Goodyear DuraSeal Technology Gains Two Product Awards

AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 8, 2005 -- Goodyear's award-winning DuraSeal commercial tire technology has received two more awards - an MVP and a Fifty Nifty.

Newport's Heavy Duty Trucking magazine selected the revolutionary technology for its Nifty Fifty award, one of 50 new products selected on its "usefulness to the truck operator in terms of innovation, serviceability and performance." Sister publication RoadStar named DuraSeal technology as a Most Valuable Product for its "ability to make driver's life safer, more comfortable or more convenient."

Donn Kramer, director of commercial tire marketing for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company , said the company's innovations are focused on truck drivers as well as lowering a trucking fleet's tire cost per mile.

"It's exciting that the trucking media and fleets understand the value in DuraSeal technology. The feedback from fleet managers has been gratifying, and we plan to leverage the technology into more sizes and applications this year," Kramer said.

Goodyear announced in January that it had developed a revolutionary commercial tire technology that seals tire punctures when they occur, greatly reducing vehicle downtime and service calls.

The new technology uses a gel-like, solvent-free compound built into the inner liner of the tire. It is designed to consistently and instantly seal punctures up to 1/4-inch in the tread area. No other tire manufacturer offers tires with built-in sealant.

DuraSeal will be featured in December editions of Heavy Duty Trucking and RoadStar magazines. Construction Equipment magazine recently selected the technology for its Top 100 Awards.

DuraSeal technology is available in Goodyear's new Unisteel G287 MSA mixed-service tire for the refuse and sanitation industry. New sizes in G287 and G288 MSA mixed-service tires, available early next year, will be used logging, landfill, construction, road building and other severe service applications.

Goodyear commercial tire systems offer complete products and services to the trucking industry, including a full range of original equipment and replacement tires. In addition, the company's cradle-to-grave tire and service network includes retreading, tire management tools and business solutions for tomorrow's trucking fleets.