NIKE and BFGoodrich Tires Team With GM for HUMMER H3T Concept

DETROIT, Jan. 5, 2004 -- When HUMMER designers teamed with NIKE(R) to create distinctive new "shoes" for the HUMMER(R) H3T concept vehicle, they turned to BFGoodrich(R) Tires to deliver their vision.

Dubbed the "BFGoodrich ACG T/A(R)", the new 275/70R19 concept tires combine the premier athletic shoe styling of NIKE with the aggressive design and off-road racing experience of BFGoodrich Tires.

The BFGoodrich ACG T/A tires required some innovative approaches and new resources to turn the original designs into actual tires.

* The original designs by HUMMER design staff and NIKE were first translated into BFGoodrich data files for the tire mold design, a critical step in tire production.

* The molded tires left significant tread areas available for separate materials to be added in a later step.

* Grey rubber pieces molded in the NIKE texture pattern were then installed in the main tread blocks.

* Red/orange rubber materials were created and installed to form a series of paddles down the center of the tire.

* The sidewall design features a BFG mark at the top and the NIKE ACG (All Conditions Gear) graphic and logo followed by the brand T/A at the bottom.

The tires showcase an aggressive design featuring multiple colors and tread patterns, patterned after the design elements found in many of NIKE's most popular ACG athletic shoes.

"This is a first for BFGoodrich Tires and NIKE," said Bob Massa, concept project leader for BFGoodrich Tires. "Never before have a tire company and an athletic footwear company teamed up to produce an actual tire. We have enjoyed working together on this project to show people what can be achieved with a little creativity and initiative."

This project represents the first time that NIKE has been involved with the design of a vehicle and tire. A team from NIKE's "Innovation Kitchen," expert designers based in Portland, Oreg., worked side-by-side with engineers and designers from BFGoodrich Tires and GM on the design and production of the tires.

BFGoodrich Tires is known for designing and manufacturing some of the world's most popular and successful off-road tires for use both on the road and the race course. With 18 consecutive wins in the world's most challenging desert race, the Baja 1000, BFGoodrich Tires has proven that it builds its racing success into every off-road tire that it produces.

BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering high-performance tires for every type of vehicle from ultra-high performance tuner vehicles, sports cars and SUVs to the hottest sport trucks, pick-ups and rock-crawling rigs in the world.

For more than 30 years, BFGoodrich has used motorsports as a proving ground. Success on the street begins with winning on the track and BFGoodrich is involved in every type of racing, including oval, road, drag, desert and extreme rock-crawling. With 18 consecutive Baja 1000 wins, the most rock- crawling wins in history and an unmatched record on pavement, BFGoodrich Tires has proven the only records it breaks are its own. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com .