Goodyear Reminds Consumers of Kevlar’s Strong Points

Goodyear has been using high-strength Kevlar in its products for some years now, and recently the company highlighted the advances made using the fibres developed by the scientists at DuPont. The US based tyre major points out that tyre reinforcement was the initial application for Kevlar more than 40 years ago, and today the product is used across the company’s range. The material property advantages of Kevlar are extensively used in developing products that address the issues of ride and comfort, handling, thermal and flame resistance, reduced tyre weight and road noise.

“DuPont has been working with Goodyear for years to help develop tyres that are high-performing,” said Thomas G. Powell, vice president and general manager, DuPont Protection Technologies. “For more than 40 years, DuPont Kevlar has been recognised worldwide for its proven performance in a wide variety of safety and high performance applications, including automotive and tyres; body armour and protective apparel; aerospace and airplane components; and energy solutions. We continue to focus on reinventing our offering with new technologies that make a difference in everyday life.”

“In recent years, we have been using components such as DuPont Kevlar to develop tyres that provide relevant benefits to consumers,” added Jon Bellissimo, Goodyear’s North American director of consumer tyre technology. “In our extreme off-road tyres, the reinforced sidewalls with Kevlar help increase sidewall puncture resistance. I believe the Kevlar name also strikes a responsive chord among off-road enthusiasts because of the inferred toughness and the tyre’s ability to manoeuvre on and in many different surfaces.”

In 2005, Goodyear introduced its ‘SilentArmor’ technology to the company’s Wrangler and Fortera tyre lines. This technology features a layer of Kevlar under the tread to deliver toughness and a smooth and quiet ride. In 2006, Goodyear introduced the Eagle with ‘ResponsEdge Technology’, which has a Kevlar sound and shock-absorbing “InsuLayer”.

Amongst recent Goodyear products to include Kevlar technology is the Wrangler MT/R, the first off-road tyre in the US to utilise the substance for enhanced sidewall puncture resistance. The Kevlar reinforced sidewalls have approximately 35 per cent greater puncture resistance compared with the original Wrangler MT/R.

In Europe, Goodyear subsidiary Dunlop, working with designer Pininfarina, has unveiled concept tyre technology employing Kevlar to replace traditional steel components within a tyre, saving some 20 per cent in weight. “Such an enormous weight reduction would lead to significant lower levels of rolling resistance and fuel consumption,” said Bernd Löwenhaupt, Consumer Tire Technology director at Dunlop in Germany.

A third recent Goodyear family product to draw on the benefits of Kevlar is the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT, featuring lower sidewalls reinforced with the product. “The SP Sport Maxx TT helps deliver great road feel, which is important for those who really love to drive. The timely feedback from these tires allows the driver to react to turns and contours in the road,” said Razvan Bosomoiu, Dunlop Tires US general manager. The SP Sport Maxx TT is available for North American consumers in 35 initial sizes, ranging from 16-22-inch rim diameters, and also is being launched this summer in Europe.