Goodyear introduces new all-season tire
In 2024, the tire Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 stood out as the first all-season model to receive a "Good" rating in over 50 years of ADAC testing history, and this year its successor is entering the European market with a slightly simplified name, the Goodyear Vector All Season 4.
The new tires are made using a range of technologies combined in the WeatherReady package, and in particular, they feature an adaptive contact patch (Dry Contact Plus technology), the area of which increases under load, for example, when performing an emergency maneuver, increasing the level of grip and safety. Additionally, 3D lamellae enhance traction on slippery surfaces, and the new rubber compound recipe has both slowed down tread wear and reduced rolling resistance, which will increase the range of electric vehicles.
As reported by Tyres Europe (formerly ETRMA), in the fourth quarter of 2025, sales of only all-season models grew in the European passenger tire market, and GfK data indicates that from 2022 to 2025, demand for tires in this category with diameters from 19 inches increased by more than 20% annually, meaning there is also growth in popularity of larger-sized tires. For this reason, in 2026, the new Goodyear tires will be available in 96 sizes from 16 to 23 inches, and 66% of them will have a rim diameter of 19 inches or more. This will make all-season Goodyear tires available for the first time in sizes for cars like the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, Porsche Panamera and Macan, as well as the Audi A6 e-tron, Q7, and SQ7.
In sizes with a diameter of 19 inches or more, the tires will have sidewalls with laser engraving, and Goodyear says that in this design, they will "enhance the appearance of modern sports and luxury cars both in motion and when standing still".
Prior to the premiere, the manufacturer sent the tires for testing to TÜV SÜD experts, who compared them with four competitors - Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6, Continental AllSeasonContact 2, Michelin CrossClimate 2, Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 - in the popular size 205/55 R16. Additionally, the novelty has already participated in Auto Bild tests, earning an "Exemplary" rating.
Next year, Goodyear will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Goodyear Tiempo, which is considered the first all-season tire to enter the market, and Ben Glesenner, Senior Technical Director of the Goodyear Consumer Tire Division in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), stated that by releasing the new tire, the company will "revolutionize the all-season segment".
"By improving the all-season characteristics of the tires and expanding the size range so that they can be used on modern premium and electric vehicles, we will make it possible to get by with one set of tires throughout the year," he added.