GOODYEAR LAUNCHES WRANGLER DURATRAC RT, AN EVOLVED OFF-ROAD TYRE FOR EXPLORATION

Goodyear is taking off-road exploration to new heights with the launch of the adventure ready DuraTrac RT. DuraTrac RT joins the Goodyear range as an evolution of the original DuraTrac, an award-winning tyre relied upon by off-road enthusiasts for its proven performance off the beaten track.

The improved DuraTrac RT puts itself clear of the competition once again with a series of considered updates bringing even higher levels of durability and traction while taking nothing away from the original fan favourite.

“For the last 12 years, feedback from customers and dealers about the original DuraTrac has consistently been ‘don't change anything’,” said Jeremy Hill, Marketing Director, Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres ANZ. “We love that, but just like our customers, we also like to explore the limits. Our evolved DuraTrac RT keeps all the qualities that make the original so good and pushes even further.”

Benchmarked at Goodyear’s proving ground, the DuraTrac RT boasts a +10% improvement in wet handling, a +10% improvement in dry handing and even better off-road performance in mud and sand than the already accomplished tyre it is based on.

A summary of the enhancements found in the DuraTrac RT:

• Tread: A new, optimised tread pattern with solid tread blocks and more biting edges provides superior grip and traction in mud and other rugged conditions. The bold, attractive appearance clearly showcases the RT’s capability.
• Construction: More robust construction and the introduction of Tri-Shield Technology – a thicker, three-ply sidewall, increasing strength for greater resistance to abrasions and cuts from rocks and sharp objects.
• Traction: DuraEdge Technology extends deep tread features over the shoulder of the tyre onto the upper sidewall, adding side-biters to enhance traction and delivering greater protection against rocks and extreme off-road hazards, especially when running lower pressures in unpredictable terrain.
• Compound: DuraTrac RT retains the proven, durable tread compound of the original DuraTrac, lauded for its hard-wearing characteristics, outstanding traction and resistance to cutting and chipping in extreme conditions. It remains as reliable as ever.
• Protection: Built-in rim protection provides a defensive barrier against scratches and wheel damage in rough terrain to keep rims looking their best.

The DuraTrac RT tyre now comes with light truck construction across every size, meaning the carcass is even tougher than before. Wrap-around gum strips improve the bond between the steel belts and the tyre compound creating a greater connection to the tread blocks for even more confidence. The DuraTrac RT is ready to explore anywhere.

GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 SUPERSPORT R AND RS CHOSEN FOR PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS

Goodyear is proud to announce its continued association with Porsche to homologate the Eagle F1 SuperSport R and SuperSport RS, the two most performance-orientated tyres in Goodyear’s UUHP portfolio. The designs of both tyre specifications extract the most out of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS supercar.

Pushing the limits of performance from a fully road-legal tyre, Goodyear has developed a two-tyre range for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. The unique high-friction compound of the SuperSport RS provides a refined track-focused experience in dry conditions, while excellent cornering stability is achieved by bridges in the tread pattern’s inner groove, optimising the tyre’s footprint for more consistent pressure distribution.

Meanwhile, the Eagle F1 SuperSport R is an ultra-ultra high-performance tyre with greater scope for road usability. Like the SuperSport RS, performance is its primary function and gives Porsche 911 GT3 RS buyers an option to select the most suitable tyre depending on their driving habits.

“We are immensely proud to have worked with Porsche once again on this project,” said Johannes Moll, Managing Director OE Consumer, Goodyear EMEA. “A vehicle as extreme as the Porsche 911 GT3 RS deserves a tyre that matches it in every way. From traction, turn in and braking performance, drivers can feel the road surface underneath them, giving them confidence and pleasure. Goodyear has taken lessons from its motorsport history to develop its line of UUHP tyres,” Moll explains.

“Our tyres enhance the performance and handling characteristics of the most specialist machinery on the roads today. The way both tyre specifications perform on the track and the road is a testament to years of research, development and Goodyear’s working relationship with manufacturers.”

GOODYEAR ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL OPENING OF NEW SIMULATION CENTRE IN LUXEMBOURG TO ENHANCE TYRE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Goodyear has officially opened its Simulation Centre in Luxembourg to welcome a new era for tyre design and development.

Outfitted with a DiM250 DYNAMIC Driving Simulator developed by VI-grade, the Centre is designed to enhance Goodyear’s collaboration with OEMs and support elite tyre performance through personalised product development.

Utilising virtual tyre development process, Goodyear’s team can use the Simulation Centre to test and validate tyre models for car models that do not yet exist. This allows for speedier production and ensures that tyre modifications can be made in the development process to suit the vehicle’s needs.

Romain Hansen, Vice President EMEA Product Development at Goodyear, says, “The opening of our industry-leading Simulation Centre in Luxembourg displays Goodyear’s commitment to investing in and shaping the future of mobility.

“Our virtual tyre development team has run numerous projects to date with the leading OEMs from Europe, the US and China," said Hansen. "Once the automotive engineers experience our virtual development process, they acknowledge both the potential business and possible sustainability impacts."

The Simulation Centre further cements Goodyear long-standing commitment to safety, wellness and sustainability. The use of simulated driving allows for fewer physical tyres to be produced and a speedier manufacturing process.  It will also help enable Goodyear to achieve first to approval for all development tyres with only one physical iteration. In fact, based on Goodyear calculations, the ability to develop one physical iteration will save an average of 13,000 tyres and 97,500km of physical tyre testing. The expansion follows the launch of the inaugural centre in Akron Ohio in 2021.

Following a successful first project with Maserati to produce bespoke tyres for the Gran Turismo 2023, the Simulation Centre is supporting Goodyear on developing tailormade tyres for OEMs across the world.