Strength & Comfort the Goal of Goodyear’s Latest Wrangler

New from Goodyear in 2009 is the Wrangler AT/SA, a tyre for 4×4 drivers seeking mobility both on and off the road. The Wrangler AT/SA has been released onto the market following extensive testing on the company’s on and off-road test facilities – tests that Goodyear says show the new tyre to outperform its major competitors and its predecessor in both wet braking and wet handling tests.

Durability on rough surfaces comes courtesy of a generous serving of Kevlar. Two layers of the five-times stronger than steel material are built into the tyre in addition to the its two high-tensile steel belts; the main benefit the layers offer, says Goodyear, is improved resistance to punctures in the tread – however Kevlar layers also act as a sound barrier, absorbing noise for an especially quiet ride. This combination of strength and silence is part of what the manufacturer calls its ‘SilentArmor Technology’, a proprietary innovation first introduced on Goodyear 4×4 some four years ago. Road noise is further reduced and comfort improved, says Goodyear, through the tread block sequence and shifting employed in the Wrangler AT/SA. A third contributor to lower tyre noise on larger sizes in the range is the tyre’s centre-line rib, a feature also designed to improve on-road handling.

The Wrangler, reports Goodyear, delivers excellent performance in wet and slushy conditions – both on and off the road. An open tread design with a high blade density is intended to provide superior aquaplaning resistance, while the open intermediate treads groove, deep shoulder notches and multiple block edges and traction ridges are there to increase mud evacuation for better off-road traction. Goodyear uses its ‘Durawall’ sidewall reinforcement in the Wrangler AT/SA in order to improve the tyre’s resistance to punctures and cuts in the sidewall.

Reduced Lifetime Balancing

The new tyre features an enhanced rim lock and a new anti-slip contour, providing a stronger, more stable bead area and reducing rim slip: These properties, says Goodyear, decrease the need for balancing throughout the life of the tyre. On the road, additional radial and longitudinal biting edges of the high blade density tread provide better grip in the wet. Stiff shoulder elements provide the required tread rigidity for improved on road traction and handling.

Tread & Compound

The new polymer blend of the compound used in the Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA features a green-friendly low aromatic oil content, and the manufacturer reports it also provides excellent wet grip and mileage together with good off-road performance, while the tread’s high cut resistance also helps ensure good off road performance. The open intermediate tread grooves also provide increased mud evacuation for better off-road traction. The open tread design with a high blade density, on the other hand, offers better aquaplaning resistance.

The Wrangler AT/SA is available in a 4-rib design and in a 5-rib design for larger sizes. The Wrangler AT/SA 4-rib is available with 15 and 16-inch rim diameters. The Wrangler AT/SA 5-rib is available with rim diameters ranging from 15 to 17-inches.