Goodyear Run-Flat Tires Pace Le Mans 24-Hour Race

9 June 1999
Goodyear Run-Flat Tires Pace Le Mans 24-Hour Race
    LE MANS, France, June 8 -- Goodyear Eagle run-flat tires are
protecting more than soccer moms and children from flat tires and the danger
of being stranded along the highway.  The tires on the Chevrolet Corvette are
pacing another race, this time the 67th running of the Le Mans 24-Hour on June
12 and 13.
    For the third time, a car with run-flat tires and no spare tire in the
trunk will pace the field.  The 1999 Corvette is the Official Pace Car for the
legendary endurance race, and Goodyear Eagle F1 GS EMT run-flat tires will
lead an international field of sports cars.
    The run-flat tires also were featured on a Corvette pace car at this
year's Rolex 24-hour endurance race at Daytona International Raceway and at
last year's Indianapolis 500 race.
    "We're proud to say with certainty that of all the cars entered in the Le
Mans 24-Hour race, only the Corvette pace car can run without concern of a
flat tire.  Being on a pace car is one of the biggest honors in the automotive
industry," according to Bryan Kinnamon, vice president of original equipment
tires for North America.
    "This year, we're racing flat out with our run-flat tires.  By sharing the
spotlight with Corvette, our tires gain exposure in a prestigious global
event.  It really is a badge of honor," Kinnamon said.
    Goodyear has a long tradition in pacing races around the world.  The
company's tires have been on every Indy 500 pace car since 1974.  Only
recently, its run-flat tires have gotten notice, however, he said.
    The company's run-flat tires debuted as an option on the 1994 Corvette; in
1997, they were selected as standard equipment on the totally redesigned C5
Corvette.  As evidence of Chevrolet's confidence in the tire, auto stylists
removed the spare tire and tire-changing equipment from the trunk, Kinnamon
said.
    Goodyear's Eagle F1 GS EMT run-flat tire, capable of up to 200 miles at 55
mph with no air, is available in sizes P245/45ZR17 (front) and P275/40ZR18
(rear) for the Corvette.
    The run-flat tire also saw duty recently at the 83rd Indianapolis 500 on a
2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo pace car driven by Jay Leno, host of NBC's The
Tonight Show.  Monte Carlo SS is fitted with Eagle RS-A high-performance tires
as standard equipment.
    At the Le Mans race, the only modifications made to the production
Corvette for pace car duties include custom wheels and exhaust system, a
unique paint scheme and roof-mounted safety lights.  The pace car uses
standard equipment Eagle F1 GS EMT run-flat tires.