AKRON, Ohio, February 17, 2009 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today introduced the Wrangler DuraTrac, the latest addition to the Wrangler lineup of truck tires.  The DuraTrac offers innovative new features, making it ideal for work applications, from construction and farming to landscaping and mining.  The new Wrangler DuraTrac also delivers the performance pickup truck owners are looking for when they are off the job, and hitting the trails for recreational activities, like camping, fishing, and hunting. 

There are more than 115 million registered light trucks on the road in the United States, with many serving as multipurpose vehicles for both work and personal recreational applications.  With today’s challenging economic environment, American truck owners are increasingly looking for their vehicles to serve double-duty; taking them from hauling a heavy load to a construction site to heading off for a weekend of outdoor leisure and recreation.

 “American truck owners are looking for more out of their pick-ups these days and expect them to perform well in both work and recreational applications,” said Melissa Montisano, Goodyear general marketing manager for light-truck and SUV tires.  “Thanks to its many innovative features, the new Wrangler DuraTrac delivers to truck owners exactly what they need – a hard-working, attractively priced tire that is tough enough for the off-road job site, but still offers a good ride on the road.”

The new Wrangler DuraTrac is packed with innovative features to enhance both off- and on-road performance.

Goodyear’s proprietary TractiveGroove TechnologyTM provides the Wrangler DuraTrac with enhanced traction in deep mud and snow while the new tire’s combination of highly angled center tread blocks and zig-zag microgrooves offers enhanced lateral stability and traction in rain and snow, all while reducing road noise.  In fact, Wrangler DuraTrac tires have earned the right to bear the European Commission Noise Symbol right on the sidewall, which indicates they meet stringent European standards for pass-by noise.

Self-cleaning, stepped shoulder blocks and thousands of biting edges help the new tire deliver enhanced off-road traction and handling, as well as snow traction worthy of the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Mountain Snowflake Symbol, a designation for outstanding winter traction.  To provide even more performance in harsh winter driving conditions, the Wrangler DuraTrac can be equipped with metal studs. (Consult state laws regarding use.) 

To enhance the toughness and longevity of the tire, the new DuraTrac features a rugged tread rubber that helps resist tread block chipping, chunking and tearing, especially during heavy loading and towing applications.  Wrangler DuraTrac also features a rim lock that helps prevent wheel slip for minimal balancing throughout the life of the tire. 

“Because truck owners are proud of their vehicles and want to protect their investment, the new Wrangler DuraTrac features rugged styling and offers a built-in rim protector to help protect expensive wheels from accidental curb damage,” added Montisano.

Wrangler DuraTrac fits the most popular ‘working trucks’ on the road, offering 26 popular sizes covering 89% of this target segment.  Fitments include all of the best-selling light- and full-size trucks today in ½-ton, ¾-ton and one-ton applications.  With its versatile mix of on- and off-road traction, the new Wrangler DuraTrac offers the perfect complement to the brand’s existing lineup, including the extreme off-road traction of the Wrangler MT/R and the rugged toughness and smooth quiet ride of the Wrangler SilentArmor.

For more details about Goodyear tires, visit www.goodyeartires.com.