Goodyear introduces UltraGrip 8 winter tyre at Brand Event
Alongside the launch of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 at Goodyear's brand event in Seville was the introduction of the eighth generation of Goodyear's UlraGrip cold weather tyre range. “The confusion surrounding winter tyres must be resolved,” says Gerrit Huysmans of Belgium’s Association of Tyre Manufacturers, FederAuto, a statement that Jean-Pierre Jeusette, Goodyear’s director of tyre technology for consumer tyres in EMEA, agrees: “What the consumer often doesn’t know is that winter tyres are developed using very specific rubber compounds that perform much better at lower temperatures… Add to that the fact that the tread pattern of winter tyres is also optimised for maximum grip as well as water and slush evacuation, and you begin to understand why there is a very real difference in performance.” A search for “winter tyres” on tyrepress.com would suggest that the fierce European winters of the last two years have increased knowledge of speciality cold weather considerably; the latest figures suggest the market volume has risen 20 per cent in that time, with a marked increase in the UK – often considered to have more growth room than any comparable country.
Jeusette sees this winter tyre rise as coinciding with Goodyear’s general safety-conscious branding: “People tend to forget that accidents also cost money – in the best case scenario only damage to the car. We have so many technologies in our cars that help to keep us safe and in control, yet we’re only in control as long as our tyres have grip on the road. Compromising on those four crucial contact points with the road just doesn’t make sense – both in terms of safety and cost.”
Over the past thirty years Goodyear says it has sold more than 50 million UltraGrip tyres and have won more than 60 recommendations and awards in independent tests throughout Europe, leading to the company saying the eighth in the series is “standing on the shoulders of giants”. “The new UltraGrip 8, which has already been independently tested by the German Testing and Certification Organisation TÜV SÜD Automotive, will no doubt collect an impressive array of accolades in tests prior to the coming winter season. Tests show that the tyre delivers excellent grip and stopping distances on snow and ice,” adds Jeusette.
The new tyre is an attempt to yield more grip, shorter braking distances, and improved braking and handling in winter conditions. Performance tests run by TÜV SÜD compared the average performance of two leading competitors in braking distance on wet on low friction asphalt from 80km/h to 20 km/h and on snow from 50km/h to 5 km/h in December 2010. The TÜV report says the tyre achieved 3 per cent better snow and wet performance than the average of its competitors. It achieved 4 per cent shorter braking distance on wet low friction asphalt, 16 per cent more resistance to aquaplaning on curved wet roads, 3 per cent shorter braking distance on snow, and 5 per cent more traction grip on snow.
“4 per cent shorter braking distance on wet roads versus leading competitors in the market translated into metres means 1.6 metres, which is a significant advantage. Being able to stop with your car more than one metre earlier is an enormous safety benefit in an emergency braking situation,” explains Despres.
Goodyear’s patented Three-Dimensional Block Interlocking System (3D-BIS) allows an increased number of sipes in the tyre’s tread. The company argues that it is a case of more sipes, better grip: a high sipe density gives extra grip on ice and snow because sipes provide edges that bite into the snow and ice when they come into contact with the road for stronger grip and traction. The interlocking system is important in providing good handling and braking performance on both wet and dry roads, as this requires the blocks to be stiff and solid. Inside each sipe, the walls have raised pyramids and holes, which lock tightly together, providing the required block stiffness. The tread compound aims to provide increased longevity and fuel efficiency through a functionalised polymer that improves silica bonding, and better grip with a traction resin maintaining rubber elasticity at low temperatures. The tread also features a new “double V-groove” design, which helps to clear water and improve grip in snow. The tyre also has a light-weight carcass structure for better fuel economy than is usually expected from winter products.
“Excellent performance on safety parameters such as handling and braking are key requirements in the development of all Goodyear’s products. As with all our tyres, we subjected the UltraGrip 8 to extensive and stringent performance tests,” says Despres. “We are proud to introduce a new winter tyre that builds further on the long history of the UltraGrip family’s successful track record. Winter is a challenging time for all road users and it’s absolutely important that cars are equipped with highly effective winter tyres that ensure top levels of performance at cold temperatures and in all kinds of winter weather conditions.”
The UltraGrip 8 is available in the following sizes:
155/70R13 75T
165/70R13 79T
165/70R14 81T
165/70R14XL 85T
165/70R14C 89/87R
175/70R13 82T
175/70R14 84T
175/70R14XL 88T
185/70R14 88T
155/65R14 75T
165/65R14 79T
165/65R15 81T
175/65R14 82T
175/65R14XL 86T
175/65R15XL 88T
175/65R14C 90/88T
185/65R14 86T
185/65R15 88T
195/65R15 91T
195/65R15XL 95T
195/65R15 91H
205/65R15 94H
205/65R15 94T
215/65R16 98H
175/60R15 81T
185/60R14 82T
185/60R15 84T
185/60R15XL 88T
195/60R15 88T
195/60R16 89H
195/60R16C 99/97T
205/60R15 91T
205/60R15 91H
205/60R16 92H
205/60R16XL 96H
185/55R15 82T
185/55R16XL 87T
195/55R16 87T
195/55R16 87H
195/55R16 87H ROF
205/55R16 91T
205/55R16 91H
205/55R16XL 94H
Related news:
- Goodyear launches quick-braking Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
- ATS-E pledges winter tyre stock for customer support
- Euromaster: pan-European cold weather tyre demand reaches “all time high”
- Conti reports global growth in winter, OEM sectors
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