Goodyear, Woolly Bears Agree: Brrrrring on Winter Tires
15 November 2000
Goodyear, Woolly Bears Agree: Brrrrring on Winter Tires AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 15 Goodyear, fuzzy caterpillars and
scientists may agree that a colder winter is coming, judging from early winter
tire orders and black markings on the woolly bear insects.
Scientists from the National Weather Service also are forecasting a return
to cold, snowy weather, now that La Nina and El Nino are out of the picture.
From New England to the Carolinas, cold weather will be routine this winter,
they say.
Goodyear officials say they're ready for an early snowfall. Despite a
mild winter last year, the company shipped 37 percent more winter tires than
in 1998. Mark Cherveny, product manager for auto tires, said the forecast is
for an accelerated demand in winter tires.
Early order shipments are up 4 percent this year, and the company plans to
grow Goodyear's winter tire market share by 25 percent and double it in the
next three years. Cherveny said winter tire growth is expected to continue,
especially considering the following:
* A return to "normal" conditions in the Plains states, the Midwest and
Northeast, Weather Service officials said. Cold air outbreaks will lead to
more days below zero and heavier lake-effect snows.
Washington, DC could see average temperatures 4 degrees colder than the
past three winters; Minneapolis is expected to be 6 degrees cooler; Chicago, 5
degrees colder. Even Florida, which will be warmer than normal, could see
cold air outbreaks or "Florida Freezes."
* A resurgence in rear-wheel-drive vehicles that go beyond the
traditional sports and large luxury cars. For example, DaimlerChrysler said
it is considering switching its Dodge and Chrysler LH sedans to rear-wheel
drive for the 2004 model year.
The automaker said it also may produce two concept cars -- the Chrysler
300 Hemi C convertible and Dodge Charger R/T -- in rear-wheel drive. They
will be joined by large groups of rear-wheel-drive vehicles with Mercedes,
BMW, Camaro, Mustang and Cadillac nameplates.
* Automotive analysts say traction and stability control systems will
improve rear-wheel-drive traction on wet or snowy roads. That traction,
Goodyear officials say, will only be as good as the tires that grip the
roadway.
"Tires play the single largest role in determining how your vehicle will
handle in an emergency situation," Cherveny said. "It doesn't matter how many
electronic systems you have on your vehicle, such as traction control and
anti-lock braking.
"The brakes might stop your wheels, but the tires stop your vehicle," he
added.
* Not sure about winter-weather forecasts this year? Check the Hagers-
Town Town and Country Almanack, the nation's second-oldest almanac, which
bases its annual predictions on the black and reddish-brown markings of the
woolly bear caterpillar.
Forecaster Frank Leiter said he examined 632 caterpillars and found the
black markings longer than usual, a sure sign of cold weather in western
Maryland -- at least.
* Goodyear and other tire manufacturers have revamped their snow tire
lines. Part of the reason for the demise of snow tires is due to snow tires
themselves. They were knobby, ugly and noisy. They were good for driving in
the snow; they had comparatively poor traction otherwise in the dry and wet,
Cherveny said.
Goodyear's recommendation today is the winter tire -- a type that can
handle a variety of winter conditions and low temperatures, including snow,
ice, dry pavement and wet and slushy conditions.
In a dramatic departure from the past, Goodyear revamped its new passenger
Ultra Grip tire lines with directional tread patterns and state-of-the-art
tread compounds. These tread patterns combined with special winter tread
compounds can handle a wide variety of conditions normally found during the
winter season, he said.
The company also has expanded its winter lineup with eight new sizes of
its premium Ultra Grip Ice winter radial for a total of 22 sizes, five Ultra
Grip winter tire sizes for 21 total sizes and four Eagle Ultra Grip
performance sizes for 21 total.
Goodyear also sells a Wrangler Ultra Grip winter tire line for light
trucks and sport-utility vehicles, featuring the IceLoc silica tread compound
for superior low temperature traction on ice and on wet, slushy roads.
The studless Ultra Grip Ice radial delivers about up to 35 percent
improved snow traction and up to 40 percent better ice traction than
conventional all-season tires.
Cherveny said the new tires have contributed to the winter selling surge.
"I believe we made inroads into educating consumers on the important need for
winter tires. There's no substitute for the traction that winter tires
offer."
