By Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MENTION Kevlar and the bullet-proof vest immediately comes to mind. However, these days, Kevlar has found its way into the mainstream that almost all products that need to be light, strong and durable have this high-tech material.
And a tire lined with Kevlar is no exception. Just a few weeks ago, tire and rubber giant Goodyear launched in Kuala Lumpur its newest line of premium passenger tires under the Assurance brand.
Featuring a patented ArmorGrip technology, Goodyear expects that its Assurance line will enable the company to dominate the Asia-Pacific region’s mid-size tire market for passenger cars that now stands at over 24 million pieces annually.
“With the technology offered by our Assurance line of tires, we expect to dominate the market that currently demands 24 million tires a year,” announced Richard Fleming, Goodyear Asia Pacific managing director for Asean and Thailand.
New Goodyear Assurance with ArmoGrip Technology is available in 14 and 15 inches (and in various configurations) here in the Philippines.
This is not the first time Goodyear utilized Kevlar in its tires. A few years ago, the company introduced tires built with a layer of Kevlar (sold under the Wrangler and Fortera brand names) and targeted these products to owners of sport utility vehicles and light trucks.
“This time, with the Assurance line of tires, we will be able to let safety-conscious drivers who own small to mid-size passenger cars to enjoy the benefits of ArmorGrip technology,” said DP Singh, Goodyear Asia-Pacific regional marketing director for consumer tires.
The “armor” in ArmorGrip comes from the Kevlar overlay in the tire’s ply. Five times stronger than steel, the layer of Kevlar provides the Assurance tires better resistance against unexpected road hazards like sharp rocks and potholes.
“These tires won’t stop bullets or prevent punctures. But with the Kevlar overlay, an Assurance tire is more resistant to punctures, stronger, more comfortable and tougher than its competitors,” Singh assured.
In addition, the Assurance features a silica-reinforced Durawall compound in the sidewall for increased resistance to cuts and tears.
The “grip” part, on the other hand, comes from the several technologies incorporated in the Assurance tire.One of these is Goodyear’s new generation three-dimensional blade system, called the Waffle Blade System, which is an evolution from the company’s previous Bubble Blade System.
“The Waffle Blade System provides improved lateral interlocking power and maximized circumferential decoupling that allows for shorter wet braking distances, without compromising handling performance,” Fleming explained.
The Assurance also features an advanced silica-based tread compound that increases the tire’s grip ability.“The new Goodyear Assurance tire with ArmorGrip technology will definitely enhance any drivers’ confidence whenever he or she encounters a wet, dry or even hazardous road conditions,” assured Jenner Powell, Goodyear Asia-Pacific commercialization director.
Singh added that since tires are the only contact points a driver has with the road, they are by default the most essential component for vehicle control and safe driving.
“Under normal driving situations, the tire surface that connects with the road is roughly a little more than the size of your palm. Add wet conditions into the equation and that contact area can shrink to the size of your thumb. Having a tire with excellent wet traction becomes even more crucial,” he said.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I couldnt find a direct link to email you, is this the Chuck Buban I remember from my old auto parts days in the 70s/80s?
April 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
a breakthrough product of Goodyear but as a user of Goodyear’s Wrangler tires before, using it for almost 2 years, these tires had resulted to bulges on the the tiregrip surface. Another thing is Goodyear tires are one of the most expensive in the tire market, pricey than other world-class tire brands.