Henderson from Bellingham, Wash. began the drive on Aug. 29 near Blaine, Wash., heading south to the Mexican border near Chula Vista, Ca. He made the 1,400-mile journey getting 119.1 miles per gallon, using 12.4 gallons of fuel from start to finish. Henderson stopped for food and overnight lodging – but no refueling – as he piloted the aerodynamic car primarily on the north-south Interstate 5.
Helping the car to achieve the milestone was Assurance Fuel Max tires, featuring the company's Fuel-Saving Tread Compound that helps reduce energy loss as the tires roll, saving an average motorist 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of a set of tires, according to brand manager Razvan Bosomoiu."This is a remarkable accomplishment, when you think of the number of fill- ups a typical driver would have to make during such a long trip," says Bosomoiu. "Compared to regular passenger car tires, the Fuel Max helps the Avion roll more easily and achieve fuel mileage improvements."
Henderson's fast, fun-to-drive sports car is lightweight and aerodynamic, and it has previously set fuel efficiency records. The original model was built by Henderson and co-designer Bill Green in 1984, but mass production was never achieved. Still, the prototype vehicle continues to reach high marks in fuel efficiency. The current version of the Avion is powered by an 800 cc diesel motor.
"The Avion has achieved 113 miles per gallon at 55-60 miles per hour in testing. For this journey, we averaged around 55 miles per hour and contended with regular traffic volumes," says Henderson.
"The Goodyear Fuel Max tires help provide the fuel savings we wanted, and with the confidence of knowing we will have excellent wet and dry traction," Henderson notes.
The Assurance Fuel Max has been selected as the exclusive original equipment tire for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, along with being a standard fitment on the 2011 Chevy Cruze Eco, 2010 Ford Fusion S and 2010 Toyota Prius.It offers a 27 percent improvement in rolling resistance, which translates into 4 percent better fuel economy versus the previous Assurance tire, says Bosomoiu. The technology was selected for the Popular Science Magazine's 2009 "Best of What's New Award."
The line is offered in 32 sizes, fitting about 80 percent of the cars on the road today. It also carries a 65,000-mile treadlife limited warranty.
"The breadth of size offerings and all-around performance of the Assurance Fuel Max mean that most drivers can benefit from this fuel-saving tire," Bosomoiu says.
The line is being extended this fall to include sizes for SUVs and crossover vehicles via the company's new Assurance CS Fuel Max.
For more information, visit www.goodyeartires.com.
