Goodyear and Zipp have developed new bicycle wheels

Goodyear's history is inextricably linked with bicycle tires, as they were the first tire product the company released after its founding in Akron, Ohio, USA in 1898. In 2006, Goodyear closed its last bicycle tire factory in the UK, but in 2008, production resumed in partnership with Rubber Kinetics, a California-based startup that develops premium tires. In 2024, it was announced that Zipp, a company from Indianapolis known worldwide for its carbon bike wheels, had become the company's partner in this segment.

"Since we're still relatively new to the bicycle tire market, we have the obvious advantage of being able to take a fresh approach and consider the changes in this segment from the start and focus on new trends," said Luke Musselsman, president of Goodyear Bicycle Tires.

In collaboration with Zipp, wheels for gravel bikes with increased rim width and tires that improve traction, allow lower tire pressure, and most importantly, enable the use of wider tires without the risk of deformation and aerodynamic degradation have been developed.

Simon Richardson, the host of the YouTube channel Global Cycling Network (GCN), was impressed by the new wheels. "A full 32 mm! - he said, referring to the rim width. - This is much more than most cross-country or even trail bike wheels. The rims are so wide that Zipp is testing all available gravel tires for compatibility with them."

Thus, if the new discs find their buyer, this will create demand for new tires, and Goodyear may gain an advantage over competitors. "It's likely that you'll need to buy new gravel tires for the new discs," Richardson noted. "Goodyear tires were developed in collaboration with Zipp, and given the enormous width of the discs, the tread pattern and carcass shape have been changed. In general, the tires even indicate that they can only be used with 32-millimeter discs."

The prices for the new tires have not been announced yet, but in any case, they will not be cheap, since Zipp discs cost around $2,000 apiece. "We are targeting the premium bicycle tire market, which we have divided into four segments: road, urban/track, gravel, and mountain bike tires," Musselsman said.

According to him, the main markets for the new tires are expected to be Europe and Asia, where the popularity of bicycles is much higher than in the US, and their development is a "non-trivial task" that requires from 12 to 18 months. As the Goodyear representative notes, tires must be not only strong enough to withstand 3,200 km or more but also lightweight, provide optimal traction, have good aerodynamic properties, and ensure a high level of comfort.

Regarding the new partnership, Musselsman noted that it was very successful, as both companies "take a new approach." "Working with Zipp has been an incredible experience," he said. - Usually, bicycle tires and wheels are developed separately from each other, and industry standards help choose the best combination. At the same time, collaborating with such an innovative brand as Zipp, we can go beyond the standards and achieve higher performance in terms of parameters such as rolling resistance, traction, and even aerodynamics."