"New Products, Innovation Key to Top Line Growth": Goodyear Dunlop at Geneva

Goodyear Dunlop has spent the last week showcasing four concept and prototype tyres featuring innovations for future use on earth and in outer space in addition to its five latest tyres for European motorists. The company said that over the course of the Geneva Motor Show (which closes on Sunday) it has welcomed “thousands of visitors” to its stand, unveiling new technology from the both Goodyear and Dunlop brands. European president, Arthur de Bok suggested that the innovations on show “demonstrated our capability to deliver relevant technology to our customers.”

“As a company, we lead the industry with forward-looking tyre technologies that contribute to greater road safety and reduce the impact on the environment,” de Bok continued. “New products and innovation are key platforms for driving top line growth in 2010 and beyond.”

Two of the company’s technologies come together in a very low rolling resistance version of the Goodyear EfficientGrip, specially developed to fulfil the distinctive requirements of future electric vehicles. This prototype tyre combines energy efficiency, low noise levels and improved wet braking performance with Goodyear’s latest generation of RunOnFlat Technology.

A Dunlop concept tyre with a design by Pininfarina was shown on two-seat concept car from the Italian design firm. The aerodynamic shape of the tyre reduces fuel consumption by cutting air drag by about 4 percent. 

Already honoured as the Environmental Achievement of the Year by the Tyre Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, Goodyear’s concept tyre made with “Biolsoprene technology” made its auto show debut in Geneva. The tyre, which is the result of collaboration between Goodyear and Genecor, features a bio-based alternative to a petroleum-based material used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber. 

Visitors also saw the airless “spring tyre” developed by Goodyear and NASA for use in outer space. The “spring tyre” features 800 load bearing springs and is designed to carry heavy vehicles over long distances. 

Next Generation RunOnFlat Tyre 

Taking centre stage among the company’s new products was the introduction of the latest generation of the company’s popular RunOnFlat tyre technology, which offers numerous benefits to automakers, consumers and the environment. 

Compared to previous generations, the newest RunOnFlat tyre  reportedly has reduced mass and rolling resistance, which lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The tyre also offers, according to the manufacturer, comfort levels comparable to standard tyres. In independent testing, the latest generation Goodyear RunOnFlat tyre delivered a four per cent shorter breaking distance on wet roads and 13 per cent lower rolling resistance levels when compared to a standard tyre. The company sold more than two million RunOnFlat tyres in 2009.  

New tyres launched at the show also included: the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ winter tyre with ActiveGrip Technology; the Dunlop SP StreetResponse tyre with Touch Technology; and the Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx ultra-high performance SUV tyre.