Another Award Underscores the Innovation of Goodyear's Assurance Featuring TripleTred Technology

AKRON, Ohio, July 21 -- Already honored with several awards, Goodyear's popular "any condition" tire, Assurance featuring TripleTred Technology, is the subject of another accolade -- recognition as "one of the most innovative ideas of the year" from R&D Magazine.

The magazine staff has selected the Goodyear Assurance tire as recipient of an "R&D 100 Award," an award program the Chicago Tribune has referred to as "the Oscars of Invention."

The editors of R&D refer to the awards this way: "Antilock brakes, ATMs, the liquid crystal display, fax machines, HDTV -- all are former R&D 100 Award winners. The winning of an R&D 100 Award provides a mark of excellence known to industry, government and academia, as proof that the product is one of the most innovative ideas of the year."

R&D Magazine focuses on editorial content that delivers details on emerging technologies, trends, technical analysis, case studies and essential product information. The New Jersey-based publication has a circulation of more than 100,000.

The 43rd annual awards summary will appear in the magazine's September issue, with an awards presentation scheduled for October in Chicago.

Goodyear's Assurance featuring TripleTred Technology was the only tire included in the new group of R&D 100 products, and the first tire honored in the contest in 35 years. The award acknowledges the research and design work by Goodyear and Sandia National Labs in the development of the Assurance tire.

The tire was designed to be visually arresting, and its eye-catching sinuous and sculpted directional tread pattern is as attractive as it is functional. The aggressive appearance also helps retailers explain the tire's benefits and technology to consumers.

The tire incorporates three unique tread zones for superior traction in any kind of weather. A unique Water Zone consists of deeply carved Aquachutes, which propel water away from the tire's tread to assure more tire contact with the road when the surface is rain-drenched. An interlocking tread pattern creates an Ice Zone, which translates into more gripping power on icy or snow-covered roads. A Dry Zone rounds out the three tread element areas, enhanced by reinforced tire shoulders for confident maneuvering around curves, potholes and unexpected road debris on dry pavement.

Assurance featuring TripleTred Technology also incorporates scientific advances in rubber compounding, including the use of Fiberglass fibers and volcanic sand in the tire's winter formulated compound, which allows the tire to maintain flexibility in cold weather.

The extremely popular tire is one of Goodyear's most-awarded products ever, including a Business Week Industrial Design Excellence Award, recent recognition from Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines, and selection as a finalist for the Automotive News PACE Award. The critical praise has translated into tremendous commercial success, as the Assurance line is the most successful new product launch in Goodyear's history.

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.

More information about Assurance can be found at http://www.goodyearassurance.com/. For more information about Goodyear's broad selection of tires for cars, light trucks, SUVs, and more, visit http://www.goodyeartires.com/.