Goodyear Press Release: Gatorback Drive Belts Fare Well

07/12/96

GATORBACK BELTS ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO GOODYEAR

   LINCOLN, Neb., July 11 -- Accessory drive belts
normally have few fans in the automotive aftermarket.
    However, a new unique design from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
is not only getting attention, it's quietly attracting new belt business
to replacement product distributors.
    Not bad for the often-ignored rubber belt, said Wayne Manthei,
manager for Goodyear's transportation replacement products here.  Seems
the radically different Gatorback Poly-v belt is changing the way people
look at automotive belts.
    "Distributors have told us that Gatorback is putting sizzle back in
their belt sales, just as Aquatred and Infinitred have in the tire
aftermarket," Manthei said.  "In the past, jobbers and installers have
switched to Goodyear because of improved service.  Now, they're
considering it for an additional reason -- Gatorback.
    "That's an unusual development," Manthei said.  "Let's face it,
historically, belts have not been exciting.  But I think we struck a
responsive chord with distributors, jobbers, installers and consumers.
Gatorback designers developed a unique Poly-v belt that has both quiet
and durable performance under the hood."
    Gatorback, the first belt to feature a helicog pattern similar to
tire treads, has the same texture as the back of an alligator.  Its look
even spawned an advertising campaign that features the big, green
reptile floating quietly, still, in waiting . . . for its next meal.
The headline: "You'll never hear it coming."
    Tim Fowler, a Goodyear salesman in Birmingham, Ala., said most of
his prospects have seen the advertising and that helps.  "But for the
most skeptical, I ask them if they have a vehicle with a squeaky belt
problem; then I give them a Gatorback belt to try.  The result is
immediate changeovers to Goodyear when the noise goes away.  It has
worked almost in every case, Fowler said.
    Dave Dreith, who oversees 70 vehicles for Routt County Road and
Bridge in Steamboat Springs, Colo., said he's convinced.  "The Gatorback
definitely runs quieter.  And that's important, particularly in our
sheriff's vehicles.  They can't have squeaks and squeals under the
hood," Dreith said.
    Gatorback and other Goodyear belts are backed by a limited lifetime
warranty and are available at warehouse distributors, jobbers and
dealers.