Feeling Adventurous? You need a tyre for all terrains.

Goodyear’s versatile All-Terrain tyre with the strength of Kevlar®

SUV’s and 4×4’s have become increasingly popular. Production has been rising sharply worldwide and in South Africa especially, where the two top selling vehicles are both bakkies, it’s is clear that South African drivers expect a lot from there vehicles. Gone are the days of only going to work and back, and to church on Sundays. Today’s vehicles have become extension of our lifestyles. Apart from commuting on tar, we want to get of the beaten track and go explore. So you want tyres fit for the bush, which are also comfortable on tar? Yup, you have entered the realm of All-Terrain Rubber which must grip and grind its way over a variety of surfaces.

With a contact patch that’s not much bigger than a big human hand to provide grip, stability and ride comfort, tyres nowadays are marvels of modern technology. Radial construction, better compounds and computer-aided tread designs have allowed for even more specialised tyre applications, and led to three main tyre options in the world of 4x4s and all-wheeldrive SUVs: mud-terrain (MT), all-terrain (AT) and highway-terrain (HT).

MTs are the preferred option for tough off-road conditions, where maximum grip in mud and sand is required, with suitable sidewall protection against punctures at low pressures. But the aggressive tread patterns of MT tyres are less than ideal on tar because of unacceptable noise and vibration levels, making long-distance trips harsh and uncomfortable. Highway-terrain tyres on the other hand offer higher speed ratings, better grip on tar, but less traction in off-road conditions, and they are prone to damage off road because of their softer sidewalls.

All terrain tyres are developed to find the middle ground between MT and HT tyres. They represent a compromise, and as such a multitude of options exists within the segment – from more off-road-biased choices to more on-road-inclined versions. And it is this compromise that make the world of AT tyres so competitive. The tyre that can perform the best over the range of challenges will be the tyre of choice.

Goodyear introduced the Wrangler® All-Terrain Adventure tyre locally in 2017. It is a tough and durable tyre for off-road driving, but it is also perfectly suited for on-road use. And this is not only a marketing blurb. Since it’s introduction it has uniformly impressed and even won DriveOut Magazine’s All-Terrain tyre test in 2017. Out of 7 tested tyres, Goodyear’s new on/off road tyre ranked highest with an overall result of 97,46%. In the same year Spanish magazine ‘Neumáticos y Mecánica Rápida’ named the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure as the best 4×4/SUV tyre of 2017. In 2018 SA4x4 conducted a similar test, with 17 different tyres, and in that test the Wrangler® All-Terrain Adventure tyre came second in an extremely close-run affair, missing out on the top spot by only 0.26 percent. Statistically speaking, the variance is negligible.

So what makes this tyre a universal top performer?

The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure is built with an ultra-strong, Kevlar® fiber overlay. This re-enforces the tread, offering the rugged strength needed to prevent punctures and cuts for a confident off-road driving experience. This feature is reinforced by the DurawallT Technology, which improves resistance against punctures and cuts in the sidewall area.

The new open shoulder blocks help to evacuate mud from the tread allowing for improved off-road traction where it counts most. The biting edges of the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure create more traction between the tyre and the road surface, ensuring the grip needed for confident braking and handling. Furtermore, Goodyear engineers optimized the tread design for an even pressure distribution across the footprint, resulting in excellent mileage and great on-road performance. DEKRA testing results reveal that the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure has, on average, 37% better mileage performance than tested tyres.

The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure meets the demands of SUV/4×4 drivers wanting to enjoy both off-road and on-road driving pleasure. So much so that the new New 2018 Jeep® Wrangler, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will be fitted with Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure tyres as standard.

Article: Johann van Tonder