Goodyear DuraTrac Helps Pick-Up Owners Work & Play Hard

Goodyear’s North American truck tyre line-up has received a boost with the introduction of the Wrangler DuraTrac, a tyre the manufacturer says comes with new features that make it ideal for a broad range of work applications, from construction and farming to landscaping and mining. And just to prove the new tyre is not just all work and no play, Goodyear adds that it also delivers the performance pickup truck owners are looking for when they clock out and hit the trails to partake in wholesome all-American recreational activities such as camping, fishing and hunting.

There are more than 115 million registered light trucks on the road in the United States, with many serving as both work tool and recreational accessory. Goodyear comments that in today’s challenging economic environment, American truck owners are increasingly looking for their vehicles to serve double-duty; taking them from hauling a heavy load to a construction site to heading off for a weekend of good ol’ boy outdoor leisure.

“American truck owners are looking for more out of their pick-ups these days and expect them to perform well in both work and recreational applications,” said Melissa Montisano, Goodyear general marketing manager for light-truck and SUV tyres. “Thanks to its many innovative features, the new Wrangler DuraTrac delivers to truck owners exactly what they need – a hard-working, attractively priced tyre that is tough enough for the off-road job site, but still offers a good ride on the road.”

The new Wrangler DuraTrac is packed with features to pep up performance. Goodyear’s proprietary TractiveGroove Technology provides the Wrangler DuraTrac with enhanced traction in deep mud and snow, says Goodyear, while the new tyre’s combination of highly angled centre tread blocks and zigzag microgrooves are designed to offer enhanced lateral stability and traction in rain and snow, all while reducing road noise. In fact, Wrangler DuraTrac tyres have earned the right to bear the European Commission Noise Symbol right on the sidewall, which indicates they meet the stringent European standards for pass-by noise. And this is not the new tyre’s sole sidewall symbol bragging right: Self-cleaning, stepped shoulder blocks and thousands of biting edges help give the Wrangler DuraTrac snow traction worthy of the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Mountain Snowflake Symbol, a designation for outstanding winter traction. The tyre is also studdable for use in harsher conditions.

And while pick-up trucks may represent the zenith of motoring machismo, drivers don’t mind their tyres staying pretty. “Because truck owners are proud of their vehicles and want to protect their investment, the new Wrangler DuraTrac features rugged styling and offers a built-in rim protector to help protect expensive wheels from accidental curb damage,” added Montisano.

To further enhance the toughness and longevity of the tyre, the new DuraTrac features a tread rubber that helps resist tread block chipping, chunking and tearing, especially during heavy loading and towing applications. The Wrangler DuraTrac also features a rim lock that helps prevent wheel slip for minimal balancing throughout the life of the tyre.

The Wrangler DuraTrac comes in a range of sizes to fit the most popular ‘working trucks’ on North American roads, a total 26 popular fitments covering 89 per cent of this target segment including all of the best-selling light- and full-size trucks today in 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton and one-ton applications. Goodyear believes that the tyre’s mix of on- and off-road traction enables the new Wrangler DuraTrac to offer the perfect complement to the brand’s existing line-up, which includes the more heavy duty off-road traction of the Wrangler MT/R and the combination of toughness and quiet ride provided by the Wrangler SilentArmor.