|
THROUGH
the years, SUVs and pickup trucks have gained an
enormous following in automobile markets all over the
world.
Although
these vehicles are primarily designed for use off the
road, more and more of them are seeing service in the
metropolis where they roll on firm asphalt.
Unfortunately, most SUVs and pickup trucks are fitted
with tires that are more at home on dirt, gravel and mud
rather than on tarmac. This raises several issues:
first, driving on tires that are not meant for such
conditions prevent them from performing in the way that
they are supposed to, robbing the driver of control over
the vehicle and altering a vehicle’s stability; second,
the safety of the vehicle and its occupants could be
seriously compromised as the tires could fail to respond
positively to sudden stops or emergency-lane changes on
a wet pavement, for instance; and third, off-road tires
and their widely spaced treads rarely provide comfort
and quietness on urban roads, rendering a vehicle’s ride
less tolerable.
Driven hard.
The Wranglers
show plenty of deflection without losing traction and
control on the slalom course.
Luckily
for SUV and pickup owners, Goodyear, one of the world’s
largest tire companies, recently launched a new tire
that is “designed primarily for luxury sport utility
vehicles that are used mostly on the road”—the Wrangler
High-Performance, All-Weather (HP AW).
During
the product’s Asian premiere in the Prince Bira Circuit
in Pattaya, Thailand, which this writer attended,
Goodyear allowed journalists from the Southeast Asian
region to see just how well the tire lived up to its
hype.
According to Ron Castro, Goodyear regional PR manager
Asia-Pacific, “Owners of luxury SUVs need a tire for the
way they drive—they spend a majority of their time
driving on the road, not off it. Goodyear’s latest
addition to the renowned Wrangler line, which has led in
the light-truck and SUV segments for over 30 years,
seeks to address the needs of discriminating light-truck
and SUV owners who demand a comfortable ride without
sacrificing tough capability.”
Current
SUVs and light trucks are more advanced, powerful and
luxurious than ever before. They are also built to
complement the owners’ busy lifestyles. Whether for
transporting to work, running errands or enjoying the
nightlife, their SUVs serve as their perfect companions
which, in turn, need equally capable tires that deliver
performance and comfort.
“Goodyear has succeeded in gaining high levels of
consumer confidence through the development of strong
brand names. With the launch of the Wrangler HP AW, we
are further strengthening the Wrangler brand that has
come to represent luxurious comfort, high quality, and
outstanding performance. We are very proud to have gone
beyond the SUV consumer’s demands with Wrangler HP AW.
Through this new premium tire, Goodyear fulfills all
their needs—and more,” said Castro.
“With
the proliferation of upscale SUV models, a growing
segment of consumers demand the same luxurious amenities
once found only on premium cars,” said William
Villamizar, Goodyear design engineer, who was present at
the event. “Tires are no exception—in developing new
Wrangler HP AW, we kept in mind the discriminating needs
of these consumers and decided on a positive evolution
of the tire in all aspects.”
Villamizar also shared that Goodyear aimed to mirror the
characteristics of luxury SUVs, including its
fun-to-drive aspect, in addition to tough capability and
safety. “As a result, the new Wrangler HP AW improved in
all the spectrum of performances. It enjoys the
experience and knowledge built on the Wrangler family
for its robustness, and the profits of Goodyear’s latest
technology. Our latest offering features a unique
quietness for its segment, the excellent balance between
comfort and handling wet and dry road conditions, and
the enhanced toughness and the optimum wear profile,” he
added.
For
Goodyear’s design engineers, the biggest challenge was
to assure exceptional on-road comfort, while still
maintaining the renowned Wrangler off-road toughness.
“We treat it as a sheep in wolf’s clothing—while still
under the Wrangler family of rugged tires, its latest
tread design provides outstanding on-road performance
that results in excellent ride comfort and quietness,”
Villamizar said.
The new
Wrangler HP AW features SilentBlock Design that controls
road noise. An angular centerline block also softens
contact with the road for a quiet, comfortable
experience. The tire uses SilentArmor Technology that
makes use of a layer of DuPont Kevlar that helps absorb
road noise for a quiet ride.
Thanks
to its SmartTred Design, the new Wrangler provides
excellent dry and wet handling, providing enhanced
traction and stability, inspiring confidence in all road
and weather conditions.
Its
center tread area provides more traction on wet roads
and low-grip surfaces such as gravel and dirt.
Bidirectional blading provides enhanced wet traction
when driving straight or cornering, while the Silica
loaded tread compound ensures unsurpassed wet traction
and excellent mileage.
To
demonstrate the tire’s capabilities versus those of a
competing product, several tests were organized on the
Bira Circuit: wet braking, pass-by noise, interior
noise, off-road, slalom and a full lap around the track.
In the
pass-by noise test, a sound meter was installed on the
side of the road, where a Toyota Fortuner—first fitted
with Goodyear and then the competitor tire—passed at 60
kph with its engine switched off. During the test, the
Wrangler HP AW registered 66.4 db, while the competitor
tipped the meter at 66.9 db—a difference of .5 db.
In the
interior noise test, the Fortuners drove over a series
of thick ropes strewn across the track while a sound
meter recorded the sound inside the cabin. Again, the
Wrangler HP AW beat its competitor 75.3 db to 76.0 db—a
difference of .7 db.
The
Wrangler HP AW showed a bigger advantage during the wet
braking wherein a vehicle shod with the Goodyear tire
managed to a braking distance of 32.9 meters on a wet
surface, while traveling at 80 kph. The competing tire,
meanwhile, required 35.3 meters to come to a full stop.
In the
slalom and full lap around the track, professional
drivers and journalists hurled the Wrangler HP
AP-vehicles around corners and pylons. The limits of
the tire seemed well out of reach of the abuse that was
thrown at them. The traction and control they afforded
were simply impressive.
As
expected, the off-road drive was like a walk in the
park.
Castro
says that the Wrangler HP AW, which will soon be
available in the Philippines, will fit the most popular
luxury SUVs and trucks. It will also come in the
following sizes: 205/70R15 96H, 225/70R15 100H,
235/70R15 103H, 215/65R16 98H, 215/70R16 100H and
265/70R16 112H. |
