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THE
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., one of the world’s largest
tire companies, has released a new product called
Assurance aimed at midsize car owners who put a premium
on safety and reliability.
No, it
isn’t a new kind of insurance policy. It’s a tire that
is designed for discerning Asian drivers, who look for
positive handling in wet, dry and even hazardous
conditions.
According to DP Singh, regional marketing director for
consumer tires: “Goodyear consistently invests in
research to better understand consumers’ driving needs.
Based on these consumer insights, we know that the top
key attribute most sought-after in tires is safety. For
consumers in Asia, safety means excellent grip in wet or
dry roads above all, and durability in terms of
resistance to road hazards.”
Singh
added, “Understanding these primary needs is what
inspired us to develop Goodyear Assurance with
Technology. This new tire model is designed to meet and
exceed the safety demands consumers have for their
tires.”
The new
Goodyear Assurance tire employs Goodyear’s latest
revolutionary innovation, the patented ArmorGrip
Technology for superior grip and durability.
This new
technology offers superior grip through two key
elements—the new Waffle Blade system and advanced
silica-based tread compound.
The
Waffle Blade system is a new generation
three-dimensional blade system, which evolved from
Goodyear’s previous Bubble Blade system. This new
system is designed to provide better braking and grip on
wet and dry roads while maintaining lateral block
rigidity. Its provides improved lateral interlocking
power and maximized circumferential decoupling that
allows for shorter wet braking distances without
compromising handling performances.
Besides
the new Waffle Blade system, Goodyear Assurance also
features an advanced silica-based tread compound to
increase its grip ability. Silica is a component that
is generally used in high-performance tires where grip
is absolutely essential and works by increasing chemical
bonding with rubber polymers for improved grip.
Following the company’s success in integrating DuPont
Kevlar within some of its Wrangler tires for SUV and 4x4
vehicles, Goodyear has built in DuPont Kevlar into the
Assurance tire to provide enhanced durability and
resistance against road hazards. DuPont Kevlar is a
lightweight material that has been proven to be five
times stronger than steel.
In
addition to DuPont Kevlar, Goodyear Assurance has a
silica-reinforced Durawall compound in the sidewall to
provide increased resistance to cuts and tears.
“Our
extensive test results have confirmed Assurance’s
extraordinary performance against other competitive
tires in its class, particularly in braking situations.
Goodyear Assurance demonstrates how the combination of
technological innovation and an unswerving commitment to
customer satisfaction can give birth to a winning
product. Drivers can now be more confident that they
can drive with Assurance,” said Singh.
During
the tire’s launch in
Kuala Lumpur,
members of the Asian motoring media were given a chance
to try the tire firsthand on the world-famous Sepang
International F1 Circuit. There the organizers prepared
a slalom course on both wet and dry surfaces, as well as
a fast lap around the circuit’s short course. Feedback
from the participants indicated that the tires truly
provided excellent grip during the tests.
Goodyear
technicians say that Assurance is quite different from
its stablemate the Ducaro GA, which had been developed
around “Comfort & Security.” Assurance, on the other
hand, is developed for “Superior Grip & Durability,”
which is promoted by the new-generation Waffle Blade and
Kevlar.
New Goodyear Assurance with ArmorGrip Technology is
available in the following sizes: 195/70 R14 91H, 195/70
R14 95H, 185/65 R14 86H, 195/60 R14 86H, 185/60 R14 82H,
185/70 R14 88H, 175/65 R14 82H, 195/65 R15 91H, 195/60
R15 88H, 205/60 R15 91H, 205/65 R15 94H.
For more information about the Goodyear Assurance tire,
visit www. b-u-d.net/Project/GoodYear/Microsite/. |
