Goodyear debuts 7 tires at dealer meeting

WASHINGTON (Feb. 4, 2016) — Goodyear debuted four truck and three consumer tires at its North American dealer conference in Washington, D.C., last week, including new SKUs of its Eagle, Wrangler and Kelly Edge lines.

The new tires are:

• Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, a premium, ultra-high performance summer tire;
• Wrangler TrailRunner AT for on- and off-road performance in rough conditions;
• Kelly Edge HP, a value-oriented high-performance tire;
• Fuel Max RSA, a radial truck tire for regional/long haul fleets that operate mainly on-highway;
• Endurance WHA, Goodyear's longest-lasting waste-haul tire and a companion matching WHA retread; and
• Endurance RSA, an all-around truck tire for regional and urban delivery applications.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3's combination of asymmetric tread pattern and “grip-boosting” tread compound helps deliver “commanding traction and precise handling” in both wet and dry conditions, Goodyear said.

The tire, which is OE on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, is available in six sizes now and 19 sizes by year-end 2016, ranging from from 205/40R17 to 285/35R22.

The Wrangler TrailRunner AT offers reliability and strength and is positioned at the mid-tier market, according to Jay Robinson, general manager, brand marketing.

The tire's performance is derived from interlocking tread blocks for on- and off-road durability; saw-tooth block edges and multi-angle sipes for enhanced all-season traction; a tread pattern designed to deliver enhanced tread life and reduced noise; and a rugged stepped shoulder for added traction in deep mud and snow.

The TrailRunner AT will be available in 41 sizes, ranging from 225/75R16 to 275/60R20, and is offered with a 55,000-mile limited tread life warranty.

The Kelly Edge HP is the third offering in the Edge “power line,” the Akron-based tire maker said, complementing the Kelly Edge A/S and Edge AT introduced at the company's 2015 dealer donference.

“With the addition of the Kelly Edge HP, the Kelly power line now covers 85 percent of target segments,” Mr. Robinson said.

 The Edge HP debuts with 20 sizes, ranging from 195/55R15 to 245/45R18, and is offered with a 45,000-mile limited tread life warranty.

Among the Kelly Edge HP's features are an asymmetric tread pattern and a “proven” tread compound for enhanced all-season traction in wet, dry and snowy conditions; a wide center rib for consistent handling; solid shoulder blocks for a more stable footprint; and blades with biting edges for enhanced handling.

The Fuel Max RSA incorporates Goodyear's reduced rolling-resistance “Fuel Max” technology and thus is designed to help lower the operating costs of regional/long haul fleets, said Norberto Flores, marketing manager.

“Despite the fact that fuel costs have declined in recent months, fuel efficiency will remain a prominent fleet requirement,…” Mr. Flores said.

The tire is SmartWay-compliant and also includes Goodyear's “IntelliMax” rib technology, with contoured sipes for ideal tread stiffness, which helps provide regular wear and high mileage potential, plus enhanced snow and ice grip.

Other features include a tri-layer compound for exceptional mileage, rolling resistance and curb impact resistance; a non-evolving tread to help maintain traction through the tire's lifecycle; super-tensile steel belts; steel casing construction for optimal retreadability; and a computer-optimized tread design and footprint.

The Fuel Max RSA offers a 20/32nd-inch tread depth and is available initially in size 11R22.5, Load Range G, with additional sizes — including 295/75R22.5 and 11R24.5 in Load Ranges G and H, and 11R22.5 in Load Range H — to be added in early 2016.

Goodyear claims the Endurance WHA, one of the first offerings in Goodyear's new Endurance line, will deliver longer life than previous Goodyear waste-hauling tires, thanks to a package of design enhancements, according to Brian Buckham, general manager, product marketing.

Among the changes are sidewall protector shingles for enhanced casing life, an improved steel belt and casing package; a shoulder design to help direct pressure away from the outer tread for more uniform tread wear; four wide circumferential grooves for all-season traction; and a wide footprint to enhance cornering and handling on local streets.

Available in size 315/80R22.5, Load Range L, the Endurance WHA has a 24/32nd-inch tread depth for enhanced original mileage. It can be ordered with Goodyear's DuraSeal puncture-sealsing technology, and there's a matching retread as well, available through Goodyear's authorized retreader network.

The Endurance RSA is being pitched as Goodyear's best all-around tire for regional and urban delivery applications, offering more miles to removal, lower rolling resistance and more resistance to curb impact damage than its predecessor, the Goodyear G661 HSA.

Other features include IntelliMax rib technology, 22/32nd-inch tread depth, super-tensile steel belts for extra toughness and durability, dual-layer tread compound for improved fuel economy and greenhouse gas compliance.

The Endurance RSA will be available in 11 sizes, starting with 11R22.5, Load Ranges G and H, in April 2016.

Check tirebusiness.com for more coverage of the Goodyear dealer meeting in Washington, D.C.