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

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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.

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.

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

The Role Tyres Play in a Championship

As official tyre supplier of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC), Goodyear's tyres are put through their paces during a race weekend as 15 race-prepared trucks — based on road-going 4x2 tractor units — roar around Europe's race tracks. These trucks boast massive 1,500-bhp engines with average torque of 5,500 Nm, which can power the trucks from 0-100 kph in five seconds and 30-160 kph in just six seconds.

Without the right tyres, these trucks would never be able to perform in this way. With heavy loads under braking and 0-100 kph times to rival a sports car — but in a full-size truck!— the tyres need to withstand a lot of stress.

The same goes for endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. High-quality tyres contribute to the complex strategy of 24-hour race. Teams need to balance performance alongside fuel saving, meaning the tyres need to find the perfect balance between these two elements.

Formula One strategy is very similar. During its time in Formula One, Goodyear picked up 368 victories — still an unbeaten record today — and contributed to some clever strategy decisions. Again, the balance needs to be found between durability and performance to ensure drivers are able to get as much as possible from their cars while reducing the amount of time spent in the pits.

It's important that the tyres are fit for the job. Not only do they have to withstand the harsh conditions of the racetrack — high-speed kerbstone impacts, high temperatures, heavy braking, and quick acceleration — but they need to both perform and be efficient at the same time. These race tyres also need to work just as well in the wet as they do in the dry, as the ETRC uses the same tyres for both dry and wet conditions.

Continuing Innovation

These challenging race conditions make the perfect test bed for the innovation of new tyre technologies. Not just in terms of how to last longer, go faster, find more grip or save more fuel, but in terms of how to find the best balance and durability for road-going tyres.

Motorsport is exciting but it also provides an important element for the next level of tyres for both commercial and passenger vehicles.

Since 2004, Goodyear has been running a truck racing development programme, in which the specially designed Goodyear Truck Race Tyre became a reality. Since then, these tyres have evolved quite considerately including the introduction of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) chips in 2011 to support the FIA officials in monitoring teams' tyre use to ensure fair play.

After intensive testing in truck racing, this connected tyre technology was brought into Goodyear's current on-road and mixed-service tyres. The chip in the tyre helps optimise daily fleet operations and tyre maintenance. The chip also provides a unique identification code, enabling tracking and monitoring of the tyre during its entire lifetime through production, regrooving, retreading and recycling.

From Race to Road

With this innovation, the technology that goes into Goodyear's truck racing tyres means that on-road tyres are getting more and more sophisticated and stronger — offering more mileage through extended lifetime. For commercial vehicles, the focus, of course, isn't on short-term performance. What Goodyear learns from its race truck tyres, it implements on the road to create more sustainable and efficient tyres with a low-rolling resistance to improve fuel consumption and wear.

Goodyear's range of tyres for commercial vehicles focus on these core areas:

• Fuel efficiency and sustainability
• Performance and versatility
• All-weather capabilities
• Durability and efficiency

Stay tuned for more news on the 2020 FIA European Truck Racing Championship season.

Brussels, Belgium - November 9, 2017 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Ventech Systems GmbH, a leader in automated tire inspection technology, from Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH to support its fleet services in Europe and other geographies of the world.

Ventech Systems provides a fully-automated tire inspection system that quickly and easily checks tire pressure, tread depth and vehicle weight for buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles.

The company, based in Dorsten, Germany, will be integrated into the Goodyear Proactive Solutions business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, where Goodyear’s Proactive Solutions program is currently available.

Andre Weisz, managing director, Goodyear Proactive Solutions, has been named chief executive officer of Ventech Systems. Andreas Pietsch, Ventech Systems chief operating officer, will remain in that position.

Last year, Goodyear launched Goodyear Proactive Solutions to provide a full suite of operations management solutions supporting fleet owners to improve safety, decrease fuel use, reduce their carbon footprint and support the digital transformation of their fleet.

The acquisition strengthens Goodyear’s one stop value proposition towards fleets, including premium tires, advanced technology and mobile fleet solutions as well as a complete service package to allow them to optimize their total cost of ownership and efficiency.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 65,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 22 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​​. GT-FN

AKRON, Ohio, September 20, 2017 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced today that it has agreed to acquire Ventech Systems GmbH, a leader in automated tire inspection technology, from Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH.

Ventech Systems (https://ventech.de/en), based in Dorsten, Germany, delivers innovative measuring devices for the vehicle industry. The company was founded in 2006. It provides a fully-automated tire inspection system that quickly and easily checks tire pressure, tread depth and vehicle weight for buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles.

“Over the past three years, our Goodyear Proactive Solutions business has collaborated with Ventech Systems to integrate its data gathering and analysis capabilities into our fleet management solution,” said Christopher Helsel, Goodyear vice president and chief technology officer. “Feedback from our fleet customers has been excellent, and we view this as an important opportunity to enhance our service and value proposition for customers.”

“Goodyear and Ventech Systems are both companies founded and driven by innovation,” said Andreas Pietsch, Ventech Systems chief operating officer and business manager. “Goodyear’s strong market presence enables additional worldwide growth opportunities for Ventech Systems. We are excited to support Goodyear’s fleet customers with our unique technology in terms of process optimization, business efficiency and road safety.”

Truck tire care and maintenance is one of the largest contributors to commercial fleet uptime and total cost of operations. Last year, Goodyear launched Goodyear Proactive Solutions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region to provide a full suite of demonstrated Vehicle-To-Fleet operations management solutions supporting fleet owners to improve vehicle and fleet safety, decrease fuel use, reduce their carbon footprint and support the digital transformation of their fleet.

The acquisition of Ventech Systems will further expand Goodyear Proactive Solutions’ commercial offerings with an efficient, user-friendly closed loop service enabling fleet operators to measure tire pressure, tread depth and vehicle weight on all their vehicles each time they enter or exit their depot.

In addition to its Goodyear Proactive Solutions mobile tire/fleet management offerings, Goodyear is also working with automakers to provide tire information to vehicle control systems to enhance safety and performance. Earlier this month it announced that it is equipping Tesloop, a city-to-city mobility service that exclusively uses Tesla electric vehicles, with wireless sensors in its tires to improve overall tire management and maximize uptime for its growing fleet.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The business and technology will be integrated into the company’s Goodyear Proactive Solutions business.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 65,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 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​​. GT-FN

COLMAR-BERG, Luxembourg – September 12, 2017 – Advancing its connected-business model, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced plans to create a new facility in Luxembourg that utilizes an innovative production process to meet growing customer and consumer demand for premium tires.

Named Mercury, the proprietary process features highly-automated, interconnected workstations, using additive manufacturing technologies to efficiently produce premium tires in small- batch quantities on-demand for replacement and original equipment customers.

Goodyear Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Richard J. Kramer announced Mercury and the company's plans at the groundbreaking event for the facility here.

"Mercury addresses the increasing complexity in the tire industry as the number of vehicle models and options available to consumers continues to proliferate," said Kramer. "It gives us the capability to increase our speed and flexibility to meet the growing demand for small volumes of high- margin, premium Goodyear tires and to deliver them to customers on demand, faster than ever."

"Mercury will advance our connected business model, which aligns all of our assets – from the production floor to consumers who choose Goodyear online and at retail," he added. "It will complement our existing high-volume facilities and give us a true competitive advantage."

The new facility, set to open in 2019, is in close proximity to Goodyear's Luxembourg innovation center and tire proving grounds. The company is investing $77 million in the facility, which will produce approximately 500,000 tires annually and create approximately 70 new, full-time positions.

The technology used in the Mercury production process was developed and tested over the past five years at Goodyear's innovation and development centers. The name Mercury is a reference to the mythical god of trade and travel, which inspired the creation of Goodyear's winged foot logo by company founder Frank A. Seiberling.