Building on past successes

Since 2017, LIST and Goodyear have worked together to achieve pioneering results in materials research, structure-property relationship understanding, and data science. Their joint efforts have positioned Luxembourg as a hub for disruptive innovation in mobility, particularly in the tire and tire-related technology sectors. 

At last year’s LIST Tech Day, the two entities had sealed the agreement for a second phase of their partnership capitalizing on Goodyear’s and LIST's expertise, infrastructure, and competencies to drive innovation and technology to a new application domain.

Focus on sustainability and digitalization 

The new contract encompasses strategic programmes comprising more than 30 projects. Spanning six years, this new contract places significant emphasis on advancing efforts focused on sustainability and digitalization within the tire industry. In terms of sustainability, the focus will be on tire products developed with bio-based and recyclable materials. As for digitalization, the spotlights will be on data science and its application for accelerating sensor prototyping timeline and efficacy. The partnership will also focus on the development of sensors capable of real-time monitoring of tire wear, aimed at enhancing safety and facilitating maintenance procedures. Additionally, efforts will be dedicated to research and development in energy harvesting and storage for wireless sensors, ensuring their durability and efficiency over time. 

Supported by the Ministry of Economy and the Industrial Partnership Block Grants (IPBG) initiative of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), this second phase of the partnership is expected to kick off by the end of April.

Strategic research programmes 

Data Science for Tire Applications - At the forefront of the digital transition, this programme aims to fit within Goodyear’s “first time right” development objective. Data Program will help Goodyear engineers develop, test and validate tire models early in the development cycle, with the goal of identifying the best performing tires before building a first prototype. 

• Tire Sensor Technology - This programme will help develop materials-based sensing technology to aid Goodyear in embedding sensors for continuous tire monitoring.
• End-of-Life Tires – This programme targets the exploration and potential development of new materials and processing technology to help improve the reuse of end-of-life tires
• Sustainable Materials - Material development programmes are designed to investigate new raw materials that could be used in all kinds of tire architectures
• Structure-Process-Property Relationships - This programme will deliver new tools to better understand complex correlations of characterization results and material performance.

Additionally, LIST and Goodyear have already identified several potential fields of interest for future collaboration.

Damien Lenoble, Director of the materials department at LIST: “The ongoing and strengthened strategic collaboration with a global and multinational company such as Goodyear is a testament to the high quality of research conducted here at LIST. We are honoured and pleased that Goodyear expanded our trusted partnership. Together, we are dedicated to developing tires that are not only better performing and smarter but also more sustainable for both users and the planet. I wish to congratulate all the teams at Goodyear and LIST who have diligently nurtured and developed this research and innovation programme over the past year and beyond.”

Romain Hansen, Vice President, EMEA Product Development at Goodyear: “I am thrilled to see this second phase of the partnership come to life. Working with influential organizations like LIST is essential to Goodyear achieving its commitment to enable mobility today and tomorrow.”

Gatik's autonomous fleet, consisting of Class 3–7 box trucks, has made significant strides in enhancing the safety, accuracy and overall performance of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Equipping the fleet’s Goodyear Endurance® RSA® tires with Goodyear SightLine technology, the company’s comprehensive tire intelligence solution, enables Gatik to advance the safety and overall accuracy of its efficient fleet operations, while also improving delivery uptime and reliability. This year, Gatik plans to implement the intelligent tire solution into a significant portion of its autonomous fleet across the U.S. and Canada.

“Being the vehicle’s only contact point to the road, the tire can play a pivotal role in enabling the vehicle to react like a driver would,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “Gatik is revolutionizing the autonomous technology space, and by providing real-time insights through intelligent tire data, we can support Gatik’s autonomous driving system to become even more safe, reliable and efficient.”

Through extensive on-road testing in a wide variety of challenging real-world driving scenarios, tire intelligence data regarding road conditions and tire health have helped Gatik advance its AV controllers with insights about accurate cornering and braking stiffness, rolling resistance and tire load. This data, which is communicated between Goodyear SightLine technology and Gatik’s autonomous driving system through a real-time feedback loop, has enabled Gatik to yield numerous performance enhancements, including the ability to adapt swiftly and safely to a variety of road conditions, even when the mass or payload of the truck varies by delivery.

"The groundbreaking integration of Goodyear SightLine technology into Gatik's autonomous fleet is a first in the industry. The real-time data derived from intelligent tire technology not only enhances the safety and predictability of our autonomous vehicles, but also enables us to maintain high levels of efficiency, reliability and delivery uptime throughout our operations," said Gautam Narang, Gatik CEO and Co-founder. "Our partnership with Goodyear is another step in advancing Gatik's leadership in autonomous technology, underscoring our commitment to ensuring that the true advantages of B2B middle mile logistics are brought to market."

The companies have partnered to conduct ongoing, rigorous testing at Goodyear’s San Angelo, Texas, Proving Grounds. Through this collaboration, Gatik is able to ensure its autonomous vehicles are tested extensively in a safe, closed course environment for both common and unusual road scenarios, including traffic lights, road signs, evasive maneuvers, tight turns, collision avoidance, precise lane keeping and minimum risk stopping distances.

Goodyear and Gatik have future plans to incorporate Goodyear's advanced predictive road condition monitoring solution into Gatik’s autonomous driving system. This integration will enable Gatik to strategically plan its operations, ensuring a consistent and reliable movement of goods for Gatik’s diverse customer base, encompassing the nation’s largest grocers, retailers, distributors, e-commerce platforms, and CPG companies.

A full  press kit can be downloaded here.

The ABS is an important safety component in modern vehicles designed to help the driver maintain steering control while braking. Through collaborative research and testing on a physical test vehicle, Goodyear and TNO effectively showcased that an improved ABS, equipped with information about the tire type and characteristics such as wear state, can potentially enhance overall system efficiency and reduce braking distance by as much as 5.75 feet¹.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were over 1.7 million rear-end crashes in 2021, accounting for nearly a third of all crashes in the United States². This integration can improve stopping distance performance, which has the potential to help drivers avoid accidents and reduce the severity of collisions, leading to enhanced road safety.

“Our collaborative work with TNO has yielded invaluable insights, with exciting possibilities to deliver greater value to our customers and support the future of mobility,” said Werner Happenhofer, vice president, Tire Intelligence and eMobility solutions, Goodyear. “At Goodyear, we believe that by harnessing the power of tire intelligence, we can contribute to the bold goal of future mobility to reduce accidents.”  

Goodyear and TNO began collaborating in 2021 through joint research and testing initiatives to evaluate and quantify the performance of the ABS controller on a physical car through the integration of intelligent tire information.

"TNO is dedicated to enhancing the safety, efficiency and sustainability of vehicles,” said Machteld de Kroon, managing director, Unit Mobility & Built Environment, TNO. “Our collaboration with Goodyear aims to minimize every centimeter of braking distance. We firmly believe that by improving the integration of tires and braking systems, we can contribute to reducing accidents and ultimately saving lives."

Today, Goodyear SightLine, the company’s suite of tire intelligence technologies, provides line of sight to the conditions of the tire, vehicle and road through advanced algorithms and real-time monitoring. Goodyear’s developments in tire intelligence technologies are poised to transform the future of transportation, ushering in a new era of smart and sustainable mobility. 

Full media pack is available for download on THIS LINK.

Together, the organizations plan to bring a robust tire sensing system to market, combining TDK’s software, sensor and electronic component expertise with Goodyear’s know-how in tire development, intelligent solutions and industry trends.

“As the automotive industry continues to technologically advance, so too does the need for real time intelligence from the road to the tire to the car. This alliance will have the joint benefit of accelerating both technology and customer access to the highest performance sensor technology in the market,” said Jim Tran, General Manager, Americas HQ and Deputy General Manager, Technology & Intellectual Property Center, TDK Corporation. “We look forward to this collaboration with Goodyear, a worldwide market leader in the automotive segment.”

The two industry leaders are in the process of conducting market research and technical exploration for a joint solution that delivers actionable insights improving vehicle performance, safety and efficiency.

“Working with influential organizations like TDK is essential to further innovate in the intelligence space. TDK’s expertise in the sensor and electronics space will be instrumental in maximizing the utility of what a tire can provide,” said Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “We are driving toward a mobility future where vehicles themselves are smarter, safer and more sustainable. Collaborations like this one can play a critical role in achieving these objectives.”

Both TDK and Goodyear will demonstrate their latest technologies and system solutions at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 9-12, 2024, in Las Vegas (TDK - Central Hall (LVCC) Booth 20521, Goodyear – West Hall (LVCC) Booth 4917).

Full media package available for download on THIS LINK.

Collaboration named a CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a global leader in connected mobility, and ZF, a global leader in vehicle systems and industrial technology, announced successful integration of tire intelligence technologies with vehicle motion control software.

The collaboration delivers Goodyear SightLine,* a suite of tire intelligence technologies, into the ZF cubiX®** ecosystem, a scalable vehicle motion control software that coordinates all dimensions of vehicle dynamics. This provides further tire and road data into the chassis system and enables an improved driving experience with better comfort, control and efficiency. 

“Goodyear SightLine will deepen our connection to the road and expand the scope and value of cubiX® by supporting the era of software-defined vehicles,” said Martin Fischer, Member of the Board of Management responsible for the ZF Chassis Solution division. “By joining our ecosystems, our customers will unlock a range of possibilities to customize and optimize their solutions in both vehicle motion and tire intelligence.”

Through research, virtual simulation and real-world testing, Goodyear and ZF have identified the potential of an integrated solution in improving vehicle performance and safety. Reducing the risk of hydroplaning, the Goodyear SightLine solution is capable of detecting partial hydroplaning early and offers recommendations for optimal speed to enhance vehicle control. Moreover, when heightened hydroplaning severity is detected, equipped with tire intelligence data, the cubiX software is designed to instruct the chassis actuators to apply corrective measures, stabilizing the vehicle.

Additionally, the synergy between Goodyear SightLine and cubiX capabilities can provide enhanced vehicle responsiveness, more direct and linear steering, improved turn-in response, increased stability, reduced controller workload and minimized intrusive interventions.

“Tires are the only part of the vehicle that touch the road and by digitizing this connection and equipping vehicle control actuators with critical insights, we can help optimize vehicle performance and safety,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “This collaboration with ZF is a great way to demonstrate what tire intelligence, actionable insights and elite software applications can do for mobility.” 

Showcasing innovative design and engineering features, the integration of cubiX® and SightLine was recently named a CES 2024 Innovation Award Honoree within the vehicle technology and advanced mobility category.

*Goodyear SightLine, the company’s suite of tire intelligence technologies, provides line of sight to the conditions of the tire, vehicle and road. The technology communicates tire state, identification, road friction and other tire characteristics. Goodyear SightLine will continue to provide this integral information to make fleets, vehicles and, in the future, autonomous driving systems safer and more efficient. 

** cubiX®, ZF's first pure software product, coordinates vehicle dynamics as a holistic system. ZF cubiX® can control braking and steering systems, the vehicle’s (semi-) active damping system and further chassis and drive actuators. It offers another decisive advantage: The platform is compatible with various actuators such as dampers, brakes or rear-axle steering – regardless of the manufacturer or the specific design. This gives manufacturers the flexibility to implement different model series with one and the same control platform without additional integration effort. Future updates or upgrades to the software can be carried out "over-the-air" – i.e. wirelessly without a visit to the workshop.

B Roll available for download ON THIS LINK.

The tire's unique features, including a custom sidewall, tread design, and compound, seamlessly complement the striking aesthetics of the Opel Experimental concept, highlighting Goodyear’s dedication to delivering unforgettable design alongside this esteemed OEM.

Goodyear's pioneering expertise successfully integrated the tire sidewall with the Ronal rims featured on the Opel Experimental, achieving aerodynamic efficiency synonymous with Opel's renowned cars. Through meticulous engineering, Goodyear has tailored the tire's capabilities to enhance the vehicle's aerodynamic performance, resulting in great energy efficiency.

Goodyear has incorporated colored flakes into the tire’s compound for this special concept project, aligning with Opel's critically acclaimed Bold and Pure design philosophy. This innovative integration further enhances the uniqueness and distinction of the tire, adding an extra layer of aesthetics.

Laurent Colantonio, Goodyear’s Senior Director Technology Consumer EMEA, enthuses, "The Opel Experimental concept provides the perfect canvas to showcase Goodyear's design capability. This visionary car embodies Opel's commitment to extreme precision and high attention to detail, which resonate strongly with our own values. We are truly honored to have been chosen as partners for this exhilarating venture and to have the opportunity to craft a bespoke tire that perfectly complements this extraordinary concept car."

The Opel Experimental featuring the custom Goodyear tire will be presented to an international audience at the IAA Mobility in Munich (September 5 to 10, 2023).

Goodyear was selected as the manufacturer of choice to produce a bespoke tire for their new concept vehicle, Lancia Pu+Ra HPE.

Lancia Concept is the first vehicle of the new Lancia era, a 100% electric concept car that represents the vision of the brand in terms of design, interior home feeling, sustainability, electrification and technology.

Goodyear developed a unique concept tire for the vehicle which includes a customized tire sidewall design, providing a seamless integration of the vehicle’s rim with the tire, adding to the luxurious and premium look of the concept vehicle.

The tire sidewall provides a very high aerodynamic performance level, enhancing energy efficiency. It also has a specific construction to withstand instant electric car torque.

Laurent Colantonio, Goodyear Senior Director Technology Consumer EMEA said: “This year Goodyear celebrates its 125th anniversary, so this is a fantastic moment to partner with Lancia for the re-birth of their iconic brand, bringing two pioneers of the automotive world back together in a moment of glory.

“We are thrilled to have worked on this concept tire which made us think outside of the box regarding customization, aerodynamics, and design.

“It was essential to marry our technical expertise with Lancia’s so we could produce a seamless tire and rim combination which enhanced energy efficiency while remaining aesthetically pleasing.”

This demonstration tire also tested to have lower rolling resistance when compared to the reference tire, made with traditional materials. Lower rolling resistance means this demonstration tire has the potential to offer better fuel savings and carbon footprint reduction. 

In addition, after announcing the capability to demonstrate a 70% sustainable-material tire in January 2022, Goodyear, working with its supply base, plans to sell a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content in 2023. Consumers interested in purchasing this tire can register for updates at Goodyear.com/SustainableMaterialTire.   

Bringing a 90% sustainable-material tire to market will require further collaboration with the company’s supply base to identify the scale necessary for these innovative materials to produce that specific tire at high volumes. 

“We continue to make progress toward our goal of introducing the first 100% sustainable-material tire in the industry by 2030,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer. “The past year was a pivotal one toward achieving this goal. We researched new technologies, identified opportunities for further collaboration and utilized our team’s tenacity to not only demonstrate our capabilities to produce a 90% sustainable-material tire, but to also produce a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content this year. Our team continues to showcase its innovation and commitment to building a better future.” 

90% Sustainable-material Demonstration Tire - 17 Ingredients Across 12 Different Tire Components 
 

This 90% sustainable-material demonstration tire includes 17 featured ingredients across 12 different components, including: 

• Carbon black, which is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their life, has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum products. Goodyear’s 90% sustainable-material demonstration tire features four different types of carbon black that are produced from methane, carbon dioxide, plant-based oil and end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil feedstocks. These carbon black technologies target reduced carbon emissions, circularity and the use of bio-based carbons, while still delivering on performance.  
   
• The use of soybean oil in this demonstration tire helps keep the tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. Soybean oil is a bio-based resource that helps to reduce Goodyear’s use of petroleum-based products. While nearly 100% of soy protein is used in food/animal feed applications, a significant surplus of oil is left over and available for use in industrial applications. 
   
• Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. This demonstration tire includes a high-quality silica produced from rice husk waste residue (RHA silica), a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills.  
   
• Polyester is recycled from post-consumer bottles by reverting the polyester into base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester used in tire cords. 
   
• Resins are used to help improve and enhance tire traction performance. In this demonstration tire, traditional petroleum-based resins are replaced with bio-renewable pine tree resins.  
   
• Bead wire and steel cords provide reinforcement in the structure of a radial tire. This demonstration tire uses bead wire and steel cord from steel with high-recycled content, which is produced using the electric arc furnace (EAF) process. The utilization of the EAF process allows for steel to be produced with reduced energy use and higher recycled content. The EAF process has the potential for lower greenhouse gas emissions in comparison with steel produced using a blast furnace.  
   
• ISCC certified mass balance polymers from bio- and bio-circular feedstock are also included in this tire. 

The shift to sustainable materials is evident in some of Goodyear’s current product lines. Today, eight product lines, and some racing tires, include soybean oil. In addition, Goodyear has more than doubled its use of RHA silica in its product lines since 2018. With the introduction of a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content, Goodyear is demonstrating tangible commitment with in-market solutions to building a better future.                                                                                                     

*A sustainable material is defined as a bio-based/renewable, recycled material or one that may be produced using or contributing to other sustainable practices for resource conservation and/or emissions reductions including mass-balance materials.  
**The 90% sustainable-material tire has been developed as a demonstration tire, which means Goodyear has proven its ability to produce a consumer tire with a high-level of sustainable-material content.  

Goodyear and Gatik recently deployed road-friction detection capabilities in Canada through continuous measurement of tire sensor-derived information, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear's cloud-based proprietary algorithms to optimize vehicle performance. Friction estimates from Goodyear’s SightLine solution were successfully able to detect low grip conditions, such as snowy or icy conditions, and make this information available to Gatik’s autonomous fleet, enhancing safety and performance for Gatik’s commercial operations in Canada’s challenging winter climate.

With road-friction data, tires can help enable smoother, safer and more sustainable driving. This is critical information for autonomous vehicles in terms of path planning and providing recommendations for safe driving speed, vehicle acceleration limits and vehicle following distance.

Goodyear SightLine technology is designed to measure the tire wear state, load, inflation pressure and temperature. It combines that with real-time road-weather data and proprietary rubber friction models to estimate the tire-road friction potential. Having this information in real-time enables Gatik’s fleet to safely and efficiently respond to challenging conditions within its operational design domain (ODD). While Goodyear’s SightLine technology has tremendous future implications for autonomous driving, this year it is anticipated that Goodyear will also be deploying Goodyear SightLine technology on select original equipment vehicles bringing immediate utility to today’s mobility market.

"The tire is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground, and this new level of data sophistication can communicate vital information to the vehicle, enhancing safety and performance," said Chris Helsel, Goodyear's senior vice president, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer. "This is another step to evolve the tire to not only deliver its core, traditional job but also be a nexus of new data and information."

“At Gatik, we’re dedicated to providing our customers with a solution that continues to raise industry standards in safety, efficiency and performance,” said Arjun Narang, Gatik’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder. “Using Goodyear’s groundbreaking SightLine technology helps us to operationalize these principles and ensures that we’re delivering greater value and enhancing safety on the middle mile today.”

Using a range of sustainable materials in the tire tread compound, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has developed the Eagle GO concept tire, which will be fitted to Citroën’s new concept car, oli. 

For more than 120 years, Goodyear has pursued sustainable, low-maintenance innovations and inventions and partnering with Citroën continues a long-standing relationship between both brands. The Eagle GO is the third Goodyear concept tire developed with Citroën and has been created to optimise efficiency, durability and comfort.  

Sustainable-material tread compound 

This concept tire uses a compound in the tread, the part of the tire that wears, made of nearly all sustainable or recycled materials. These materials include sunflower oils, pine tree resins, natural rubber and rice husk ash silica. These materials are described below. 

•  Sunflower oils and pine tree resins are renewable solutions to replace petroleum-derived oils. These materials are currently being used to make ‘Vegetable Ink’ for printers. Goodyear’s goal is to fully replace petroleum-derived oils in its products by 2040. 
• Natural rubber from the Hevea brasiliensis tree is used to replace synthetic petroleum-based rubber, using responsible farming and cultivation methods¹. 
• Rice husk ash silica from rice processing can reduce waste going to landfills and has previously been used in reinforced concrete. 

Renewable tread 

The Eagle GO concept tire has the potential to be renewed twice across its lifetime, which increases the lifespan of the tire. Goodyear has set an objective for the Eagle GO concept tire to achieve up to 500,000km through the reuse of the sustainable carcass and renewable tread.   

Intelligent technology 

The Eagle GO concept tire uses Goodyear SightLine technology, which includes a sensor that monitors a variety of tire health parameters. This technology is already being applied to help Goodyear fleet customers and could significantly reduce waste and increase efficiency by maintaining ideal pressure and tire condition. Monitoring the health of the tire is an important factor in determining whether or when a tire can be renewed, thus increasing circularity and efficiency. Adding this technology to the Eagle GO concept tire is in line with Goodyear’s goal to reinvent tires and service, delivering data-and-sensor-enabled intelligence in all new products by 2027.  

 “Tire architecture has come a long way by incorporating sustainable materials and smart technologies,“ explained Laurent Colantonio, Regional Technology Director Consumer EMEA.  “With Citroën, we have a relationship that provides a great testbed for developing and testing new technologies and techniques.   

“Concept tires are a fantastic way for Goodyear to research and develop ground-breaking technologies that can make its way into our products. The learnings from this project will go towards our future as a mobility enabler that consistently innovates its products and services.” 

^[1] In line with Goodyear’s Natural Rubber Procurement Policy 

The 63% sustainable-material demonstration truck tire includes 15 featured ingredients across 20 tire components, including those described below. This demonstration tire is labelled “A” in fuel efficiency meaning it can offer the same fuel saving as the most efficient Goodyear truck tires currently offered. 

• Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their tread life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum or coal tar-based products. This demonstration tire features four different carbon blacks that are produced from plant-based oil, end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil, carbon dioxide capture and conversion and a low-carbon methane pyrolysis process.
• Some of the petroleum-based oils in this demonstration tire were replaced by the use of rapeseed oil. Rapeseed oil is a bio-based resource that helps keep a tire's rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. The use of bio-based rapeseed oil is in line with the company's goal of fully replacing petroleum-derived oils in its products by 2040.
• Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. This demonstration tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.
• Polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste by reverting the polyester into its base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords, which enables better retreadability.

In the future, this demonstration tire can be connected and monitor a variety of tire health parameters. This has the potential to reduce waste and increase efficiency by maintaining ideal pressure and tire condition. Monitoring the health of the tire is an important factor in determining whether or when a tire can be renewed, thus potentially contributing to circularity and increasing efficiency. 

This demonstration truck tire is in line with the company's commitment to increase the use of sustainable materials. Additionally, a tire made of sustainable materials, providing low rolling resistance and being fully retreadable, with the possibility of connecting to tire health monitoring with the Goodyear Total Mobility solution, has the potential to positively affect circularity and climate impact. Goodyear Total Mobility is an end-to-end fleet offering that brings together its full range of premium commercial truck tires, its suite of data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics solutions, and more than 2,000 service locations across Europe. 

Grégory Boucharlat, Vice President Commercial Europe: “Development of our integrated offering of products and mobility solutions under the Goodyear Total Mobility umbrella can further support our customers in the demanding transport market and help them in achieving their own sustainability goals. Goodyear is committed to the development of products and solutions that help support the ambitions and aspirations of our business partners to be more competitive, more efficient and more sustainable.”

The direction of developing the Goodyear Total Mobility solution is consistent with the expectations and challenges faced by the transport industry in Europe. The recent Sustainable Reality Survey, conducted with the participation of over 1,400 representatives of the transport industry, confirms that achieving sustainable development goals is an important objective of the transport fleet business. Goodyear Total Mobility and the concept of creating a truck tire made from sustainable materials should support transport companies in achieving that objective in the coming years.

* The 63% sustainable-material truck tire presented at IAA Transportation has been produced as a demonstration tire. 

Within this page you can find the following assets:

Feature Articles: 

Goodyear reimagines the tire for a multi-modal future
Goodyear SightLine: Tire intelligence drives innovation

Video: 
Goodyear Beyond Tires
Goodyear SightLine Brand Film

A range of photo and b-roll footage of the event, including interviews with  experts from the team.

The new facility is a first of its kind for Goodyear and it will provide opportunities to learn, test and mature technology as production capability continues to increase.  It features a new process focused on small-batch production of large rim diameter ultra-high performance (UHP) and ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) tires, which enables Goodyear to produce tires four times faster than a standard production cycle. This means that the company can respond to customer demands very quickly and efficiently.

Developed by Goodyear engineers, the process anticipates and responds to increasing complexity in the tire industry. The intensifying focus by original equipment manufacturers on large rim diameter tires, as well as a vast variety of vehicle models and options available to consumers, creates a growing need to efficiently develop and produce premium UUHP tires in small-batch quantities on-demand for replacement and original equipment customers.

“We needed to design this integrated product and process to deliver for the changing needs of the market. By doing so, we are enabling a new business model to serve our customers and consumers in this important and increasingly complex part of the market.” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, Global Operations and chief technology officer. “The new process will give us a competitive advantage, targeting world-class quality and responsiveness.”

The new technology requires new skills, and so far, Goodyear has hired 90 associates to support the facility and in the coming months will recruit 20 additional electromechanical technicians. Goodyear has also invested in training programs to enhance skills to enable current associates to perform new and innovative manufacturing processes.

The new facility is now operational, and the official opening ceremony is a key step along the journey to full capability.  The official opening ceremony took place in the presence of Luxembourg's Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc, Franz Fayot Minister of Economy and Dan Biancalana, Deputy-Mayor of Dudelange.

Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy of Luxembourg commented: "As the first important American company to settle in Luxembourg in 1951, Goodyear marked a new beginning in Luxembourg’s industrial history and its economic diversification. Since then, the relationship between Goodyear and Luxembourg has always been one of mutual support and trust. The company’s new manufacturing facility in Dudelange is confirming the assets of the Grand Duchy as a destination for high-tech industrial investment by international groups.”

Notes to Editors

What is the new Process?
The process allows Goodyear to produce tires four times faster than a standard production cycle via forming and hot application of components at the tire assembly machine. In different words, this is a version of 3-D printing for the tire industry.

The speed of production is thanks to new digital processes featuring highly automated, interconnected workstations using additive manufacturing technologies. 

The process drives efficiencies during the industrialization process of new products that will later go into mass production, thanks to the fully automated and high precision nature of the manufacturing process.

This, combined with new virtual capabilities that Goodyear is installing in its Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg Luxembourg, is a key step to further reduce product development cycle time aiming to reach Goodyear’s goal of being a preferred original equipment supplier, achieving first approval for all development products with only one physical iteration.

Nova Labs is the pioneer of decentralized wireless communications and founder of the core technologies powering the Helium Network. The Helium Network provides public, long-range wireless coverage for a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart bikes and scooters, home delivery systems and more. Available in 163 countries worldwide, Helium Hotspots enable people to own and operate their own wireless network, building “The People’s Network” that connects IoT devices.

Goodyear Ventures recently participated in Nova Lab’s series D financing round. With connected mobility playing a key role in the future of transportation, this investment allows Goodyear to collaborate on efficient and accessible connectivity solutions.

“Nova Labs is revolutionizing the way enterprises connect to the internet, unlocking new levels of efficiency through ubiquitous coverage provided by the Helium Network,” said Abhijit Ganguly, managing director, Goodyear Ventures. “At Goodyear we are committed to enabling mobility, and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish with Nova Labs and the Helium Network.”

“We are grateful to companies like Goodyear who recognize the power of a global decentralized wireless network in boosting efficiency and driving innovation,” said Frank Mong, COO of Nova Labs. “We are proud to have the support of Goodyear Ventures as we continue to pioneer decentralization across wireless protocols and are excited to explore ways to welcome them to the Helium ecosystem as an enterprise customer.”

For more information about Goodyear’s venture fund, visit www.goodyearventures.com. 

The one-stop fleet management solution combines data from Goodyear’s Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with HERE location services. Goodyear TPMS is an advanced sensor and predictive algorithm solution that helps fleets avoid up to 90% of tire-related breakdowns. With HERE location services, fleet operators and Goodyear service providers can localize a vehicle in need of a service or road assistance intervention within a few meters and navigate them to the nearest maintenance station. In addition, Goodyear has been using HERE SDK (Software Development Kit) to provide a mobile application for commercial drivers.  

The HERE SDK is a set of programming interfaces that gives access to HERE’s rich portfolio of services, such as in-vehicle navigation, traffic alerts, transit information and fleet management features. The HERE SDK provides vector maps in over 190 countries and in 60 languages with optimized map data size to minimize download latency and to provide fast response times while still scaling to a high degree of fidelity. Map customization tools enable various adjustments such as the highlighting of important objects on a map by changing colors and icons as well as editing dynamic properties of cartography objects including buildings, roads and land use. The HERE SDK mapping, routing and search functions incorporate  truck specific road information, vehicle regulations and points of interest. HERE Routing also enables fleet managers to deliver optimized navigation routes incorporating the attributes of the roadway, legal and physical restrictions and adjusted road hierarchy and topology.  

“HERE location technology is bringing clear added value to our Goodyear Total Mobility customers. In the daily fleet operations, every minute counts and being able to locate a vehicle in a timely and precise manner is key to minimizing downtime. In case of a service need, this can be managed in a user-friendly manner – via a mobile application for both drivers and dispatchers. Working with HERE allows us to offer state-of-the art data solutions that drive efficient and sustainable results,” said Grégory Boucharlat, Vice President for Commercial Europe at Goodyear.  

“We are proud to be working with one of the world’s leading tire manufacturers and mobility providers. By integrating our advanced data and location services into Goodyear easy-to-use solutions, we contribute to building a safer, more efficient and cleaner world,” said Gino Ferru, General Manager EMEAR and Senior Vice President at HERE Technologies.  

Starship Technologies, a Goodyear Ventures portfolio company, builds and operates a network of over 1,000 last mile autonomous robots that carry and deliver packages, groceries and food directly to customers.

To address Starship’s request related to tire health and maintenance, Goodyear developed a specially engineered airless tire designed to extend tire life and reduce maintenance activities for Starship’s delivery fleet.

Goodyear and Starship have entered an in-field testing phase at Bowling Green State University to evaluate vehicle and tire dependencies. Early on-vehicle tire testing data has shown positive results with respect to treadwear, braking and vibration dampening.

“We are excited to extend our unique airless tire architectures into new forms of mobility,” said Michael Rachita, Goodyear’s senior program manager, non-pneumatic tires. “The micro delivery space presents a different set of needs as it relates to the tire, and our NPT technology is ideal to meet those needs to help enable a maintenance-free and long-lasting experience.”

“Our delivery robots make thousands of deliveries every day in all types of weather conditions and terrain,” said Siim Viilup, mechanical engineering manager, Starship Technologies. “To make sure we can keep up with the growing demand for our services, we need tires that are reliable and keep our robots on the move around the clock and around the globe. It’s great to see these new tires offering reliability as well as cost savings as we scale our business.”

“We set an ambitious goal in 2020 to create a tire made 100% from sustainable materials in 10 years, and our scientists and engineers have made great progress toward that goal,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer. “This is an exciting achievement that demonstrates our commitment to increasing the use of sustainable materials in our tires.”

The 70% sustainable-material tire includes 13 featured ingredients across nine different tire components, including those described below. Company performance indicators have shown the component properties to deliver strong overall tire performance.

·         Carbon black is included in tires for compound reinforcement and to help increase their life and has traditionally been made by burning various types of petroleum products. Goodyear’s new tire features three different carbon blacks that are produced from methane, carbon dioxide, and plant-based oil. Initial life cycle assessments demonstrate either reduced carbon emissions compared with current methods of carbon black production or the use of bio-based or waste feedstock sources.

·         The use of soybean oil in tires is a significant Goodyear innovation that helps keep a tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures. Soybean oil is a bio-based resource that reduces Goodyear’s use of petroleum-based products. While nearly 100% of soy protein is used in food/animal feed applications, a significant surplus of oil is left over and available for use in industrial applications.

·         Silica is an ingredient often used in tires to help improve grip and reduce fuel consumption. Goodyear’s new tire contains a unique variety of silica produced from rice husk ash, a byproduct of rice processing that is often discarded and put into landfills. A high-quality silica has been produced from this waste ash.

·         Polyester is recycled from plastic bottles and other plastic waste by reverting the polyester into its base chemicals and reforming them into technical grade polyester feasible for tire cords. 

The 70% sustainable-material tire has been produced as a demonstration tire.

The Citroën Skate and its "Pod" concepts were inspired by The Urban Collëctif, a project between Citroën, the international hotel group, Accor, and the JCDecaux media company. The vehicle and tires were revealed today in Paris. 

"We are proud to be introducing the prototype of our spherical concept tire as an integral part of the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision,” explains Hans Vrijsen, managing director, Original Equipment at Goodyear. “The Eagle 360 prototype is compact and its shape makes it agile and maneuverable, ideal for future urban and autonomous mobility solutions.” 

For over 120 years, Goodyear has continuously pursued innovations and inventions. As mobility evolved, Goodyear partnered with pioneers in everything from lunar exploration to land speed records to drive change and discovery.

Goodyear first introduced the Eagle 360 concept at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2016, following up in 2017 with a second iteration, the Eagle 360 Urban concept. Time magazine declared the Eagle 360 concept as one of the 25 best innovations of 2016[1]. 

The Eagle 360 prototype draws its inspiration from these concepts and shares several innovative features with them, as well as introducing new features of its own:

• High maneuverability: With its spherical shape, this multi-orientation prototype tire can move in all directions, delivering both maneuverability and passenger comfort. The Eagle 360 prototype provides a smooth ride by creating a fluid, lateral movement. This helps the Citroën Skate platform to easily overtake obstacles.
• Maintenance-free: The Eagle 360 prototype is a non-pneumatic tire. With no need for pressure monitoring or risk of puncture, it minimizes downtime for the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision. 
• Long-lasting: With four times the tread surface of a standard tire, the Eagle 360 prototype would also wear four times slower than a traditional tire, leading to less frequent tire replacement.
• Extended range: By using a stiff inner structure and low rolling resistance rubber compound, the Eagle 360 prototype is designed for low deflection at the point of contact with the road. This can contribute to reducing energy loss and lowering rolling resistance, which can help to extend the battery range of an electric vehicle.
• Consistent grip: By using hexagonal siping, the Eagle 360 prototype is designed to provide consistent grip independent of the driving direction.

This is the latest in a series of partnerships between Goodyear and the Citroën Design Team, building on their recent collaboration on the autonomous, connected, electric Citroën 19_19 Concept that was revealed to mark Citroen’s centenary year in 2019.

Throughout the project, Goodyear's Advanced Design Studio team collaborated closely with the Citroën Design Team to design and deliver a bespoke Eagle 360 prototype which is in total harmony with the vision and objectives of the Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision.

“Concept tires are the basis for an innovative company like Goodyear to engage with future mobility challenges and develop new, groundbreaking products and services. We are honored to have partnered with Citroën on this unique mobility project and to have taken a further step in the development of one of our most innovative concepts,” Vrijsen concluded.

AmpUp supports the EV driving community through their advanced charging network and software solutions. With operations across North America, AmpUp aims to make charging accessible and seamless for every EV driver.

“Goodyear is interested in enabling the future of mobility, including within the EV sector,” said Abhijit Ganguly, managing director, Goodyear Ventures. “AmpUp will provide us with valuable insights on the latest electrification trends and bring their solutions to our fleet customers who are considering electrification.”

“AmpUp is thrilled to partner with Goodyear, whose commitment to innovation and electric mobility will be crucial to wide-scale adoption of EVs,” said Thomas Sun, CEO and Co-founder of AmpUp. “As a company focused on providing seamless charging solutions, AmpUp can’t wait to explore solutions with the Goodyear team nationwide.”

Goodyear Ventures fuels the future of mobility by partnering and investing in seed-to-growth-stage startups in emerging mobility technology, including EV mobility and infrastructure.

For more information on Goodyear Ventures, go to www.goodyearventures.com.

To learn more about AmpUp, visit www.ampup.io.

These ripples can grow into waves and cause the kind of disruption that changes the course of history. Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO of Starbucks, describes innovation: “Innovation must be disruptive. And by disruptive, I mean disruptive. You've got to fracture and break the rules and disrupt."

Innovation is about introducing something new, creating value and growth; disruption comes from taking that new thing and running with it as far as possible, creating major change. Not only do they allow businesses to differentiate themselves and flourish, but contribute to the advancement of the industry as a whole.

Innovation is also what allows us to anticipate the needs of consumers of the future. For Goodyear, this means contributing to the evolution of the automotive industry. Far more than a tire business, it's investing in — and partnering with — the innovators to help them change the industry.

Powerful partnerships

The future of mobility is a major focus for Goodyear; all types of vehicles are set to become more accessible to more people and have a wider variety of functions than ever before. Just this year, Goodyear partnered with Dutch research organisation TNO to connect its intelligent tires with TNO's ABS system, to reduce stopping distance loss by up to 30%. The aim of this cooperation is to maximize safety for the drivers of the future.

Goodyear also announced a highly exciting collaboration with electric car rental company UFODRIVE. This will see UFODRIVE's eMobility SaaS platform combined with Goodyear's intelligent tire monitoring system to improve electric vehicle fleet performance. As part of this collaboration, they'll conduct studies aimed at maximizing energy usage, saving on tire replacement costs, and minimizing the carbon impact of fleets.

Then there's Voyomotive, a connected car technology company with which Goodyear has joined forces to pilot tire monitoring solutions to improve vehicle efficiency. The aim is to give customers the ability to proactively correct anomalies and get their tire inflation right long before the car can alert them, improving efficiency.

Investing in a new age

Investing in innovation is important to the progression of a business because it supports the creation and development of new ideas. It enables the bringing together of a diverse range of expertise for the best possible outcome. The biggest and fastest-moving companies in the world invest in innovation constantly, knowing that it's how businesses progress and thrive in the fast-moving modern world.

Alongside some vital partnerships, Goodyear is investing in visionary startups through Goodyear Ventures. These are organizations that are changing the face of the future of mobility – something Goodyear, with its long legacy of innovation, is able to elevate.

For example, Starship Technologies is creating a shift in the supply chain with autonomous robots that can carry and deliver items — something that will drastically change last-mile logistics. At a customer's request via an app, parcels and groceries can be picked up by these advanced robots and delivered anywhere within a four-mile radius. Not only do they save money and energy compared with using vehicles, but they're safe and secure, moving at pedestrian speed with the intelligence to move around obstacles.

The interest in the future and autonomy doesn't end there. Goodyear has invested in TuSimple, a company that has created a new standard in safety with self-driving technology specifically designed for heavy-duty trucks. These reliable, low-cost freight services are set to transform logistics as we know it.

Autonomous technology is far from the only area Goodyear Ventures is investing in. With Envoy, it's diversified its portfolio by investing in an organisation that is making the future of mobility a community affair. It's an electric car-sharing service and platform that provides EVs as exclusive amenities in workplaces, hotels, and apartments, with dedicated parking spaces and charging stations. With short-term car rental services already growing in popularity, mobility as a service is the inevitable evolution.

Leading by example

This is why Goodyear is far, far more than just tires. In fact, it's always had one foot in advanced innovation. From building and testing the first American-made synthetic rubber tire in 1937, to creating the first tires that landed on the moon for Apollo 14 in 1971, to inventing the Eagle radial racing tyre that enabled Al Unser Sr. to gain his fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 1987, Goodyear has never stopped aiming as high as imaginable.

Some businesses innovate without realizing it, always improving their operations in small ways for benefit of their customers. Others make it a priority, which is the best way to optimize innovation and contribute to true disruption. Whether or not it's about writing the script for the future of mobility, the way Goodyear is doing with its partners, these powerful collaborations are what shape the future across each and every sector of business.

For more information on Goodyear Ventures, go to www.goodyearventures.com.

For the past three years, Goodyear and Local Motors have tested an Olli shuttle supported by the NPT at Goodyear testing facilities and other locations reaching several performance targets with respect to load, speed and durability.

In 2019, Goodyear pivoted its NPT concentration to on-road testing and a growing relationship with Local Motors. While this testing phase will reveal more about non-pneumatic tires, airless tires may offer sustainable, maintenance-free and longer-lasting options. The urban transportation environment provides an ideal testing scenario for the alternative tire architecture given its lower speed and less variable travel paths.

Goodyear and Local Motors will gather experiential data from the JTA, looking for viewpoints on ride comfort, noise and other variables. “As mobility evolves, we feel that tires can transform the way we move and alternative airless architectures are ideal, particularly in the emerging autonomous transportation environment,” said Michael Rachita, Goodyear’s senior program manager, non-pneumatic tires. “This is an important milestone as we look to advance mobility today and as we look to introduce the first completely sustainable and maintenance-free tires by the end of the decade.”

“The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is proud to integrate this innovative and sustainable technology into our Autonomous Vehicle Test & Learn program as we develop the future of mobility through the Ultimate Urban Circulator,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “This collaboration is another example of how Jacksonville is leading the public transportation industry in developing AV mobility solutions.”

“Testing with best-in-class software and technology partners is enabling the JTA to lead globally in readiness for the use of autonomous platform in an urban environment. We are excited for the opportunity to extend the Test & Learn program with the JTA, Goodyear and Local Motors to prove out the use of other innovations such as the Goodyear airless tires, as this will only further transform transportation as we know it,” said Joe Moye, Beep CEO.

"Autonomous vehicles, like Olli, need to decrease maintenance costs and perform reliably," said Local Motors President Vikrant Aggarwal. "Goodyear's non-pneumatic tires are positioned to give maintenance teams less to worry about while giving passengers a quiet, consistent ride. Non-pneumatic tires may just be the industry standard in the coming years."

Goodyear SightLine will help enable seamless, safe and reliable mobility for all vehicles starting with cargo vans serving the field service, construction and last-mile delivery industries.

Later this year, Goodyear SightLine will also be available to Goodyear’s original equipment customers and emerging fleet and mobility providers.

Initially available in North America and Europe, Goodyear SightLine uses sensors with cloud-based algorithms to communicate with fleet operators in real-time.

Goodyear’s proprietary predictive maintenance technologies can help to address many challenges facing drivers and fleet managers today, including predicting breakdowns, minimizing downtime and monitoring tire pressure and wear for enhanced safety and more cost-efficient mobility.

"Much like smart watches that monitor vitals like heartrates and oxygen levels, Goodyear SightLine’s tire intelligence monitors the health of a tire,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer. “Goodyear SightLine takes the mystery out of understanding tires and provides proactive mobility insights to communicate when tires need service or replacement.”

Goodyear has accumulated billions of test miles on tire solutions powered by Goodyear SightLine through pilot programs and with its launch establishes the groundwork for a connected-tire future in which every tire provides intelligence. Goodyear has articulated a company goal to have tire intelligence in all new products by 2027.

In the future, Goodyear SightLine technology will not only provide feedback on the tire, but provide feedback on road conditions, enabling connected, autonomous mobility. Initial testing has shown integrating Goodyear SightLine technology into a vehicle’s control’s system can reduce stopping distance loss by 30%.

For more information, visit www.goodyearsightline.com.

The companies will together pursue opportunities to integrate their complementary mobility solutions, including Goodyear’s intelligent tire monitoring system and proactive solutions suite and UFODRIVE’s advanced eMobility software as a service platform.

Goodyear and UFODRIVE will also conduct studies designed to optimize vehicle utilization and servicing to maximize energy usage and tire replacement cost savings and minimize the carbon impact of fleets.

“Working with UFODRIVE is a unique opportunity for us to expand the successful Goodyear Total Mobility fleet solutions from our commercial truck and bus business to the rapidly evolving EV passenger fleet landscape,” said Hakan Bayman, president of Goodyear’s consumer business in Europe. “We anticipate overall demand for shared mobility services to continue growing in the coming years, with a particular emphasis on contactless solutions.”

Launched in 2019, Goodyear Total Mobility is an end-to-end fleet offering that brings together premium tires and a suite of data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics solutions to provide fleet operators with real-time tire performance information, including pressure and temperature.

UFODRIVE has developed and proven its eMobility platform by delivering a radically better car rental experience in eight countries and 17 locations across Europe in less than two years.

“Working with a tier one mobility company like Goodyear allows UFODRIVE to expand on its mission to deliver a seamless transition to electric mobility for shared fleets,” said UFODRIVE CEO Aidan McClean. “The electric revolution is accelerating, and we are delighted to collaborate with Goodyear to pioneer unique SaaS features such as fleet utilization maximization, energy savings and optimized electric routing for fleet owners.”

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.
 

About UFODRIVE

UFODRIVE is an advanced eMobility platform allowing mobility providers go electric, shared and contactless. UFODRIVE has developed and proven the platform by delivering a radically better car rental experience in eight countries. The first all-digital, all-electric car rental service controlled from an app. UFODRIVE receives the highest net promotor score in car rental with an incredible customer experience that's simple, easy and fast. No queues, no paperwork, no refueling, no extra costs with zero-emissions. UFODRIVE goes beyond NetZero emissions with biosphere regeneration credits for every clean kilometer driven. Customers, experience hassle free electric driving with real-time optimized charging and routing, using our advanced AI eMobility platform.

For more information about UFODRIVE, go to www.ufodrive.com

Cities are already becoming increasingly smart with many employing cloud-based technology to analyze and manage data to help improve the quality of life.At the moment, this takes the form of shared data that makes city living easier or solves certain problems. For example, the city of Amsterdam shares its traffic and transportation data with third-party developers who can then create mapping apps that connect to transport systems. This means that getting around the city is easy, no matter what form of transport you choose.

Copenhagen is also leading the way with its commitment to become a carbon-neutral capital by 2025. The Copenhagen Connecting plan will provide an integrated approach to data sharing that aims to improve city services. Intelligent use of wireless data from cell phones, GPS in busses, and sensors in sewers and garbage cans will assist Copenhagen politicians in achieving the city's objectives of reduced congestion, air pollution, and CO2 emissions.

In the U.S., Goodyear together with EASE Logistics and the City of Dublin, Ohio, announced collaboration in the areas of tire intelligence and cloud-based logistics within an innovation region in Ohio known as the Beta District. With the potential to share and enhance data on connected mobility, these experiments could lead to new products and solutions that will benefit cities in the future.

The connected car plays a vital role

With this kind of data sharing increasing in cities all over Europe, things will only get smarter. For this to work, however, we need to look at the connected car. Cars that are connected to the world around them will significantly improve how we move around a city. From ensuring that traffic keeps moving, to reducing congestion at peak times, to keeping roads in good condition, there's a surprising amount that a connected car can do for our cities.

Goodyear's intelligent tires are a great example of how technology is being introduced into cars that could have wide-reaching benefit in the future. At the moment, these tires enable fleets of last mile delivery trucks and car sharing companies to better manage their tire usage. The sensors in the tire report back important information such as wear, temperature and pressure, allowing fleet managers to address any issues that could result in downtime of their vehicles.

As we look to the future, and look at moving from internal combustion engines to electric motors with fewer moving parts, the tire becomes that main part that needs to be managed and replaced. Sensors help with uptime but they'll also play a large part in autonomous fleets, too.

Goodyear is working towards, for example, being able to find out the state of the road the vehicle is on. Is it wet? Is it snowy? Is it slippery? And based on that information from the tire, providing the autonomous vehicle information on stopping distances, for example, as a key to an autonomous future.

Intelligent tires aren't a far off pipe dream either, as Goodyear plans to see these tires on consumer vehicles as soon as this year.

The city of the future is more sustainable

Under-inflated tires, roads in poor condition, and congested junctions all contribute to city pollution but as our cities and vehicles become more intelligent, all these aspects will improve. Goodyear estimates that 20% of vehicles on the road are running under-inflated tires, which directly impacts their fuel economy. So even that alone can make a huge difference to city driving.

Cars communicating with traffic lights can help with congestion and minimize how many vehicles are stop-starting in residential areas, and smart street lighting can monitor traffic levels then direct in-car navigation systems appropriately. The use of electric vehicles and autonomous fleets alongside micromobility schemes would further contribute to the sustainability of a city.

We're on our way

Our cities are getting increasingly smart and the more the infrastructure is able to connect with different departments, vehicles, and pedestrians, this will only increase. As we move towards a world where ride-hailing, car sharing, and even autonomous transport, become more commonplace, there's going to be a shift in mindset to accommodate all these forms of mobility — alongside traditional public transport and car ownership.

To make city mobility as seamless as possible, it requires a smart connected eco-system that not only makes transport more accessible and safe but also improves living standards within the city by decreasing pollution.

Building upon the company’s Business Conduct Manual and Supplier Code of Conduct, the policy, which can be reviewed here, features these important components:

• Human Rights – Goodyear will work to ensure its soybean oil supply chain supports and protects the rights of all involved and fosters a positive working environment at all levels of the supply chain.
• Responsible Land Acquisition and Use – Goodyear will work to promote an environmentally and socially responsible soybean supply chain, free from deforestation and land grabbing.
• Soybean Oil Processing – Goodyear expects its soybean oil suppliers to manufacture their products in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner.
• Soybean Growing and Harvesting – Goodyear encourages its suppliers and any sub-suppliers to implement the best-known cultivation and agricultural practices, including, as applicable, those outlined by The Round Table for Responsible Soy.
• Supplier Alignment – Goodyear encourages its soybean oil suppliers and sub-suppliers to demonstrate commitment to responsible practices.
• Policy Implementation and Compliance – Goodyear is committed to the corruption-free and transparent implementation of the policy.

As part of its commitment to sustainable sourcing, Goodyear is increasing its use of sustainable materials in its products, including soybean oil. Goodyear scientists and engineers – with the support from the United Soybean Board – developed a tread compound in which soybean oil replaced some or all petroleum-derived oil, discovering that soybean oil helps keep a tire’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, a key performance achievement to maintaining and enhancing vehicle grip on roadways.

Goodyear commercialized this innovation in its Assurance WeatherReady™ consumer tire line in 2017, the Eagle Enforcer All Weather™ in 2018, the Eagle Exhilarate™ in 2019 and the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive in 2020.

Goodyear’s 2020 use of soybean oil increased 73% over 2018 usage, making progress toward its long-term goal of full petroleum oil replacement in its products by 2040.

Goodyear’s soybean oil procurement policy is effective immediately and applies to all soybean-based materials sourced by Goodyear operations worldwide.

“The safe and efficient operation of consumer vehicles and fleets is important both for today and for the future of mobility,” said John Brainerd, manager of Goodyear’s Akron Innovation Lab. “Goodyear continues to develop and expand our portfolio of digital tire information to help users realize this goal. We are excited to collaborate with innovative companies like Voyomotive to continue to deliver connected mobility solutions.”

Using real-time vehicle data provided by Voyomotive telematics controllers, information is processed by Goodyear analytics to create tire pressure loss and pressure alerts that are sent to customers via the Voyomotive app, SMS messages or to a fleet management system.

This service is being provided to Voyomotive consumer and fleet customers, offering a tire maintenance advantage and pressure monitoring solution for enhanced vehicle efficiency and safety. With tire intelligence data, customers can proactively address pressure anomalies with their tires, maintaining optimal inflation pressure which leads to better tire performance and gas mileage.

“This is a first of its kind tire application that uses Voyomotive’s advanced telematics data with Goodyear analytics to increase driving safety and fleet readiness,” said Peter Yorke, CEO of Voyomotive. “We are excited to work with Goodyear to offer this tire intelligence solution as it is a demonstration of our mutual commitment to bring new digital applications to the hundreds of millions of vehicles now on the road.”

For more information, visit https://www.voyomotive.com/tire or email Contact@voyomotive.com.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

About Voyomotive

Headquartered in San Francisco, with a research and development facility in Saline, Michigan, Voyomotive is bringing the world’s most advanced connected car technology to market. VOYO goes above and beyond any telematics system available in the aftermarket, providing next-generation visibility into a single vehicle or an entire fleet. The consumer-friendly, plug-and-play solution, VOYO, reads both manufacturer and generic DTCs from all vehicle controllers and automatically adapts its hardware configuration to any specific vehicle make, model and year. The comprehensive Voyomotive Platform includes plug-in vehicle controllers, APIs and a Data Analytics Gateway that enables licensees to access a large pool of vehicle operating data for analysis, research, product development and forward engineering. Learn more at voyomotive.com/gateway.

The study will look for more meaningful integration with the intent to optimize braking distance when considering tire operating and road-surface conditions. Both companies are focused on maximizing potential safety and sustainability implications and expect to share results in early 2022.

“There is a tremendous opportunity when you consider the information the tire can convey to the vehicle in a connected environment,” said Chris Queen, Goodyear senior director, innovation technology. “TNO has a like-minded commitment to a better future, and we are excited to advance this demonstration to see how we can continue to improve vehicle performance.”

“TNO is focused on increasing the safety, efficiency and sustainability of traffic and transport and this collaboration is designed on saving every centimeter possible of braking distance,” said Ellen Lastdrager, Managing Director of the TNO Traffic and Transport Department. “We feel strongly that we can help reduce accidents and save lives as we better integrate tires and braking systems.”

Connected tires are the only part of a vehicle that touches the road, and that critical position allows tires to feedback information providing actionable information to the vehicle. As mobility evolves and vehicles and cities become smarter, Goodyear’s intelligent tires aim to transform the way we drive.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

About TNO

The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) is an independent research organization. We connect people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the sustainable competitive strength of industry and well-being of society. Now and in the future. This is our mission and it is what drives us, the over 3.500 professionals at TNO, in our work every day. We work in collaboration with partners and focus on transitions or changes in nine social themes that we have identified together with our stakeholders. TNO’s unit Traffic and Transport has the ambition to help create livable, sustainable cities through clean, safe, reliable and affordable mobility and logistics. TNO - innovation for life | TNO

If you're the type of driver who likes a spirited drive in a fun car, tire choice is important because the right tires will give extra grip when you're pushing around a corner. If you're more concerned with economical driving and a comfortable ride, you'll want a tire with slightly different properties.

Tires built for efficiency and comfort (often called touring tires) are a great choice for long journeys. Not only could you see a reduction in fuel consumption but the tires will also filter the effect of small bumps in the road's surface, making for a smoother ride.

Performance tires, on the other hand, feature tread patterns and rubber compounds made for grip. This means improved responsiveness and handling on the road (or the track!) but the trade-off is often increased fuel consumption.

There are some tires that offer the best of both worlds, though. Take the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2. Designed with fuel efficiency in mind, theses tires also offer great handling and braking performance in dry or wet conditions, just in case you come up against tricky conditions or just want to enjoy an exciting ride.

Get your pressures right

No matter what type of tires you have, you need to keep them properly inflated to get maximum fuel mileage. Underinflated tires can increase fuel consumption from anywhere between 0.6% and 3%*. The more underinflated your tires are, the more fuel you'll use.

To find the right pressure for your vehicle's tires, take a look at the sticker on the inside of the driver-side door (if not, check your handbook). Here, you'll find the correct pressures for your front and rear tires. Don't go by the maximum pressure reading on the side of your tire, always follow the recommendations from the manufacturer.

Time to get new tires?

If you're shopping around for new tires with fuel consumption in mind, there are a few things you need to look out for. The first is rolling resistance; this is the effort needed to keep a tire rolling. A high rolling resistance tire means your engine will need to work harder to keep your wheels moving. It's important to look for tires with low rolling resistance as this is one of the main things that will help you save fuel. To lower the rolling resistance of tires, manufacturers use advanced rubber compounds formulations and innovative tread patterns.

The next things to look out for is the weight of a tire. A lighter tire is going to reduce the overall weight of your car. While this difference might seem insignificant, your car's engine isn't going to be working quite as hard without that extra weight. Over tens of thousands of miles, this can make a huge difference to your fuel economy.

Rolling resistance and weight are two prime concerns for tire manufacturers. Goodyear, for example, is working to reduce rolling resistance by 40% and tire weight by 9% by 2025 — from a 2005 baseline — across its entire consumer portfolio.

If reducing your fuel consumption is important to you, you need to drive economically. This means going easy on your inputs; brake smoothly and accelerate gently, where possible. But you should also pay attention to your tires, as they have a serious impact on how much fuel you're using.

*Source: fueleconomy.gov

An easy check is to regularly monitor tire pressures. Tires lose pressure over time, and under-inflation can cause tire damage. Many vehicles are now fitted with electronic tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), but tire pressures should still be checked manually with a pressure gauge. Pressure values are usually found in a vehicle's handbook. Tire pressures should be checked at least once a month or ahead of fully laden journeys. Markings for load and speed ratings are molded on the tire's sidewall.

Inspect tire tread

Check the tire treads visually on a similar timescale. Look at the bars in-between the treads themselves as well as the center or outside edges for obvious signs of wear and any embedded objects.

Rotate your tires

Rotating tires could be another way to ensure your tires last longer¹. Tires fitted at the front of a vehicle usually wear differently than those on the rear, but by changing their position – from front to rear and vice versa – tire life can be extended. Rotation periods vary, but if you frequently drive at high speed or undertake long or fully laden journeys, more regular rotations are recommended. Uneven tire tread wear also indicates a need for rotation.

Balance and align your tires

Uneven wear may also signal a more serious wheel alignment or tire balancing issue. Correct wheel alignment makes tires last longer, and you will need to inspect your tires if your vehicle pulls to either side, or the steering wheel is not centered when driving straight or vibrates. If not corrected, the uneven tire wear caused will jeopardize the tires' effectiveness.

Switch tires for the seasons

If you want your tires to stay in good condition for longer, consider fitting appropriate tires for the season². As they are beneficial from 7°c, a switch to winter tires in colder temperatures is useful. The different chemical make-up gives better grip and traction at lower temperatures enhancing vehicle safety. However, they will also wear out faster if they are used on hot surfaces, so swap to summer tires when temperatures rise again.

Buy tires that take you further

The correct tires with the latest technology can take you further and last longer. The new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 tires enjoy enhanced performance but help the environment by lasting longer. The Efficient Grip Performance 2 gives at least 20% more mileage life than the next best-tested competitor³, resulting in longer life as well as reduced costs.

Improve your driving habits

Good driving habits also lessen the need for frequent purchases of new tires. A smooth and gentle driving style, avoiding road surface imperfections will benefit tire life and ensure they give their best performance. Hard acceleration and braking, or aggressive driving over speed bumps and potholes will damage your tires.

Recycle or reuse

In Europe every year, more than 3 million tons of end-of-life tires are collected to be recycled or reused. So when the need for new tires does arise, dispose of your old tires responsibly and give them the opportunity for a second life.

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[1] Rotation of tires may not be suitable for all tires or vehicle types.

[2] In some countries regulations may require fitting of winter tires.

[3] 20%/11,000km higher mileage than next-best tested competitor. Mileage (i.e. until the legal tread wear limit is reached) compared to the four latest designs from competitors in summer HP segment (Michelin Primacy 4, Continental PremiumContact 6, Bridgestone Turanza T005, Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue). Tested by TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH in November 2019 by order of Goodyear. Tire size tested: 205/55R16 91V; Test car: VW Golf Mk7; Test location: open roads in central Germany. Report number: 713171748. Full report available at: https://www.goodyear.eu/en_gb/consumer/tire-test-reports/tire-test-reports-summer.html.

Last year, Goodyear announced a strategic partnership to provide tires and tire management solutions to TuSimple’s Autonomous Freight Network (AFN), the world’s first autonomous network. As an AFN partner, Goodyear will conduct wear studies to better predict maintenance, understand tire longevity and reduce the carbon impact of fleets.

“We are excited to build upon Goodyear’s relationship with TuSimple through this investment,” said Abhijit Ganguly, senior manager, Goodyear Ventures. “TuSimple's autonomous technology, combined with its vision of autonomous freight as a service, has the potential to create a lot of value in the commercial freight industry.”

To learn more about Goodyear Ventures, visit www.goodyearventures.com. For more information about TuSimple, go to www.tusimple.com.

Eco-friendly driving is all about going soft on your inputs. This means braking early and gently when you need to slow down or stop. The same goes for acceleration; use smooth pressure on the gas pedal to get you up to speed. This is particularly important when pulling away from lights or junctions.

Not only will this reduce the amount of CO2 your car is kicking out but it'll also help you save on fuel.

Choose the right tires

As with any manufacturing process, CO2 is produced in making tires so it makes sense to choose the tires that will last the longest. The life span of your tires should be a key consideration if you're keen to reduce your carbon footprint but another thing you need to consider is the tire rolling resistance.

Typically a concern of larger vehicles searching for efficiency, this is also something to take into consideration in your road car. Tires such as Goodyear's EfficientGrip Performance 2 is a great example of tire that lasts longer (up to 50% longer compared to its predecessor¹) with good low-rolling resistance for summer use.

Check your tires

Underinflated tires can have a big impact on the emissions your vehicle produces. Check your tire pressures regularly to make sure they're pumped up. You can find your car's optimum tire pressures in the vehicle handbook. Running on under-inflated tires can make the car difficult to drive while increasing both fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions.

Don't overload your car

The heavier your car, the more power it'll need to move around. Remove anything from your car that you don't need for a trip. Carrying around heavy items unnecessarily can increase your carbon footprint but doing so can also cause wear and tear on your vehicle.

Roof boxes cause drag that can significantly increase your carbon emissions. If you're not using a roof box, or could carry items inside your car, remove the box from the top of your car. This will help you increase the overall efficiency of your car for a journey.

Use cruise control

On long drives, you should use cruise control if you are able. Letting the car take over some of the hard work reduces severe inputs such as hard acceleration. A steady speed is much more efficient from a fuel consumption point of view than regularly changing speed.

Drive with the windows up

While it can be nice to drive on country lanes with the windows down, at higher speeds this has a huge impact on the emissions your car produces. To combat against the increased drag caused by open windows, your car will use more fuel and therefore produce more carbon.

Get your car serviced

Ensuring your car is in full working order will help it stay as efficient as possible. Small issues could turn into bigger problems that might mean your car is using more fuel than necessary.

Reducing your carbon footprint is all about being aware of what activities could produce more CO2. With a few small changes to your driving behavior and how you maintain your car, you can successfully reduce your carbon footprint while out on the road.

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[1] Internal estimates. Compared to predecessor EfficientGrip Performance. Tire size: 205/55R16 91V; Car: VW Golf 7; Location: open roads in Luxembourg and France

"Goodyear Ventures is excited to join Starship's journey as it revolutionizes the autonomous delivery space,” said Abhijit Ganguly, senior manager, Goodyear Ventures. “Goodyear's trusted services footprint combined with its custom solutions for autonomous vehicle companies comprise a solid platform to support Starship in the market."

The investment approach of Goodyear Ventures focuses on several themes shaping mobility, including electric and autonomous technologies. The venture capital fund amplifies Goodyear's legacy of innovation by partnering and investing in seed-to-growth-stage startups that have a shared vision of sustainable, safe and new mobility experiences that make life’s connections easier every day.

For more information on Goodyear Ventures, go to www.goodyearventures.com.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 62,000 people and manufactures its products in 46 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

About Starship Technologies

Starship Technologies is revolutionizing deliveries with autonomous robots that are designed to deliver food, groceries and packages locally in minutes. The delivery robots have traveled millions of miles and completed over 1 million autonomous deliveries around the world. They drive autonomously but are monitored by humans who can take control at any time. Starship was founded by Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis.

In addition to strengthening Goodyear’s product development at the European site, the new driving simulator also enhances technical collaboration with its headquarters in Akron, Ohio, where another DiM250 was recently put into operation. In addition, both of Goodyear’s innovation centers employ VI-grade COMPACT Simulators to complement virtual tire development processes.

Driving simulators allow tire models to be developed, tested and validated early in the development cycle, identifying the best performing tires before building a first prototype. This matches with the pace of the automotive development process, providing tire models at the right time when requested by vehicle manufacturers.

“This level of simulation capability is a clear technology leadership advantage,” said Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “We are always looking to appropriately accelerate the development process and maintain our status as the preferred supplier for our customers.”

“We are delighted to report on the adoption of a second DiM250 DYNAMIC Driving Simulator at Goodyear,” said Guido Bairati, VP Global Sales and Marketing, VI-grade. “With DiM250 and COMPACT simulators on both sides of the ocean, Goodyear is now at the forefront of virtual tire development and gains a significant competitive advantage when it comes to collaboration with automotive OEMs and accelerated product development. In both locations, Goodyear engineers will count on digital twins of important circuits such as Nurburgring Nordschleife, Virginia International Raceway and Idiada Spain Proving Grounds, and on advanced tire models in CDTire format from Fraunhofer Institute.”

As part of this collaboration, Goodyear will provide products and repair services to enhance the safety and operation of autonomous trucks. Additionally, Goodyear and TuSimple will conduct wear studies designed to understand how autonomous trucks and tires can help better predict maintenance, understand tire longevity and reduce the carbon impact of fleets.

Collected data from the study will also deliver insights into the difference between an autonomous and human driver with respect to the tires.

“With our leadership in products, fleet support and advanced innovations, Goodyear is applying knowledge to help deliver performance and safety with autonomous vehicles,” according to Erin Spring, Goodyear’s director, new ventures.

TuSimple launched the AFN in July with the goal to provide reliable low-cost freight transportation throughout the lower 48 United States through the use of Level 4 autonomous trucks.

“Autonomous trucks offer game-changing advantages for both shippers and fleets,” said Robert Brown, Senior Director External Affairs, TuSimple. “One of the most powerful advantages is the increased capacity, which comes as a result of the fact autonomous trucks can operate nearly continuously, and with this dramatic increase in truck utilizations comes the need to better understand predictive maintenance requirements.”

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About TuSimple

TuSimple is a self-driving technology company headquartered in San Diego, California with facilities in Tucson, Shanghai, and Beijing. TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready Level 4 (SAE) autonomous driving solution specifically designed to meet the demands of long-haul heavy-duty trucks and aims to transform the $800 billion U.S. trucking industry. The company was founded in 2015 with a mission to improve the safety and efficiency of the trucking industry and reached unicorn status in 2019. For more information, go to tusimple.com/media.

According to the United Nations, more than 700 million tons of rice is harvested worldwide each year.

During the milling process, the protective outer shell, or husk, is separated from the rice grain and discarded. To reduce the amount of waste shipped to landfills, the rice husks are often burned to generate electricity, leaving behind a silica-rich byproduct known as rice husk ash (RHA).

Goodyear started exploring the use of RHA silica in 2013 with positive results.

“When we consider substitute material sources, we look for the impacts on product performance,” said Dr. Bob Woloszynek, Goodyear's chief engineer for raw materials development and reinforcement technology. "We were pleased to find that compared to conventional sand-based silica, the RHA-grade material was an equivalent replacement in performance.”

RHA silica is now firmly entrenched in Goodyear's materials portfolio and used across several of its global manufacturing facilities.

Silica’s positive effect on tire performance

The addition of silica enhances a tire tread's flexibility and elasticity at lower temperatures, which gives better traction and grip. Goodyear has also found that silica improves tires’ rolling resistance when compared to carbon black. The resulting lower rolling resistance also allows for enhanced vehicle fuel economy and wet weather tire performance.

The company is now working closely with its suppliers to further expand the use of RHA silica and has set a goal to double its use by 2021.

“We are really pleased to continue developing this technology from something that would have been sent to landfill, and include it in our premium products," said Dr. Woloszynek.

The creation of smart and connected tires for fleets, electric, and autonomous vehicles helps make our roads safer for all users. These tires have the power to flag issues such as under-inflation and tire wear, and can reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tire by 30%. Goodyear aims to ensure consumer adoption of intelligent tires by 2021.

• Decent work and economic growth

Goodyear audits all of the company's natural rubber suppliers every two years to ensure its operations are not supporting child or forced labor. In 2018 and 2019, Goodyear conducted onsite audits at 98% of its supply in line with its supplier code of conduct. The company will follow up with onsite audits for the remaining 2% when travel restrictions from COVID-19 are lifted.

• Reduced inequalities

Goodyear is dedicated to creating a professional and respectful workplace and has a zero tolerance policy to protect associates from discrimination, harassment, retaliation and workplace violence.

• Sustainable cities and communities

Services such as Proactive Solutions help lower operating costs for fleets, and help them operate more efficiently. Goodyear is also collaborating with all major OEMs on electric and hybrid mobility to help usher in a better future. Half of the company's original equipment tire developments in Europe are for EVs and hybrids.

• Responsible consumption and production

Goodyear established, and continues to uphold, a zero waste-to-landfill expectation at its tire and chemical plants back in 2006. In 2019, the company reduced its global energy usage by 18% and GHG emissions by 19% versus 2010 baseline.

• Climate action

Goodyear can help influence fuel efficiency through its tires’ rolling resistance and weight. A tire with low rolling resistance and a vehicle with less weight consume less fuel and emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2005, Goodyear reduced rolling resistance by 29% across the company's consumer tire portfolio, worldwide.

• Life on land

Goodyear is a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, which was created to recognize and promote human rights within the natural rubber value chain and avoid ecosystem conversion and deforestation, among principles. In addition, Goodyear strengthened its own natural rubber policy to further promote an environmentally and socially-responsible supply chain.

So where to next?

Despite the challenges faced in 2020, the company continues to qualify and further quantify its impact on these SDGs. But Goodyear isn't on this journey alone. Each of the company's goals require collaboration, and its positive moves are supported by the automotive industry at large, its supply chain and its workforce. This teamwork ensures that Goodyear — and its customers — understand the impact of what is being done, and to see the benefits of Goodyear's goals. The journey is ongoing, and the future looks brighter than ever.

Goodyear’s concept tires are tailor-made to benefit the modern, sleek and sporty design of the Lexus. They support EV motors and are designed to improve the overall comfort and performance of the car.
 

“We are proud to have worked on this project with Lexus, a company that has been pioneering innovations in mobility for 30 years”, explains Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “This collaboration demonstrates once again the critical role tires can play in shaping the future of electric mobility.”
 

The LF-30 Electrified concept tire includes several innovative features:

• EV motor cooling: Drawing on Goodyear’s expertise in aerodynamics, the concept tires are designed to improve the cooling of the EV motors. Cool air enters through the front bumper intake and fins on the tires drive the flow towards the electric motor positioned behind each wheel. The hot air produced by the EV motor is then expelled towards the outer edge of the rim of the LF-30 Electrified.
   
• Reduced aerodynamic drag: The tire design along with the outer tire shape would improve the Lexus’ aerodynamics by reducing drag, resulting in higher efficiency and battery range.
   
• Noise reduction through biomimicry: Goodyear found inspiration in nature when designing the concept tires. The leading edges of the cooling fins are covered with fine velvet like on the wings of an owl, which enables the predator to silently catch their prey at night. Through this biomimetic solution, the rolling noise of the tire would be reduced to a minimum.
   

Goodyear’s concept tire for the Lexus LF-30 Electrified concept comes in a 285/35R24 size.

“Goodyear wants the tire to be an even more powerful contributor to answering consumers’ specific mobility needs, said Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Goodyear Europe, “It was with that ambition that we set out to create a concept tire primed for the future of personalized and convenient electric mobility.”

The reCharge concept includes a number of innovative features that are built around three pillars:

Personalized

• At the core of the reCharge concept is a reloadable and biodegradable tread compound that can be recharged with individual capsules, radically simplifying the process of replacing your tires. Filled with a customized liquid compound, these capsules allow the tread to regenerate and the tire to adapt over time to climatic circumstances, road conditions, or simply how you want to travel. Thanks to artificial intelligence a driver profile would be created around which the liquid compound would be customized, generating a compound blend tailored to each individual.

Sustainable

• The compound itself would be made from a biological material and would be reinforced with fibres inspired by one of the toughest natural materials in the world - spider silk. This would make it both extremely durable and 100 percent biodegradable.

Hassle-Free

• In addition to radically simplifying the process of replacing your tires with rechargeable capsules, the tread would be supported by a light-weight, non-pneumatic frame and tall-and-narrow shape. This is a thin, robust low-maintenance construction that would eliminate the need for pressure maintenance or downtime related to punctures.

“The Goodyear reCharge is a concept tire without compromise, supporting personalized, sustainable and hassle-free electric mobility,” concluded Sebastien Fontaine, Lead Designer at the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Luxembourg.

Beyond just tire service, AndGo delivers full vehicle readiness, helping consumer fleets boost their performance. Through monitoring of service needs and quick and easy scheduling, AndGo activates Goodyear’s vast service network for convenient scheduling to reduce downtime.

Goodyear Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Kramer said, “AndGo is another Goodyear innovation that will help enable mobility today and in the future. There is no one better positioned than Goodyear with our service network, intelligent tire solutions and predictive software to provide premium fleet readiness.”

Fleets engaging AndGo will benefit from continuous care through routine inspections and tire monitoring leveraging Goodyear’s intelligent tires. AndGo eliminates the guesswork in fleet management allowing fleets to focus on their end-customers, whether it is today’s drivers or passengers in emerging autonomous vehicles.

AndGo is currently available in select U.S. markets today and will expand to additional markets in mid-2020.

Through collaboration with fleets, AndGo will accelerate and create new standards for mobility, backed by the more than 120 years of Goodyear experience. For more information about AndGo, visit www.andgonow.com.

Goodyear Ventures will continue and expand Goodyear’s growing relationships in new mobility, with a focus on partnering and investing in startups with a shared vision of sustainable, safe and new mobility experiences that make life’s connections easier every day.

Goodyear’s Chairman, CEO and President Richard J. Kramer said, “Goodyear is a technology-driven mobility company that seeks out and partners with other mobility thought leaders ranging from small startups to proven business models. Goodyear Ventures will take this effort to the next level to engage and shape how people move in the future.” Goodyear Ventures will focus on eight themes shaping mobility:

• Electric and autonomous technologies
• Connected mobility solutions
• Next-generation public mobility
• Next-generation aviation mobility
• Future transportation infrastructure
• Future maintenance and operations
• Emerging technologies
• New tire materials

In addition to capital, Goodyear Ventures’ portfolio companies will have the opportunity to learn and grow with Goodyear through its extensive technology and innovation resources, vast vehicle service network, and global manufacturing and product development footprint. For more information on Goodyear Ventures, go to www.goodyearventures.com.