Goodyear tightens new tires’ grip

“Think of it as having your cake and eating it, too,” technical project leader Tim Richards said in explaining the philosophy behind the evolving traction grooves. Basically, as the tyre wears, a second set of grooves emerge to help evacuate liquid and thus maintain traction on rain- or snow-slickened roads. As with any tyre, there […]

“Think of it as having your cake and eating it, too,” technical project leader Tim Richards said in explaining the philosophy behind the evolving traction grooves. Basically, as the tyre wears, a second set of grooves emerge to help evacuate liquid and thus maintain traction on rain- or snow-slickened roads.

As with any tyre, there is some loss of traction as the tread wears away, but Goodyear says its evolving groove technology — already on the road in Europe but being used for the first time in North America — not only provides grip but enables the new tire to carry a 70,000- or 80,000-mile warranty depending on the tyres speed rating.

Richards said Goodyear engineers targeted improved wet-road traction for the second-generation Assurance TripleTred, but also reduced rolling resistance to enhance vehicle fuel economy. It would take longer drives to gauge fuel usage, but our laps around the wet and dry test track demonstrated the tyres enhanced grip in both surfaces, especially in the wet and in transitional areas where tyres had carried water onto previously dry pavement.

But throughout the course, the new Goodyear allowed better control — and even higher speeds — with less effort at the steering wheel, crisper turn-in during maneuvers on the dry section of the track, and amazingly better grip in maneuvers through standing water.

The new Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season with its evolving grooves is available in 22 sizes — from 15-18 inches — for passenger cars, minivans and crossover vehicles.