New Tires Aplenty Coming from Goodyear

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Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2

Goodyear dealers will see five new consumer tire products unleashed by the tiremaker this year, products unveiled earlier this week at Goodyear\'s annual dealer meeting.

Now available in 14 sizes – with eight more coming later this year – is the latest addition to the Assurance line, the Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season. Developed as a premium tire for SUVs and CUVs, the tire features three tread zones – for wet traction, dry traction and snow/ice traction – for all-season performance, Goodyear said.

The wet zone has a sweeping tread pattern to aid water evacuation, while the dry zone has large tread blocks along the outer edge for handling. In addition to sipes, the snow/ice zone features an innovative polymer composition, Goodyear said, with traction-enhancing particles and fibers made with volcanic sand and glass.

The tire will carry a 65,000-mile tread life limited warranty, and Goodyear’s 30-Day Pledge, which offers buyers 100% satisfaction or they can exchange the tires for a different set of Goodyear tires.

The vaunted Eagle line-up was updated with the addition of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season and the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2.

An all-new design, according to Goodyear, Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season follows the same three-tread-zone formula as the Assurance line, with distinct wet, dry and snow/ice (termed “all-season” by Goodyear in this case) tread areas.

The specialized tread compounds of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season are supplemented by Goodyear’s TredLock Technology, microgrooves that provide wet traction biting edges, and Traction Teeth, which provides more all-season biting edges.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season carries a 45,000-mile tread life limited warranty, is tunable for OE applications, Goodyear said. It carries W- and Y-speed ratings, and will be offered in 36 different size combinations.

Featuring race-derived technology, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 is an UHP entry targeting sports cars and luxury performance vehicles.

It carries a new tread compound with “motorsport resins” that the tiremaker said “helps provide superior grip levels, leading to enhanced dry handling and dry braking performance. A lightweight, racing-derived construction also contributes to excellent dry handling, as the vehicle’s unsprung mass is reduced, for enhanced steering precision and handling. It also features a crossed-plies carcass structure, which contributes to torsion stiffness for steering precision, handling and braking on dry road surfaces.”

The ActiveBraking Technology and new silica-based tread compounding in the new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 “offers enhanced stopping power on wet and dry roads, with excellent road contact during braking” and low noise.

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 will be available in 26 popular sizes for North American drivers.

Also new on the Goodyear slate is the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter, which will be available for the 2012-13 winter season. Once completely rolled out, the new model will include 36 sizes for passenger vehicles, ranging from 14- to 19-inch wheel diameters.

The new – and studdable – Ultra Grip Winter features a directional tread pattern with siping and multiple biting edges for grip on ice and snow-covered roads, and wide tread grooves to move snow and slush.

The Dunlop brand is getting its own new entry, as well, with the Dunlop Signature II, which Goodyear officials said “provides all-weather grip for excellent traction, matched with contemporary styling for a sophisticated look.”

The Signature II, which replaces the first-generation Signature model, carries a 65,000-mile tread life limited warranty and is offered in 28 sizes, ranging from 14- to 18-inch wheel diameters.

The Signature II features an optimized tread pattern for long, even treadwear; Goodyear’s VersaLoad Technology, which optimize the tire mold for consistent traction, handling, ride comfort and treadwear; Evaqua Grooves for hydroplaning resistance; and multi-directional siping for all-season traction.