Goodyear launches new tires at dealer meeting

NASHVILLE (Jan. 31, 2014) — Goodyear debuted multiple tires in various segments Jan. 30 during its 2014 Dealer Conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.

Here's a look at what will be rolling into dealer showrooms in coming months:

Assurance All-Season

The Assurance All-Season will be available at retail outlets throughout North America in April, Goodyear said, and will come in 41 tire sizes with rim diameters ranging from 14-18 inches.

"To create the Assurance All-Season, we reached out more than ever before to get input from consumers, our sales team and you, our customers," said Ryan Patterson, vice president, operations and customer development, North America.

He said as Goodyear reached out to its dealers, it heard consistent messages that they wanted an "updated product with a new name that differentiated it from the TripleTred, ComforTred and FuelMax."

Mr. Patterson said the line covers "the vast majority of the commuter touring segment with H and T speed ratings" and will "ride on everything from the four-door sedan to the mini-van to the SUV/CUV vehicle." He added that the tire is meant to "satisfy a price point for the typical middle class North American consumer," retailing at around $100.

The tire includes a 60,000-mile/95,000-kilometer limited treadlife warranty. Features of the tire include:

• Multiple biting edges for all-season traction in wet, dry and snowy conditions;

• Wide tread grooves, to help evacuate water and slush for enhanced wet traction;

• An optimized tread pattern, reducing road noise for a quieter ride; and

• Large stable shoulder blocks, for dry and wet handling.

G505D Fuel Max

The G505D Fuel Max is a long-haul truck tire that aims to help fleets reduce their cost-per-mile even more. The tire will be available to Goodyear commercial truck tire dealers this June in size 295/75R22.5 in load range G and will be SmartWay verified.

"The new Goodyear G505D Fuel Max is the most fuel-efficient commercial drive tire in our line-up," said Brian Buckham, marketing manager, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems.

Goodyear said the long-haul tire features its exclusive Fuel Max Technology, which contains fuel-saving compounds, tire constructions and specialized tread designs to help reduce rolling resistance.

Features of the tire include:

• Deep 24/32-inch tread depth for long tire life;

• Circumferential and lateral tread grooves for improved all-season traction;

• An extra-wide tread for enhanced handling and long-lasting wear;

• Goodyear TredLock Technology, which features interlocking micro-grooves that help stabilize the tread for long tread life and enhanced toughness; and

• A casing optimized for retreading.

"Fuel economy is ultra-important to long-haul fleets, but they have other tire needs, as well," Mr. Buckham said. "The G505D FUEL MAX offers the ideal blend of fuel economy, traction and long miles to removal, which will help fleets lower their overall operating costs and optimize their tire investment."

G731 MSA and G751 MSA

The Goodyear G731 MSA and G751 MSA mixed-service tires are designed for construction, dump trucks, cement mixers and other mixed-service fleets to help trucks travel across challenging surfaces, the tire maker said.

The Goodyear G731 MSA and G751 MSA tires will be available this summer in the following sizes: 11R22.5 (with DuraSeal Technology); 12R22.5; 11R22.5; 11R24.5; 275/70R22.5; and 255/70R22.5. The G751 MSA will be available in the following sizes: 11R22.5 (with DuraSeal Technology); 315/80R22.5 (with DuraSeal Technology); 12R22.5; 12R24.5; 11R22.5; 11R24.5; and 315/80R22.5.

Goodyear said its DuraSeal Technology is a gel-like rubber compound that is built into the tire's casing at the time of manufacture and instantly seals nail-hole punctures of up to ¼-inch in diameter in the repairable area of a tire's tread.

"Goodyear DuraSeal Technology helps keep trucks up and running, which helps prevent expensive downtime, lowering fleets' overall operating costs," Mr. Buckham said, claiming that "Goodyear is the only tire company that offers this unique, money-saving technology."

The G731 MSA, which is designed for 20 percent on-road and 80 percent off-road service applications, features more wearable rubber volume that offers up to 5 percent more miles than its predecessor, the Goodyear G288 MSA. The G751 MSA is designed for 80 percent on-road and 20 percent off-road service applications, Goodyear said.

Both tires also feature tread compounds designed for resistance to cuts, chips and tears; a wider footprint for extra traction and stability; lower rolling-resistance construction and greenhouse gas-emission compliancy for enhanced fuel efficiency, and retreadable casings.

"These premium tires are big on tread life, toughness and fuel economy, and Goodyear's exclusive, self-sealing DuraSeal Technology will help keep them up and running," Mr. Buckham said. "We're confident that the G731 MSA and G751 MSA will become the tires of choice for mixed-service fleet managers who want to lower their overall operating costs."

Wrangler Fortitude HT

Goodyear's Wrangler Fortitude HT is a premium tire with enhanced wet traction and long tread life, and it has been selected for OE fitments on popular new vehicles, the company said, noting that specific fitment announcements for the tire will coincide with new vehicle models introductions.

The Wrangler Fortitude HT will be available in five initial sizes—65/70R16, 255/65R17, 265/70R17, 265/60R18 and 275/65R18—for potential fitments on vehicles such as the GMS Sierra, Ford Expedition and Dodge Durango. More sizes will be coming by the end of the year.

This tire includes a 65,000-mile/105,000-kilometer tread life limited warranty, plus the "tough look" consumers want, Goodyear said. Among the product features are:

• Wide circumferential grooves and full-depth sipes, to help provide wet, dry and snow traction for year-round versatility;

• A tread pattern optimized to help provide a quiet ride;

• Rugged tread pattern and sidewall design; and

• A lower-rolling resistance tread compound for enhanced fuel efficiency.

Dunlap Direzza DZ102

Goodyear added to its Dunlop-brand lineup with the addition of the Direzza DZ102 ultra-high-performance tire. The company called the tire an evolution of the Dunlop Direzza DZ101 tire that features a quieter, more comfortable ride, improved braking and enhanced water evacuation performance.

The Direzza DZ102 will be available in 47 sizes, ranging from 15 to 22-inch wheel diameters.

"The drive and performance of the Direzza DZ102 offer consumers an opportunity to up their curb appeal," said Tara Foote, Dunlop performance brand manager.

Features of the Direzza DZ102 include:

• Silicarbon Matrix, a special blend of silica and carbon black that offers enhanced wet and dry traction;

• 5-Pitch Technology and wear trimming, which aids noise reduction and helps reduce irregular wear;

• Jointless Band Technology, enabling smooth performance at highway speeds;

• Max Flange Shield, which helps protect rims from accidental curb damage; and

• Performance-inspired tread and sidewall design.