FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AKRON, Ohio, July 18 - When Goodyear introduced a new on/off-road tire for pickup trucks this spring, company
officials claimed the DuPont KEVLAR used inside was an ingredient that helped make the tire both tough and comfortable. Apparently, the new Goodyear Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology also is a good bet in off-road racing,
judging from its performance in recent events from the Championship Off Road Racing (CORR) series. After eight races at four different racing venues, Aaron Hawley sits atop the standings in the CORR Super Buggy class,
holding a sizeable 121-88 points lead. His Toyota-powered race machine runs on standard Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology
tires in an LT235/75R15 size. Hawley lined up for the first CORR event of the season on May 22-23 without ever testing the new tire or even
running it in practice. He ran away from the field in the race for a convincing win, and remarked at the conclusion of the race, "It's
the best tire I ever ran on this vehicle!" He followed the win at the season-opening event at the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI, with a second-place finish in
the second race there. On June 11-12 in Antigo, WI, Hawley took a second and third, then followed with additional second- and
third-place finishes in late-June CORR racing at Crandon, WI. This month, he chalked up another race win in Topeka, KS, to extend his
series lead. CORR combines close, fender-to-fender racing on a course designed to allow the fan in the stands to see all the
action on the track, while allowing television viewers at home to live vicariously through their favorite driver. The Speed Channel
network, reaching 63 million households, is the television home of CORR, covering 84 hours of racing action from the Lucas Oil Pro and
Sportsman Series. Drivers, sponsors, and fans are drawn to the unique style of racing. Current NASCAR racers Brendan Gaughan and
Jimmie Johnson began their racing careers competing in the CORR series. Goodyear serves as an associate sponsor for the CORR series, and supplies tires to select teams. The Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology is a tire designed with the on/off-road pickup truck driver in mind. It
can handle tough off-road conditions, while providing a smooth, quiet ride when driving around town. "Any kind of recognition for our products - whether earned on the track, or through positive performance
reviews in the media or third-party awards - is added exposure that helps tell the tire's story to consumers," said Sanjay Sivanandan,
vice president and general manager, Goodyear consumer tires. "These positive reports help drive traffic to our retail outlets, as
consumers will recognize KEVLAR as a key feature in these tires. They don't buy a tire for technology alone; they buy the benefits
of technology. They want relevant technology." Features of the tire include:
§ Two high-tensile steel belts and a layer made with DuPont
KEVLAR.
§ Goodyear's exclusive DurawallTM rubber compound, which reinforces the sidewall to help resist punctures and cuts.
§ Rim Guard, a design that further protects expensive wheels from accidental curb damage.
The Durawall feature is a technology borrowed from Goodyear's tire for severe off-road use, the Wrangler MT/R. The Durawall compound
in the sidewall helps with puncture resistance, a feature that is especially important when off the road or at a work site.
The layer made with KEVLAR also soaks up road noise for a smooth and quiet ride. For more information about the new Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology, go to www.goodyearwrangler.com, or for details about
Goodyear's broad selection of tires for cars, light trucks, SUVs, and more, visit www.goodyeartires.com. | 
