---

Goodyear's Aquatred 3 Tire Remains Departure from Norm

29 November 2000

Goodyear's Aquatred 3 Tire Remains Departure from Norm

    AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 29 Although Goodyear's new Aquatred 3
all-season tire may appear to be dramatically different from its Aquatred
predecessors, first impressions can be deceiving.
    In fact, the new tire is more like the original Aquatred and Aquatred II
than its appearance might suggest.
    The new Aquatred 3 "look" still relies on Goodyear's famous aquachannel
technology for driving on rain-slick roads, but this time, company engineers
chose to replace the single Aquatred II deep groove, which made the tire
appear as twin motorcycle tires.
    "In this case, the single aquachannel was replaced with two aquachannels,
because two really is better than one," according to Mark Cherveny, product
manager for the company's passenger-car tires.  "Although Aquatred 3 provides
an 8 percent improvement in wet braking distance and the capability to
displace 18 percent more water than Aquatred II, the tire's traction on dry
pavement is 6 percent better than its predecessor.
    "We didn't want Aquatred 3 to be a sequel to Aquatred II; we wanted more
than a 'rain' tire," Cherveny said.  "We wanted a family-car tire that
possessed high-performance tire characteristics."
    Whereas the original deep center groove on the Aquatred tire was dramatic
and revolutionary upon its introduction in 1991, the dual aquachannels and
wide tread profile on the Aquatred 3 "provide a 21st Century appearance," he
said.
    A 10 percent wider tread footprint on the pavement than its predecessor
delivers long treadlife, a quiet ride and excellent dry and wet traction.
    The new "look" also has played well with retailers, Cherveny said.  "The
high-performance tire appearance helps retailers to differentiate Aquatred 3
from Aquatred II.  Consumers can see the difference, and that's good.
    "Retailer feedback has been excellent with orders exceeding budget
expectations monthly," he added.
    Consumers loyal to Aquatred tires receive more value for their tire
investment, namely touring tire performance and an 80,000-mile treadlife
limited warranty, up from Aquatred II's 65,000 miles, Cherveny said.  Nearly
65 percent of Aquatred owners replace their worn tires with new Aquatreds
(industry average is about 40 percent).
    The tire is available in 18 popular family-car sizes.