Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. officially unveiled its Goodyear Eagle GT-HR high performance passenger tire today.
The H-rated Eagle GT-HR replaces both Goodyear's Eagle HP line and 18 sizes of the company's Eagle GT II line.
"The Eagle GT-HR delivers a series of performance improvements versus the previous generation tires, plus it is attractively priced and provides longer tread life," say Goodyear officials.
The tire is being positioned as an entry level product and is the second Eagle tire Goodyear has introduced within the last 12 months.
The Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker unveiled its Goodyear Eagle F1 ultra-high performance tire last September.
The Eagle GT-HR contains Goodyear's Race Wrap construction technology that was originally developed for Goodyear NASCAR tires. "It allows us to create an H-rated tire with no nylon overlay," says Bob Toth, marketing manager for Goodyear high performance tires.
The tire is initially available in 20 sizes ranging from 14 to 17 inches in diameter, with two new sizes under development.
Target vehicles include the Pontiac Grand Prix, Grand Am and Bonneville; the Mercury Cougar; the Ford Focus and Mustang; the Chevy Camaro; and the Chrysler Sebring. "These are bread and butter vehicles," says Toth. "Dealers see these (cars) at their outlets every day."
Goodyear is offering the Eagle GT-HR as a replacement product, "but (it) has potential to go OE."
It will be sold through Goodyear company-owned stores, independent tire dealerships, Sears Auto Centers outlets and National Tire & Battery shops.
