Goodyear launches new Wrangler, Excellence tire models

Goodyear Philippines launched last week two new high-performance tires — one for pickups and SUVs and the other for passenger cars.

Banking on the continued popularity of commercial vehicles in the local market, Goodyear has updated its popular Wrangler light truck and SUV tire with SilentArmor technology.

"Goodyear adheres to a simple formula: put customers first. We continuously develop products that suit various lifestyles and answer different needs," says David Morin, Goodyear Philippines President and Managing Director. "When it comes to light trucks and SUVs that call for unrivalled performance in both smooth city driving or maneuvering tough off-road conditions, this new Wrangler is our answer. A unique combination of toughness and low noise, we call it the "strong and silent type".

Considered a breakthrough in tire technology, the Goodyear Wrangler featuring Silent-Armor is built with two elements — the Armor Zone and the Quiet Zone.

The Armor Zone is comprised of two high-tensile steel belts and two layers made with a potent ingredient: Kevlar. Five times stronger than steel and used in bulletproof vests, Kevlar delivers extra strength for off-road conditions.

Also featuring Goodyear’s exclusive Durawall rubber compound, the new Wrangler’s Armor Zone reinforces the sidewall to withstand punctures and cuts, ensuring long life. In addition, it is also built with Rim Guard, a design that further protects the wheels from accidental curb damage.

The Quiet Zone, on the other hand, is composed of a Kevlar layer that absorbs road noise for a smooth and quiet ride. Built with unique and aggressive traction ridges designed between the tread of the tire, the new Wrangler delivers superb traction in wet or muddy conditions. The tread compound is a new Goodyear silica blend that maximizes wet traction without sacrificing treadwear.

The new Goodyear Wrangler with SilentArmor technology fits most popular trucks and SUVs with sizes in P235/75R-15, P245/70R-16, P245/75R-16, P255/70R-16, P265/70R-16, LT285/75R-16, LT30x9.5R-15, LT31x10.5R-15 and LT33x12.5R-15.

But while "Wrangler" has been a 40-year-old Goodyear brand, "Excellence" is much newer. The new Goodyear Excellence was engineered in partnership with the world’s leading car manufacturers to deliver outstanding performance for a safe, comfortable and quiet ride for luxury passenger cars like BMW and Volvo as well as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

This is made possible through the Excellence’s 3-Zone technology that combines specially designed Security Zone, Handling Zone and Comfort Zone, with each functional zone ensuring confident driving on wet pavement, responsive cornering, and comfort on bumpy roads.

"Drivers of high-performance cars understand the value of safe control in the rain, especially in the Philippines where it rains half the time," notes Morin. "The tread design of Goodyear Excellence ensures more grip at higher speed on wet roads. It is a technologically advanced tire that will provide the motoring public with higher levels of safety, comfort and handling performance."

The Excellence’s Security Zone features an exclusive asymmetric tread design, which effectively pushes water away from the tread surface for secure braking and cornering even in slick conditions.

The Handling Zone consists of solid and rigid outside shoulder blocks which provide more responsive steering even in abrupt maneuvers. The Excellence’s casing structure is engineered with a progressive spiral overlay under the tread, with a double layer under the shoulders, to maintain an even pressure on the road.

The Comfort Zone, on the other hand, is located in the inner tread rubber cushion. It’s a cushioned layer between many tire layers functioning as an extra impact buffer. Additionally, the thin cushion layer between the tread rubber and the steel wire belts not only reduces vibrations and improves comfort, but also reduces tire noise.

Goodyear Excellence is initially available in three sizes — 195/65R-15, 205/55R-16 and 205/65R-15 — that encompass a variety of vehicles ranging from compact and midsized sedans to Asian Utility Vehicles.

Both Goodyear Wrangler and Excellence carry Goodyear’s industry-leading 4-year Confidence Warranty.