Nov 13 2007
The last thing a marathon runner wants to worry about is running shoes. In the same way, drivers want to have confidence that their "shoes" - their tires - will perform in a variety of conditions. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will make the connection between the two as it announced today its status as Official Tire of the 2007 Philadelphia Marathon.
As part of the agreement, Goodyear will make running history by literally putting its mark on the race course. The marathon's "blue line" that leads runners through the race's 26.2 miles will be painted in the pattern of the company's signature TripleTred(TM) Technology tread pattern. This event is believed to be the first time in the history of road racing that a marathon line has featured a branded design. The pattern will be seen by the 15,000 runners and more than 100,000 spectators anticipated to be in attendance on race day. The race will be held in and around the city of Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 18.
On Marathon Sunday, 1.5 million Philadelphians with awaken to find a unique sight, a blue tire-tread line starting in front of Philadelphia's famous Museum of Art and continuing for more than 26 miles in the shadows of Independence Hall, Penn's Landing and the Liberty Bell. Goodyear will also lay down the line in a big way, via an enormous, six-foot tall replica Fortera TripleTred tire, which will roll the line out over the entire course.
Over two nights leading into the marathon, the rolling replica Goodyear tire will paint the groundbreaking patterned blue line in a biodegradable, all natural vegetable-based latex paint. Philadelphia mayor John F. Street will begin the line painting in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during a November 15th press conference.
"The Philadelphia Marathon gives us an original opportunity to communicate the real-world benefits of our award-winning TripleTred Technology," said Ed Markey, Goodyear's North American Tire vice president of PR and communications. "Our new Goodyear 'Get there' advertising campaign is all about helping consumers reach their destinations with confidence and peace of mind. In Philadelphia, we'll be helping 15,000 marathoners 'get there' to the finish line with confidence."
"The Philadelphia Marathon is a wonderful part of the city's great sports tradition, and we are pleased to have Goodyear as the newest member of our Marathon family," said Janis L. Pierce, Deputy City Representative and Philadelphia Marathon Executive Director. "Through our relationship, we can continue to enhance the race as it reaches its next plateau of prominence as one of the nation's premier race destinations. Goodyear will be helping us by painting our runners' blue line and will outfit the entire fleet of official Philadelphia Marathon race vehicles with tires equipped with Goodyear's great TripleTred Technology. Together, we will get our runners and participants there."
As the Official Tire of the Philadelphia Marathon, Goodyear will lay it all on the 'line' and support its sponsorship through a wide variety of initiatives including providing tires for all race vehicles, distributing unique Goodyear 'Get there' fan signs at local dealers and at all marathon 'cheer zones,' hosting a booth at the Heath & Fitness Expo and running a series of marathon specific advertisements.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has focused on innovation in both its products and its communications and marketing and sponsorships. This tradition has featured many 'firsts', from the first use of DuPont KEVLAR(R) and carbon fiber in passenger tires, to the TripleTred tread pattern being styled into the hair of Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton in 2005, to the world's longest basketball shot - from the Goodyear Blimp during the men's collegiate basketball tournament finale in Atlanta in March of 2007.
Goodyear's award-winning TripleTred(TM) Technology is the culmination of decades of research into the design, engineering and physics of all-weather tire technology. The technology, featured in top-rated Goodyear tires including models in the Assurance line for passenger cars and mini-vans and the Fortera line for SUV's and pickup trucks, lets drivers confidently take on rain-drenched highways, icy or snowy roads, or unanticipated situations on dry pavement. Incorporating three unique tread zones across the face of the tire tread, tires featuring TripleTred Technology provides for superior traction in any kind of weather by offering: a Water Zone consisting of deeply carved Aquachutes to propel water away from the tire's tread on rain-drenched roads; an interlocking tread pattern in the Ice Zone translating into enhanced gripping power on icy or snow-covered roads; and a Dry Zone featuring reinforced tire shoulders for confident maneuvering on dry pavement.