AKRON, Ohio >> Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says trucking fleets will be testing the company’s new tires that maintain their air pressure without the need for external pumps or electronics.

The company says in a news release that the test is part of a research project that has been supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Vehicle Technology with a $1.5 million grant.

Incorrect tire pressure drags down vehicle fuel mileage, is safety issue and can cause tires to wear faster.

The company says a number of companies with truck fleets in the U.S. and Canada will be testing the new tires over the next 18 months.