Goodyear has new tires for trucks and SUVs
New Wrangler tires especially for SUVs
ROB BEINTEMA, Special to The Guardian
Goodyear is on a roll.
Last spring, the company introduced two new products under the Assurance name-- the TripleTred and ComforTred tires.
Those two tires were designed specifically for the passenger car market. The Assurance TripleTred features three separate traction zones-- a dry zone, a wet zone and an ice zone-- promising performance in all weather conditions. The Assurance ComforTred, on the other hand, was designed with comfort in mind, adding a cushioned Comfort belt to the tire belt mix for a plusher, quieter ride. Both tires launched well, doubling expected sales in North America.
Now less than a year later, Goodyear is building on that success with two new tires for the truck market-- the Fortera and Wrangler-- old familiar names encompassing all-new products. Which is in a way surprising because both the Fortera and Wrangler were already award-winning products. Indeed, the current generation Wrangler was recognized by J.D. Power while Fortera HL just recently won "best all-season light truck tire", beating out 22 other competitors in a Consumer Reports review.
"While some may say 'If it's not broken, don't fix it,' we believe in the challenge of taking great products and making them even better," said Jeanne Sherman, Goodyear's director of new products.
Goodyear conducted extensive research among truck and SUV owners to see what kinds of qualities customers were interested in. And in this segment of blended truck and passenger use, the main demands were for quiet, comfortable ride, safety and enough rugged toughness to take on the everyday unexpected hassles, whether on or off the road.
Goodyear responded to this challenge by adopting SilentArmor Technology, adding a layer of Kevlar, the renowned fiber developed by DuPont, to both tires.
Kevlar is not new to tire use. In fact, the first application of this miracle fiber which is, pound for pound, five times stronger than steel, was for aircraft tires, evolving to high-speed race tire development, police and military use.
No, these new tires are not bullet-proof.
But the Kevlar layer, made with combined strands of nylon, forms an encircling belt that tops two steel belts and adds both strength and performance. Other Kevlar qualities-- a molecular structure that dissipates energy, heat and sound - also add to the tires' overall performance. The all-weather tread has been fine-tuned for the quietest combination of ride and traction.
The Fortera also adds a tough Durawall silica-based rubber compound to reinforce the sidewall to help resist punctures and cuts. And a Rim Guard design protrudes from the sidewall to protect expensive wheels from accidental curb damage.
The Fortera was built specifically for SUVs. But, let's face it, most SUVs never venture off-road. So, cashing in on their successful passenger car ComforTred technology, the Fortera adds a super absorbent layer between the tire's tread and underlying belts, providing about 20 percent more cushion than average tires designed for SUVs and light trucks. This feature helps the new tire deliver a ride that feels more like a sedan than an SUV.
Fitting the most popular luxury and mid-value SUVs, the new Fortera featuring SilentArmor Technology will be initially available in 25 sizes, ranging from 15- to 20-inch rim diameters. This vehicle segment consists of more than 10 million vehicles, with familiar examples such as Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Envoy and Lincoln Navigator.
Now compared to the Fortera, the new Wrangler is a slightly more aggressive tire, designed for a greater degree of hard use and offroad potential.
On or off-road
The Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology is a tire designed with the on/off-road pickup truck driver in mind.
"Although most of their driving is on the road, truck owners want the capability to drive on any terrain," said Todd Hershberger, Goodyear marketing manager for light-truck tires.
"They expect their tires to emulate the performance of their trucks. They have to be tough to get the job done, and they also have to be comfortable and quiet like a passenger car."
The Goodyear Wrangler with the SilentArmor Technology features the same Kevlar belt and Rim Guard but instead of a Comfort cushion belt, adds an extra layer of the same tough compound used in the Durawall over the steel belts, for better offroad protection. The Durawall feature is, after all, a technology borrowed from Goodyear's tough off-road Wrangler MT/R.
The new Wrangler is capped off with unique traction ridges designed between the tread of the tire. These aggressive ridges provide superb traction in wet or muddy conditions. The tire is certified for "severe snow" usage with the industry's mountain-snowflake symbol, able to take on snowy conditions, as well. The tread compound is also a new Goodyear silica blend that maximizes wet traction without sacrificing treadwear.
Fitting the most popular truck sizes on the road, on vehicles like Chevrolet Silverado and Avalanche, Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, this latest addition to the lineup should live up to Wrangler's 30 year history of truck tough durability.
Tested well
Both tires tested very well in back-to-back comparisons against current-generation versions and competitors during some of the wet, dry and off-road testing, that I did last week.
These are both high quality and premium tires. You can expect them to be priced accordingly but keep an eye out for opening day sales.
Looking to mount on 17x9 steelies. Thanks for the post.
