Goodyear rolls out hi-tech tyres

AGE-OLD tyre manufacturers Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company rolled out their latest and innovative offering to the Jamaican market last Tuesday.

The launch, which took place at The Wyndham Kingston hotel, saw the introduction of the Goodyear Fuel Max Technology tyres, which are aimed at maximising fuel efficiency resulting in savings to its users.

Greg Hanna, enterprise project manager for Goodyear, told Automotives: "With the ever-increasing cost of fuel, we designed a product that uses less energy and improves the fuel efficiency of the vehicle."

He said in an effort to achieve this higher level of efficiency, modifications were done to the geometry, internal components, reinforcement materials and compounds used in the tyres.

"The compounds are a major part of the design," Hanna said. "When the tyre makes contact with the road it deflects and then comes back to its original shape very easily without utilising a lot of energy. And, this is the concept behind delivering a fuel-efficient tyre," he explained.

Hanna said there is an added benefit to using the hi-tech tyres.

"With gas emission, we are, therefore, protecting the environment," Hanna added.

Steve Miller, general manager of Goodyear Caribbean, said his company has had a special relationship with Jamaica for more than 40 years and was upbeat about the prospects of the new tyres.

Satisfying customers

"Today's launch is a step towards further establishing ourselves as the brand of choice, while at the same time satisfying the needs of our Jamaican consumers. We, therefore, know that the products that you see here have a value proposition that will resonate with them," said Miller.

A video presentation at the launch showed that the Goodyear Fuel Max Technology tyre could save the consumer 2,600 miles of fuel and rolled a distance of 357 feet further than the average tyre.

Damien Satterthwaite, territory sales leader, said the tyres are now available locally and are competitively priced.

"And, with that, we expect the sales to be significant," he said.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 and manufactures tyres for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes and heavy earth-moving machinery.

- Brian Bonitto