Bangkok--4 Apr--Weber Shandwick Safety-conscious drivers who own small to mid-size passenger cars can now drive with Assurance. Goodyear, one of the world’s largest tire companies, today launched its much-awaited Assurance tire, which is designed for discerning drivers across Asia, and sets new standards for safe and reliable rides in varied road conditions. “Goodyear has a rich heritage in product innovation for more than a hundred years”, said Pierre E. Cohade, president of Goodyear Asia Pacific. “Safety is at the core of our brand, so we are committed to putting the latest and most advanced technology in our tires to make drivers more confident on the road and the journey a much safer one”, he adds. The new Goodyear Assurance tire with ArmorGrip TechnologyTM is designed to enhance drivers’ confidence when handling vehicles in wet, dry and even hazardous road conditions. “Goodyear consistently invests in research to better understand consumers’ driving needs,” said DP Singh, Regional Marketing Director for Consumer Tires. “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,” he said. “Understanding these primary needs is what inspired us to develop Goodyear Assurance with TechnologyTM. This new tire model is designed to meet and exceed the safety demands consumers have for their tires,” added Singh. The new Goodyear Assurance tire employs Goodyear’s latest revolutionary innovation, the patented ArmorGrip TechnologyTM for superior grip and durability. The “Grip” in ArmorGrip TechnologyTM 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 3-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. “As the only contact point drivers have with the road, tires are by default, the most essential component for vehicle control and safe driving. Under normal driving situations, the tire surface that connects with the road is roughly a little more than the size of your palm. Add wet conditions into the equation and that contact area can shrink to the size of your thumb. Having a tire with excellent wet traction becomes even more crucial,” Singh added.The “Armor” in ArmoGrip TechnologyTM 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 strong 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. “Quite often do we encounter unexpected road hazards like rocks and potholes”, said DP Singh, Regional Marketing Director for Consumer Tires, Asia Pacific region. “Adding Dupont Kevlar to a passenger tire is revolutionary and new Goodyear Assurance has the edge over the competition with added protection against these road hazards”, Singh adds. “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. New Goodyear Assurance with ArmoGrip TechnologyTM is available in the following sizes: 175/65R14, 185/60R14, 185/65R14, 185/70R14, 185/55R15, 185/60R15, 195/50R15, 195/55R15, 195/60R15, and 195/65R15 For further inquiries please contact: Panupong Attaprapas Adverising and PR Manager Goodyear (Thailand) Public Company Limited Tel: (66-2) 264-2700-8 Ext. 212 Email: [email protected] Juraikarn Trakulvech Account Director Weber Shandwick ,Thailand Tel: (66-2) 343 6000 Ext 173 E-mail: [email protected]