Newest High-Performance Dodge Gets Goodyear Rubber

AKRON, Ohio, June 2 -- One of the hottest cars on the market is getting a new beefed-up model added to its line-up, and the high- performance rubber that will transfer the power to the street comes from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

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That is the word from DaimlerChrysler, with the announcement of the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8, expected to be available late this summer. The SRT8 version will be fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires.

For performance, the Magnum SRT8 will have a 425-horsepower, 6.1-liter HEMI engine, but the utility nature of the vehicle hasn't been forgotten. It boasts 71.6 square feet of cargo space in the rear.

The car is aimed at all-around performance with SRT-tuned dampers, specially tailored spring rates and suspension bushings, and large-diameter anti-sway bars.

With all of this performance handling built into the Magnum SRT8, grip on the road is a key factor. A new wheel and tire assembly consists of 20-inch forged aluminum wheels shod with the high-performance Goodyear tires in a P245/45R20 size in front and a P255/45R20 in the rear.

Mike Parnell, Goodyear's vice president for OE tires, said the Eagle F1 Supercar tires feature an asymmetric tread pattern that enables high cornering capabilities, with large tread blocks on the outside shoulder for optimized forward and lateral grip, along with responsive steering and an aggressive appearance.

A unique racing-derived compound provides ultra-performance dry handling and traction. The tread design features four circumferential grooves, including variable tapered grooves on the outboard side of the tread.

"Being selected to supply the highest-performance tires for the highest- performance vehicles -- those which represent the top-end image of brands -- continues to be a proud honor for Goodyear. Our position on the Dodge Magnum SRT8 joins our fitments on Chrysler vehicles like the 300C, Ram truck, Jeep models and others," said Parnell.

Goodyear tires are original equipment on many vehicles from Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan and Toyota. Traditionally, more new vehicles in North America are equipped with Goodyear tires than any other brand.

For more information about Goodyear's broad selection of tires for cars, light trucks, SUVs, and more, CLICKHERE.