Goodyear South Africa to Supply OE for New Hummer

Right hand drive versions of GM’s Hummer H3, including those destined for the UK market, will be exclusively shod with products from the Goodyear stable. The right hand drive H3 is scheduled to enter production at GM’s Port Elizabeth, South Africa facility in mid-April, and all vehicles will be fitted with locally produced Goodyear Wrangler tyres. Production of left hand drive export models began last year.

The tyre fitted to the H3 is also currently manufactured by Goodyear North America for US built Hummers. According to Goodyear equipment national manager Norman Newcombe, Goodyear’s factory in Uitenhage, South Africa is one of only two facilities in the world manufacturing this particular tyre – the P256/R16 Wrangler RT/S. Mr. Newcombe added he was “thrilled” that the Uitenhage factory had been chosen to supply the H3.

“The decision is a vote of confidence in Goodyear SA‘s capabilities and facilities,” Newcombe said. He added that because production of this sort of tyre was new to the plant, significant investment had gone into production equipment and staff training.