it's a MY 2012 change that was done and the order books haven't been updated yet. A lot of sites don't have the 2012 models listed yet.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I'm not sure of why they made the change. If Tire Rack's database is to be trusted, the V-rated tires are 2 pounds heavier than the H-rated ones. At that weight, that's a 10% difference. Why they'd put the heavier version of the tire on a relatively light weight car intended as a fuel economy leader is not something I can answer. There has to be more to this.

 

[leeharvey418]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
There has to be more to this.


There's the quote of the thread.

I keep thinking that maybe GM did change the standard tire for MY12, but then the new tire would have to be re-PPAP'ed and, unless their tire purchasing is drastically different than their other components, get a new part number and therefore a new TPC spec code.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I'm not sure of why they made the change. If Tire Rack's database is to be trusted, the V-rated tires are 2 pounds heavier than the H-rated ones. At that weight, that's a 10% difference. Why they'd put the heavier version of the tire on a relatively light weight car intended as a fuel economy leader is not something I can answer. There has to be more to this.


Maybe one of the engineers took the prototype out for a late-night snack run and enjoyed the engine/gearing too much. The fuel economy bits in this car will easily let it exceed 118 mph with plenty of steam left. That's the flip side of what Chevy did to the Cruze to maximize fuel economy with the aero bits, lower suspension, and transmission gearing. If it's not being used for sipping gas, it's being used for hauling ___. Probably they realized this for MY 2012, and made the move to V-rated tires.

 

[Hokiefyd]

But the "original" H-rated tire was already good to 130mph. I don't see too many Cruzes cruising I-95 at over a buck-30.

Plus, the H-rated tire is already rated A for temperature, which is a big reason to use the H rating as the minimum acceptable speed rating anymore. I'm not sure that most owners will reap the benefits of a V-rated tire (and I'm not sure an Assurance Fuel Max could be classified as an 'ultra high performance tire'). It's just setting owners up for expensive tire replacements (if the retailer follows the minimum speed rating rule) and/or significant penalties in fuel economy if they don't get the same eco-friendly tires.

I generally don't like the idea of using V-rated tires on sedans. My Camry had 'em too. C'mon...V-rated tires on a 4-cylinder Camry.

 

[CapriRacer]

The plot thickens even further.

I just got word that GM has changed the TPC spec and the tire has been changed from a P metric H speed rated to a hard metric V speed rated.

Going back to Tire Rack - who doesn't use the letters in front of or behind the size - the H speed rated tire is a 93 Load Index, so that makes it a P metric. The V rated is listed as a 94 Load Index, so that makes it a Euro Metric (as opposed to as Japanese based metric).

I also did a lookup on what vehicles would take a 215/55R17 and found that the vast majority of them would take the V speed rated. I'll bet that is the story here.

 

[leeharvey418]

Are you thinking that maybe Goodyear gave them a better price on the V-rated tires since that means they wouldn't have to make a separate service description in the same size any more?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
The plot thickens even further.

I just got word that GM has changed the TPC spec and the tire has been changed from a P metric H speed rated to a hard metric V speed rated.

Going back to Tire Rack - who doesn't use the letters in front of or behind the size - the H speed rated tire is a 93 Load Index, so that makes it a P metric. The V rated is listed as a 94 Load Index, so that makes it a Euro Metric (as opposed to as Japanese based metric).

I also did a lookup on what vehicles would take a 215/55R17 and found that the vast majority of them would take the V speed rated. I'll bet that is the story here.



That's plausible. Seeing how the Cruze was designed by GM's Korean and European divisions, having the American version conform to the European tire specs was likely cheaper than researching and spec'ing an Americanized tire.

I knew the replacements would be a pretty penny going into this car. Paying for specialty tires isn't an issue for me, as it's part of ownership of a MPG queen car.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
I knew the replacements would be a pretty penny going into this car. Paying for specialty tires isn't an issue for me, as it's part of ownership of a MPG queen car.


My point is it doesn't have to be. I'd like to see the 16" wheels that Nick has on his LT come on the Eco model (they're likely lighter than the 17s anyway), with the ubiquitous 215/60R16 94S tire size/spec. In that size and speed rating, there are a ton of tires available that will help maximize your fuel economy (and perform well at the same time), including fuel savers like the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max, Michelin Energy Saver A/S, Continental ProContact EcoPlus, etc. They're also available at much more reasonable prices than 17" V-rated rubber (which usually are not optimized for fuel economy anyway).

I don't like being forced into a specific tire niche because it was cheaper for the manufacturer to do it that way. But that's a personal pet peeve of mine and I'll shut up about it now.

 

[sciphi]

The 17's on the Eco are reported to weigh 18 lbs each. Not awful for an OEM wheel. IIRC even the 16's are heavier.

Time will tell on the Fuel Maxes in 215/55-17 V-rated flavor. Based on initial impressions, I'd buy them again.

 

[Nick R]

I got my cruze up to 107 the other night to see what it would do- before I chickened out. But it was still pulling at 107. The tires are only S rated (Firestone FR710 P215/60/R16 S-rated, 560 BB.

I don't know how fast I would want to take it with only S-rated tires, I don't want them to explode going that fast, it would be bad. I can't find solid info on the top speed with the 1.4T, I think it's supposed to be about 124, but no hard info. No limiter, it appears. NO HARD INFO, Gah.

Also, the more I drive on these tires, the less I dislike them. They are still definitely NOT a performance tire, and if you take a curve fast, you can definitely tell they aren't happy, very squirrelly. But then again, they aren't supposed to be. They are smooth and quiet, but I wouldn't purchase them again. For the same price I could get Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum, and for another $30 a tire I could get GY Assurance Comfortread Touring.

 

[Colt45ws]

Bet its 108MPH. Seems to be a common number when standard (not performance) tires are used. Both my Cavi and my Vic limit at that. My Mom's Fusion limits at 115, IIRC, but it has factory 17" rims wrapped with V-Rated Michelins.
edit: 560BB? Seriously? *blorch*
And here I thought anything below 'A' traction was dead.