Goodyear Ranks Highest in J.D. Power Study of Original Equipment Tires for Pickups and Vans

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 20 -- Goodyear's original equipment tires for pickups and fullsize vans have received the highest customer satisfaction ranking among buyers in the United States, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Original Equipment Tire Satisfaction Study(SM), released today.

"Goodyear has a tradition of excellent tire performance, and this year we are delighted to earn the highest ranking in the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates study," said Larry Mason, president of consumer tires for Goodyear's North American Tire division. "Goodyear is committed to providing products that meet the needs of customers, and it is a confirmation of the hard work by many Goodyear associates and the vehicle manufacturers whom we supply with product."

Goodyear tires are original equipment on many SUVs and light trucks from Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan and Toyota. Traditionally, more new vehicles in North America are equipped with Goodyear tires than any other brand.

"This is further verification that Goodyear is following through on its plan to lead the tire industry in technology and innovation. We have spoken of product leadership and quality as among the core strategies guiding Goodyear's business turnaround, and this achievement is reflective of that focus," said Mason.

Headquartered in Westlake Village, CA, J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. More information can be found at http://www.jdpa.com/ .

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 85,000 people worldwide. Find information about Goodyear at http://www.goodyear.com/ .