Goodyear has more All-Season test wins than any other brand.[1] The new Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 is continuing the tradition. Last week, it wasawarded test wins by prestigious German magazine Auto Bild (issue 39-2020), as well as Tyre Reviews, the leading source of independent tyre information in the world.
The All Season tyre segment is expanding rapidly, having witnessed around 21 percent growth across Europe over the last five years.[2] It’s also a segment where motorists have high expectations, demanding a product that is well-balanced and can deliver performance in all road and weather conditions.[3]
Auto Bild’s editorial team named the Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 winner of their current all-season tyre test, highlighting the tyre’s “convincing performance in all weather conditions. Dynamic handling on snow, in wet and dry conditions. Very good winter performance, high mileage”. Auto Bild also awarded the tyre the prestigious “EcoMaster” title in recognition of its test-leading performance in the mileage, rolling resistance and price/mileage ratio categories.
Jon Benson, owner and tester for Tyre Reviews crowned the Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 test winner in the 2020 17” All Season Tyre Test, commenting that: “The new Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-3 earns a win in its first test, proving to have the most rounded ability of all the all season tyres included.”[4]
“It’s great to see wins with the Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 product so soon after its launch into the market. We are particularly thrilled to be recognised by prestigious publications such as Auto Bild and Tyre Reviews,” said Mike Rytokoski, Chief Marketing Officer for Goodyear Europe.
Eight times around the world
Developing all-season tyres is one of the greatest challenges for tyre engineers. It requires developing a summer and winter tyre simultaneously. This means that the new product must be tested under a wide range of weather and road conditions before being launched into the market.
Goodyear uses test tracks around the world all year round for this purpose. “All in all, test drivers run a real marathon as they cover about 320,000 kilometers at the wheel of the test vehicles. In such a development project, they circle the globe a total of eight times. In addition, some 36,000 engineering hours and 3,800 laboratory tests are required to achieve the desired performance level of the new tyre,” explains Alexandre Scharis, Technical Project Manager for Winter and All-Season, Consumer EMEA at Goodyear.
Three innovations in one tyre
The result of this meticulous development process is the Vector 4Seasons Gen-3, an all-season tyre that combines three key technologies that provide an optimum balance of performance criteria in snowy, wet and dry conditions.
Firstly, its Snow Grip Technology ensures improved grip on snow.[5] Secondly, the tyre’s Dry Handling Technology results, among other things, in five percent better dry braking compared to the previous generation of the tyre.[6] Finally, thanks to Aqua Control Technology, the tyre maintains its predecessor’s impressive level of aquaplaning resistance, even as the tread depth decreases
“Goodyear made significant investments to make the best even better with the latest generation of our award-winning Vector 4Seasons tyre range,” Rytokoski continued, “Not only have we delivered a product with well-balanced performance, but by leveraging our experience from endurance racing, we are providing improved value for drivers who will benefit from a 14% improvement in mileage[7] and 6% improvement in energy efficiency[8] versus the previous generation of the tyre.”
[1]Based on 41 reviews in journals from November 2013 to September 2020, conducted by 16 of the leading and independent European tire magazines. The calculation is based on the number of goodyear test wins in the All-Season category over all competitors tested. More information under: https://www.goodyear.eu/en_gb/consumer/legal-disclaimer-test-claims.html
[2] ETRMA, EDW & GFK 2016-2020
[3] All Season IPSOS study Dec. 2019
[4] https://www.tirereviews.co.uk/Article/2020-Tire-Reviews-All-Season-Tire-Test.htm
[5] Internal test, size 205/55R16 91V on VW Golf.
[6] Internal test, size 205/55R16 91V on VW Golf.
[7] Internal test. Tire Size 205/55 R16 94V on VW Golf.
[8] Based on Internal Rolling Resistance lab test. Tire Size 205/55 R16 94V.
