Friday, April 11, 2008 Tire maker to launch latest product in RP soon
GOODYEAR, one of the world’s largest tire companies, is set to introduce to the market its latest product designed to satisfy the safety and reliability demands of mid-size passenger car owners.
Aptly called Assurance because of its features that offer superior grip in wet or dry road conditions, this new product is scheduled to be out in the market on April 15.
Richard Fleming, managing director of Goodyear Asean and Thailand, said the company came up with the Assurance as part of its commitment to produce “greater, safer products that revolve around safety and meet key consumer needs.”
Fleming led other Goodyear executives to introduce the Assurance during the regional product launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last March 31.
In a brief presentation, Fleming said the Assurance is their latest addition to Goodyear’s portfolio tires that are designed for mid-size passenger cars, which make up 30 percent of the total tire market.
About 24 million units are produced for Asia, with the Philippines getting about 400,000 units, making the region the fastest growing in terms of tire sales.
The Assurance is designed using ArmorGrip Technology that allows tires to have greater grip capabilities and better resistance, features that are deemed necessary to ensure better driving on both wet and dry roads.
DP Singh, regional marketing director for consumer tires, said the Assurance also uses DuPont Kevlar, a material five times stronger than steel designed to provide added protection to the tire.
It also has a Durawall compound in its sidewalls for added resistance to cut and tear and to curb impact against road hazards.
“There’s just too much technology for us to take in,” Singh said.
Buying Assurance tires also comes with a Risk Free Trial, allowing consumers to exchange their tires if they are not 100 percent satisfied with the performance.
Aside from the formal launching, delegates, which included about 300 media practitioners from the Asean region, also witnessed how Assurance fared compared to its leading competitor.
Test drives using Assurance tires were conducted on the Seri Wawasan bridge in Putrajaya and at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, both in Malaysia. (RCT)
