Goodyear launches first EV replacement tire in N.A.

AKRON — Goodyear's first electric-vehicle (EV) replacement tire, the ElectricDrive GT, will be available initially only through Goodyear.com, the company confirmed recently.

The all-season, ultra-high-performance tire is designed to offer long-lasting treadwear and a quiet ride for the drivers and passengers in EVs, demand for which is growing exponentially.

Owners of those vehicles have few options for replacement tires, Andrew Lau, product marketing manager, said.

The new tire features Goodyear's SoundComfort Technology, which acts as a built-in sound barrier that helps reduce road noise, a must-have for EVs that don't generate competing noise from the engine and other components, Mr. Lau said.

Goodyear said it will offer the ElectricDrive GT initially in one size only and exclusively through Goodyear.com to introduce it to the market. The company will "investigate other channels for future distribution in 2022."

The tire, which has an asymmetric tread pattern and a tread compound engineered to improve traction and handling in wet and dry conditions, retails for $265 per tire, Goodyear said.

The tire launches in a single size, 255/45R19 104W XL, but Goodyear said it plans to expand that portfolio in 2022.

The tire has an "Electric Drive Ready" symbol on the sidewall, Mr. Lau said. When you see that, "the consumer can feel confident that Goodyear as designed the tire to meet their electrification needs."

The new tire, being built at Goodyear's factory in Lawton, Okla., fits with Goodyear's longterm goals toward sustainability and safety, he said.

Tires designed for EVs last longer, so they need to be replaced less, which means using less energy overall, he said.

Goodyear also is working to advance tire performance, he said. "We're constantly looking at new compounds, new products on the roadmap, listening to our customers, developing new technologies to improve overall performance."

"It's our first replacement but it won't be our last," Mr. Lau said.