Outstanding performance in nine important European winter tire tests should solidly position Goodyear and Dunlop tires as the top choices for consumers when the snow starts to fall in Europe, according to the company.
The results of these independent tests are generally seen as important factors in European motorists’ winter tire buying decisions. Winter tires account for about 30 percent of total European consumer replacement tires. The use of winter tires is required by law in several European countries, including Austria, Sweden, Finland and the Baltics. In other countries, such as Germany and Norway, winter tires are a must when motorists decide to drive in wintry conditions.
Independent tests by the ADAC, a leading German automobile club, and the respected auto magazines AutoBild, Stitung Warentest and Auto Motor und Sport, awarded the Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip 7+, the Dunlop SP Winter Response and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D high praise for their performance.
Tests by Test World, the leading testing organization based in Finland, and Swedish motoring magazine Motorforaren also won praise for Goodyear’s Ultra Grip Extreme tire and the Ice Navi ZEA respectively.
“The test results are extremely encouraging,” says Arthur de Bok, president of Goodyear’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region. “Even in a soft economy and market, we believe European motorists will read the results of these tests and choose ‘peace of mind’ when it comes to operating their vehicles in winter conditions. The outstanding performance ratings from these respected independent sources should provide us strong sales traction in Europe.”
While there are differences in the company’s regional product line-ups, including the names of the tires, the advanced technology that contributed to the winning European test results inspires North American winter tire offerings available for tire buyers.
In North America, Goodyear’s winter tire offerings include: Ultra Grip, Ultra Grip Ice, Ultra Grip Performance, Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 and the Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 EMT run-flat tire.
The same Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D tire that won top honors in the European tests is available in North America, as are the SP Winter Sport M2, SP Winter Sport M3, Graspic DS-2 and the Grandtrek WT M2.
The ADAC compared 20 winter tires under a variety of winter road conditions. The Ultra Grip 7+, in size 195 65R15T, secured first place along with the coveted designation of “highly recommended.” The Dunlop SP Winter Response also earned the highly recommended rating.
The ADAC also tested 17 winter and two all-season tires under a variety of wet, icy and dry road conditions. Once again, the Ultra Grip 7+ was designated as highly recommended, as was the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D. Both tires were cited in particular for their “balance” and their “low rate of wear.”
AutoBild magazine tested both winter and all-season tires. In the winter tire test, it selected the SP Winter Sport 3D as the top performer and designated its performance as “exemplary.” In the same test, the Ultra Grip Performance 2 also earned the magazine’s exemplary rating. In all-season tire tests, the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons beat out seven other tires to claim the top-performance spot.
Tire testers at Auto Motor und Sport magazine evaluated 10 tires, awarding the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D its top rating of “highly recommended.” The magazine cited “very good handling, good traction and quick braking in snow.”
Stiftung Warentest published the results of joint tests of 40 winter tires conducted by the ADAC and other highly respected European automobile clubs. The UltraGrip 7+ was named the winner. The Vector 4 Seasons was selected as the best all-season tire.
In Motorforaren's October issue, Goodyear scored the highest ranking with the Ice Navi Zea. Apart from being the overall test winner, the Ice Navi was the fastest non-studded tire on an ice handling track and only 0.4 seconds behind a studded tire.
The Test World organization is well respected for its tests in the Nordics/Baltics region which often suffers harsh winter conditions. The Goodyear Ultra Grip Extreme provided the shortest braking distance on ice. For consumers in this region, braking on ice is a major concern in winter.
For more information, visit www.goodyear.com.
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Yokohama is also sponsoring the Scion party on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 10 p.m.-4 a.m., Prive Nightclub at Planet Hollywood.
For more information, visit www.yokohamatire.com.
