An innovation by Goodyear designed to extend the life of truck tire retread cushion has been named “Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year” by Tire Technology International. The retread Multi-Piece Cushion technology was awarded by a judging panel consisting of tyre professionals, engineers, and academic scholars. Quality and performance have also improved through this innovation.

Jean-Claude Kihn, chief technical officer for Goodyear, expressed the tyre company is focused on delivering market-driven innovation to its global customers and consumers. He feels honored for the win by the company and assures the new technology to be highly valued by its company’s consumers.

Jay Hofner, general manager for retread for North American tyre business explains how the new innovation is the first of its kind with three distinctive layers. One is a barrier that extends the product’s shelf life, while the others contain a delicate mixture of selected ingredients to complete the curing package.

The Multi-Piece Cushion is heat-resistant, eliminating the need for refrigeration, an advantage for retreaders. Also, traditional truck tire cushion gum is flat, with edges that stick to other layers of cushion gum - where in the Goodyear; it is round making it more user-friendly.

This isn’t the first win for the company. Just last year, Goodyear received an award for its innovative UltraGrip Ice+ winter tires. It was engineered to perform in some of the world’s most challenging environments, including freezing Nordic winter roads.  It features ActiveGrip Technology, which combines a dual cap compound with hybrid siping.