Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says it has sold five million Assurance tires since the line was introduced two years ago. The Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker also reports that in 2005, it sold three times as many Fortera SUV tires as it did in 2004.
Assurance and Fortera sales prove that Goodyear's strategy of developing signature technologies for new tires is paying off, according to Goodyear officials. (Goodyear sells the Assurance with its proprietary TripleTred and ComforTred technologies. Last September, Goodyear married its TripleTred Technology to the Fortera line, which was rolled out containing the company's SilentArmor Technology.)
"Introducing new products with features that customers understand and are willing to pay for is critical," says Jon Rich, president of Goodyear's North American Tire unit. "We've proven we can deliver innovative products that sell."
Two weeks ago at its annual dealer meeting, Goodyear unveiled the latest product in its Eagle high performance line, the Eagle with ResponsEdge Technology. The tire contains a carbon fiber-reinforced sidewall.
