This Is A Stretch But What The Heck: Goodyear Says Check Tires Now for an El Nino Rainy Day

AKRON, Ohio, April 22 -- Although the full effects of a developing El Nino weather event might not be known until midsummer, Goodyear is prepared for the dramatic climatic changes that affect travel.

Goodyear says it's focusing on its Aquatred 3 and new Fortera tire lines to handle the predicted increased rainfall in areas of the country most impacted by El Nino. Bob Toth, marketing manager for auto tires, said Goodyear's reputation for wet traction that started with the original Aquatred introduction in 1991 will be a competitive advantage this summer.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the weather pattern still is forming, and its level of intensity won't be known until it's fully developed. The first symptom is an unusual warming of the central Pacific Ocean. NOAA researchers said last month, ocean surface temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees (F) warmer near the coasts of Ecuador and northern Peru.

Toth said Aquatred 3 was originally marketed for rainfall increases in northern U.S. states and southern Canada. The tire's dual aquachannels deliver greater water-evacuating capacity than its predecessors -- due in part to the 7.6 percent greater aquachannel groove volume. The company's new Fortera HL highway-luxury SUV tire also features a hybrid Aquatred compound for improved wet handling and stopping.

Toth said other Goodyear tires featuring aquachannel technology include Eagle F1 GS and Eagle F1 GS EMT.

Motorists should keep abreast of El Nino announcements, Toth added. NOAA maps showing El Nino predictions now raise more questions than answers. Among the possible effects:

* Above average rainfall in the Gulf Coast states; drier than normal in the Southwest * More "nor'easter" storms striking the Northeast in the winter * Fewer Atlantic hurricanes in the summer and fall * In a strong El Nino, increased rainfall and storms in California

Adding to El Nino's woes, another NOAA study has shown that most of North America's rainfall is concentrated in heavy downpours between September and November. In the United States, rainfall amounts have increased by 5 percent in the last century. Along the northern tier states and in southern Canada, precipitation figures skyrocketed by 10 to 15 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

To handle more puddles on the roadway, motorists may want to consider a tire with added wet-traction capabilities. At the very least, Toth said, ensure that tires have sufficient tread to handle increased rainfall.

Aquatred 3 would make an excellent choice, since it uses a ``Touring'' tread compound that earns a ``AA'' wet-traction rating, under U.S. Uniform Tire Quality Grading standards -- Goodyear's first broad market tire to do so. For areas that are drier than normal, don't fret, Toth says. Aquatred 3's dry traction is improved by 6 percent, compared to Aquatred II.

For the record, El Ninos can last 12 to 18 months and occur about every four to five years.