Goodyear Bicycle Tires
Goodyear launches the next generation newton mountain bike tires
#ObeyGravity
Keep reading to check out the First Ride Review following the official press release.
Goodyear Bicycle Tires has launched the next generation gravity range of mountain bike tires with two new tread patterns, the Newton MTF and Newton MTR. First launched in 2018 with Goodyear’s official licensee, Rubber Kinetics, the all-new Goodyear Newton MTF and Newton MTR mark the most significant advancement in the brand’s mountain bike tire portfolio.
The Newton MTF (front) and Newton MTR (rear) tires have been developed as a complementary system, providing confidence and inspiring performance across a wide range of conditions for modern gravity and e-mountain bikes. The next generation Newton tires incorporate leading-edge technology in tread compound development, casing lay-ups, as well as proprietary construction methods, all of which are produced at the recently expanded dedicated Goodyear Bicycle Tire factory in Taiwan.
Newton MTF
The large block tread design is optimized for straight-line control, cornering confidence and effective braking. Progressive block layout limits dirt buildup, maintaining performance across a wide range of conditions.
Newton MTR
The drive-focused tread delivers speed and durability with tracking performance that inspires confidence when transitioning from straight-lines to cornering across a wide range of conditions.
Newton MTF Trail
Newton MTF Enduro
Newton MTF Downhill
Newton MTR Trail
Newton MTR Enduro
Newton MTR Downhill
Both tread patterns are offered in three iterations, using a simplified naming structure based on the suggested usage: Trail, Enduro, Downhill.
The Newton MTR is available in a 2.4″ width in both 27.5″ and 29″ diameters, as well as a 27.5″x2.6″ option in all casing options.
The Newton MTF is available exclusively in a 2.5″ width for both 27.5″ and 29″ in all casing options.
The next generation Newton range has been developed with a progressive mindset from the team at Goodyear Bicycle Tires:
– MX Inspired Design
The profile of the Newton range is inspired by the motocross (MX) world. By utilizing a rounder profile for the Newton MTF (front), damping capacity is increased and the tire footprint is elongated; in the real world, this offers improved straight-line control while providing a greater contact patch for braking. The Newton MTR (rear) maintains a squarer profile and paired with uniform, closely spaced outer knobs. The tire’s wider footprint offers greater drive traction and confidence inspiring transition between center tread to side knobs.
– Intended Use Derived Construction
Both tread patterns in the Newton range are available in Trail, Enduro and Downhill specific casing layups. Each casing layup is then paired with multi-durometer compounds developed specifically for the tire’s intended application and front / rear use.
– Simplified System
The bicycle tire world is full of confusing marketing terms, technical jargon, and unwieldy acronyms. The strategy is simple: pick a tread pattern and pick your riding style. By pairing casing and compound with front and rear specific tread patterns, tire selection becomes less confusing and allows the rider to do what they do best.
The tread pattern is just one part of the story; developing the right compound is essential to a performance tire. The Newton range features the latest in compound advancements from Goodyear Bicycle Tires, including:
– Dynamic Grip3S: Front specific, triple density 40/42/60a compound, offering the ultimate level of grip and slow rebound properties. Found on Newton MTF Enduro and Downhill models.
– Dynamic Grip3: Rear specific, triple density 40/50/60a compound, offering balanced levels of grip and treadwear. Found on Newton MTR Enduro and Downhill models.
– Dynamic Trail2: Trail specific dual density 50/60a compound specifically formulated to balance grip, wear and rolling efficiency.
The next generation range of Goodyear Newton tires total 15 variations across two tread patterns which cater to riders’ needs based on diameter, width and intended use.
“After two-and-a-half years in development, hundreds of samples, dozens of compound updates, casing layups, scrapped molds and adjustments, it gives us great pleasure to finally reveal what we’ve been working on,” said Ben Evans, commercial director of Goodyear Bicycle Tires. “This is just the first of our gravity and eMTB focused projects, and we cannot wait to continue our story with products that have real purpose and provide value to riders around the world.”
Tire Pressure Calculator:
In line with our commitment to offer all Goodyear Bicycle Tire consumers the best possible experience from their tires, we have been working with SRAM to develop a class-leading tire pressure calculator to aid consumers of any tire within our range with optimum setup pressures.
You can find a link here to the calculator where the user can insert specific data relating to their riding style, their bike and of course their chosen Goodyear Bicycle tire to discover the optimum setup pressure for wet and dry conditions.
Range Availability and Pricing:
– Newton MTF/MTR Trail – $70/£54/€59 – Shipping Now
– Newton MTF/MTR Enduro – $80/£60/€66 – Shipping Now
– Newton MTF/MTR Downhill – $85/£64/€71 – Shipping July
For more information about Goodyear Bicycle Tires, please visit: www.goodyearbike.com or follow us @goodyearbike
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
I (Robert, European Tech Editor) had the good fortune to make the journey to Massa Marittima in Tuscany, Italy, for the Bike Connection Agency Mountain Bike Connection 2022 event in February. During this time, I met with a bunch of cool and interesting European companies to learn more about their product ranges and managed to get a small sample of trail time on board most of them to report back with my initial impressions.
I was lucky enough to get a couple of days riding on board Goodyear’s updated Newton tires out in Massa Marittima, at the tail end of the Bike Connection Agency event. A pair of the Enduro casing Newton MTF/MTR tires was fitted to an appropriately Enduro Cannondale Jekyll bike, and we rode some suitably challenging terrain in the Massa Vecchia trail area to put them to the test.
The Massa Vecchia trails had a bit of everything, from rock and root infested high speed trails through to steeper runs with loose over hard dirt, and the occasional damp patch following a day of heavy rain to keep you on your toes. The Jekyll is a bike that has an undeniable hunger for speed, and I was lucky to follow the similarly speed hungry Olly Wilkins to ensure I pushed the tires (and myself) to the limit.
Using Goodyear’s tire pressure calculator, I was suggested a pressure baseline of 25psi up front and 27psi out back. This value was produced taking into account my weight, riding style and the specs of the rim and tire, and the numbers were within 1-2psi of what I naturally would have opted to begin with, so I had confidence that they would serve me well.
On the trail, the first stand-out was the impressive sturdiness of the tire carcass at these baseline pressures. Where some “enduro” casing equivalents can begin to lose some of their support at these pressures, the Goodyears provided a reassuringly solid base through which to pump and pop on the trail, and avoided any rock-to-rim impacts for all but the hardest of hits. This support was provided without the drawback of an overly numb trail feel, which can reduce the confidence in the grip available under the tires.
When up to speed, the Newton Enduros certainly feel like a burly and traction-rich combination. Though it is hard to accurately determine rolling speed on an unfamiliar bike and terrain, the noise on road and fireroad and relatively tacky rubber didn’t give particularly fast notions when coasting or slogging up climbs, but the majority of the rest of my time riding that week was on XC/trail bikes, so they were never going to feel spritely. Climbing traction wasn’t tested to the highest order as the climbing trail was hardpacked and dry, so I’ll leave my final verdict on traction going up the hill for the long term review in the coming months. Braking traction on the other hand was tested by plentiful last-ditch anchor slamming chasing Olly down some trails blind, and though there were a couple of times where things would get slightly out of shape, I kept it rubber side down and maintained confidence to keep on the charge.
There were limited opportunities to hit corners hard enough to really test the stability of the carcass under the most tire-ripping berms, with the majority of corners losing their support at the time it was needed the most and instead forcing the tire to claw on for dear life on washy off-camber exits. It’s at these times where the carcass shapes and transition zones from center to side knobs are ever so critical, and the front and rear tires have very different jobs as you can’t achieve the same lean angles on each end. Thankfully for my safety, Goodyear’s decision to equip the front tire with a rounded carcass and plenty of rubber in the channel zone kept me upright and comfortable for the most part. The more square rear tire means that although there is a channel zone, you’re usually engaging the side knobs and center knobs simultaneously when on an off-camber surface. They would occasionally break loose when pushed hard, but always caught grip again once the bike tipped towards the side knobs, which are reassuringly sturdy to stand firmly latched and avoid wallowing and snapping loose.
Overall my initial rides on board the Goodyear Newton MTF and MTR Enduro tires were promising, though admittedly conducted in favorable conditions. Wear rates seemed impressively slow, as the same tires being skidded down some abrasive trails for the week looked remarkably fresh at the end, but all will be confirmed in the following months. As I write this, I’ve just received my own set of the same tires to put to the test in the Scottish homeland, and I’m excited to get to learn some more about the character of this new Enduro tire combination across a wide spectrum of terrain and conditions. 
PC: Matt Slocombe | @mattleephotographer
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