Goodyear highlights winter driving safety
As the winter season approaches, tyre technology is key in ensuring safety and control for motorists navigating challenging road conditions. Tyre grip is especially vital when temperatures drop, and Goodyear says its comprehensive development process, including rigorous testing, reveals what makes winter tyres superior for cold weather driving.
Goodyear’s tyre experts emphasise that grip is fundamentally determined by the tyre’s material composition and tread design. Winter tyres are made from softer compounds that stay flexible in low temperatures, maximising contact with the road even below 7°C. This is different to summer tyres, which experience rubber hardening, and reduced grip as the weather cools.
This flexibility allows winter tyres to provide superior traction, crucial for both braking and cornering on cold, damp, or icy surfaces. In contrast, summer tyres are optimised for warm conditions, where a harder compound improves performance and longevity but loses necessary flexibility as the weather cools.
Goodyear says using the right tyre for the season ensures that your vehicle “puts its best footprint forward”, avoiding loss of grip that can lead to longer stopping distances and decreased control.
Goodyear employs one of the industry’s largest teams of technicians, scientists, and test drivers at its Innovation Centre in Luxembourg. Every winter tyre undergoes two years of development, covering hundreds of real-world and laboratory tests on snow, ice, wet, and dry surfaces. Tests simulate the most extreme conditions drivers might encounter, including the Arctic Circle and Alpine ski resorts – all to validate real-world safety before tyres reach customers.
The Goodyear UltraGrip tyre range, recognised with the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, is engineered to meet the toughest snow grip standards, offering high performance even in the most demanding winter climates. These tyres are also evaluated for resistance to aquaplaning, so drivers can remain on course even during heavy rain and standing water. This range also features optimised dry handling and grip performance in cold conditions
Ben Glesener, senior director technology consumer EMEA at Goodyear, said: “Goodyear is dedicated to developing balanced tyres that provide not only outstanding winter performance but also deliver on other customer priorities such as mileage and fuel efficiency.
“Our rigorous test programs mean that drivers can trust their Goodyear winter tyres to perform at their best, no matter how demanding the conditions.”