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Soccer Moms, Rock Crawlers Unite: Goodyear Pulls Out All Stops

10 March 2000

Soccer Moms, Rock Crawlers Unite: Goodyear Pulls Out All Stops

    PHOENIX, March 9 The company that pioneered the concept of
puncture-resistant tire sidewalls for the off-road enthusiast is pulling out
all the stops to fill orders for the innovative new product.
    Shipments of four Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tire sizes -- 30x9.50R15,
32x11.50R15, 33x12.50R15 and 35x12.50R15 -- have been released to retailers,
with five sizes on the way.
    "It's clear that consumer demand initially will exceed the supply of this
product," said Ron Wells, marketing manager for light-truck tires.  "We've
been inundated with calls and e-mails.  We've never seen anything like this."
    In addition, interest has gone beyond hardcore off-roaders.  "I believe
the aggressive stance of this tire strikes a responsive chord among pickup-
truck and SUV owners.  They want a tire that fills the wheel wells and makes a
statement linked to their vehicle.  We fully expect sales to move beyond the
off-road market.
    "Our retailers seem to be catching on that this is not just an off-road
tire.  Despite promoting the tire at the Goodyear Extreme Rock Crawling
Championship here this weekend, we've found the tire is as attractive to the
'soccer mom' as it is to the weekend enthusiast who goes rock crawling on the
weekends," Wells said.
    Looks are part of the tire's mystique, Wells said.  An aggressive tread
pattern and notched sidewalls convey unbridled traction.  A breakthrough
Durawall tire sidewall construction features a high-tech silica compound,
three polyester plies and tread elements that extend down the sidewall.
    First impressions are vital in the tire industry.  "Everyone who has seen
the tire has gone 'ga-ga' over it.  Performance notwithstanding, people are
attracted to this tire based solely on its raw, brute looks," Wells said.
    Webster's defines "ga-ga" as wildly enthusiastic.