Goodyear introducing EV-Ready sidewall logo from 2024

To inform prospective customers that its entire current and upcoming passenger tyre range is “optimised to deliver exceptional performance for electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles,” Goodyear has introduced a new sidewall logo. This Goodyear EV-Ready logo will appear on all replacement tyres from the beginning of 2024.

Goodyear sees two key advantages of rolling out the EV-Ready logo. First, it expects the logo will give drivers greater confidence that they are “selecting the optimal tyres for their vehicle, regardless of its powertrain.” It should also help dealers to streamline their sales processes and reduce inventory complexities, as it will be featured in PriCat and the Goodyear system MyWay to facilitate customer identification.

Goodyear’s suite of tyre technologies

The October 2023-published Global S&P Engine Production Forecast projects that 97 per cent of new vehicles produced in Europe will be at least partially electrified by 2029, with 61 per cent of these being fully electric. This means the majority of new road car launches in Europe are likely to be electric vehicles (EV) within a decade; Goodyear intends to be “at the forefront of such developments.”

To ensure EV drivers experience optimum performance, reduced noise, and extended tyre life, Goodyear has developed a toolkit of technologies designed to complement both this method of propulsion and vehicles with other powertrains.

Among these innovations is SoundComfort Technology, which works to minimise interior noise from tyre/road interaction. Goodyear’s own testing shows that depending on type of vehicle, speed driven and road surface, this technology has the potential to reduce interior noise by up to 50 per cent.

Moreover, the added weight and increased torque of EVs can mean much more tyre wear compared to traditional combustion vehicles. Goodyear says its Mileage Plus Technology offers drivers “the opportunity to maximise the life of their tyres, and travel further with each set.”

Goodyear’s low rolling resistance technologies also contribute to reducing energy consumption and extending driving range. The tyre maker achieves this by optimising the tyre structure in combination with developing innovative compounds and aerodynamically tuning the sidewall design.

Major OE supplier to EVs

Many leading vehicle manufacturers have chosen Goodyear as the original equipment (OE) tyre choice for their recent EV and PHEV launches. As of September 2023, Goodyear reports supplying OE tyres to an estimated 50 per cent of European-made EV models.

In parallel to the EV-Ready logo for replacement tyres, Goodyear also features two labels for OE fitments designed for full electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and will prominently feature these Electric Drive Technology (EDT) and Electric Drive Ready (EDR) labels on the tyres it supplies to OEMs for their EVs and PHEVs.

According to Goodyear, the labels “signify the incorporation of a customised range of technologies to cater for the specific needs of a particular vehicle, such as combination of high load capacity, specific handling and noise performances and other criteria.”

Reaping the rewards of R&D

“Goodyear has a rich history of quality and performance in tyre technology,” adds Laurent Colantonio, senior director technology Consumer Tires EMEA at Goodyear. “As EV and PHEV vehicles place greater emphasis on motoring attributes like noise reduction, comfort, durability, and rolling resistance, we’re proud that we can offer EV-ready tyres across our range, ensuring all drivers can reap the rewards of Goodyear’s decades of research and development in tyre technology. We look forward to seeing our new Goodyear EV-Ready logo on all new replacement tyres from the beginning of 2024.”