AKRON, Ohio, November 24, 2009 – An innovative tire from Goodyear, with elements such as a Fuel-Saving Tread Compound, has been named one of the "100 Most Innovative Products of the Year" by Popular Science magazine.

The Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max has been named to Popular Science’s "Best of What’s New" 2009 list of products in the Automotive Technology category. The tire is featured in a special section of the December issue, which is available this month, along with special coverage at the magazine’s Web site, www.popsci.com.

"We are pleased to be honored by the editors of Popular Science for the innovation represented in the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tire," said Steve McClellan, Goodyear’s North American president, consumer tires. "Our product development process follows a market-back path – learning what consumers want and then building tires that deliver innovative benefits.

"Goodyear works hard to make sure the technology is relevant to the consumer’s wants. Honors such as this, and the complementing strong consumer demand for our tires, confirm that direction."

Mark Jannot, editor-in-chief of Popular Science, said, "The Best of What’s New Award is the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners – chosen from among thousands of entrants – represent the highest level of achievement in their fields. For 22 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us – those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future."

The Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tire features a proprietary fuel-saving tread compound that helps reduce energy loss as the tire rolls, so less gas is required to keep the tire rolling. The 4 percent improvement in highway fuel economy delivered by the new Fuel Max tires means, in essence, drivers can save 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of a set of 4 tires.*

Earlier this year, fuel economy experts Helen and John Taylor set a "48 Contiguous U.S. States Fuel Economy Guinness World Record," driving a car equipped with Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires. This three-week, 9,000+ mile drive through all 48 contiguous states in the U.S., showcased the potential fuel savings from the breakthrough fuel-efficient tread compound found in the new tires.

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires also have been selected as original equipment fitments for recognized fuel-efficient vehicles, such as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, 2010 Ford Fusion S, and 2010 Toyota Prius.

As a replacement tire, the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is available to consumers now, and offers all-season traction with a full range of 32 sizes, fitting more than 80 percent of the passenger tire segment. See www.goodyeartires.com for more details on Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max.

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. Best of What’s New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 11 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green Technology, Home Entertainment, Security, Home Technology, Health and Recreation. All of the winners will be featured in the December special issue of Popular Science, which is on newsstands now. The story is also available online at www.popsci.com/bown2009.

Founded in 1872, Popular Science (www.popsci.com) is the world's largest science and technology magazine, with a circulation of 1.3 million and 7.1 million readers. Each month, Popular Science delivers "The Future Now," reporting on the intersection of science and everyday life with an eye toward what’s new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by the Bonnier Corporation (www.bonniercorp.com), one of the largest consumer publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through more than 40 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs approximately 71,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world.

*(Note: This savings is based on a 4% fuel economy improvement, on 65,000-mile tread life limited warranty, as compared to the standard Goodyear Assurance tire tested on P195/65R15 size on a 2008 Honda Civic. Actual results may vary based on when tires are replaced, driving and road conditions, and proper tire maintenance.)

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Note to editors:

Downloadable photos of the product are available at Goodyear’s media web site, www.GoodyearNewsRoom.com.