The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's Aviation business introduced the first aluminum core bead for use in aviation tires. The patented light weight alloy bead core using aluminum is a revolution in weight savings. The traditional construction of the bead has a steel center wrapped by strands of high tensile wire. Goodyear has found a way to replace the steel core with aluminum. The result is a significant weight saving.
The first production tire with this innovation, H37.5×12.0R19, will be fitted on the Gulfstream G650. The weight savings on this tire equates to three pounds per tire.