AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 2 - Goodyear's newest ice-traction tire and its European winter cousin separately grabbed high ratings from a U.S. leading consumer magazine and three of Europe's largest opinion makers.

Goodyear's new Ultra Grip Ice tire ranked a close second in the winter tire test. The leading consumer magazine - which restricts usage of its name for promotional purposes - said the tire delivered "superior snow traction."

Bob Toth, marketing manager for Goodyear auto tires, said the ice tire's rating should boost winter tire sales for the world's largest tire company. "We always say that an excellent showing in this magazine is worth hundreds of thousands more in tire sales."

The basic treadface for the Ultra Grip Ice tire uses proven technology derived from Goodyear's highly rated European winter tire, the Ultra Grip 5. Ice traction is enhanced with a wider, flatter tread, additional blading and a specialized tread IceLoc silica compound formulation, Toth said.

The high density blading and sipes interspersed in the tread design serve several functions: they keep the treadface pliant in freezing temperatures, deliver "biting" edges in the snow for traction and also help to evacuate the film of icy water just below the snow, Toth said.

ADAC, Europe's largest automobile club, Germany's top automobile journal Auto, Motor, Sport and a leading consumer product testing magazine, Stiftung Warentest, unanimously said: The Goodyear Ultra Grip 5 is not only the winner in many individual disciplines, but also is a brilliant tire without any weakness.

ADAC called Ultra Grip 5 a "very balanced tire with best result on snow and especially good on dry roads." The tire also proved to be one of the most wear-resistant among more than 20 different winter tires tested.

If the roadway is snow-covered, Ultra Grip 5 was the first choice for the three test groups. Elke Klamann, public relations manager for Goodyear Germany, said winning the ADAC test and Stiftung Warentest test could mean more than 200,000 additional winter tire sales.

Toth called Ultra Grip 5's test results a confirmation of the performance capabilities of the Ultra Grip Ice winter tire, now available in North America.

Ultra Grip Ice features a revolutionary silica tread compound for outstanding ice and snow traction as well as excellent wet and dry handling over a wide range of temperatures. Fourteen popular sizes are available for the 1999-2000 winter season.

The tire is on display today at the SEMA/ITE New Product Showcase Pavilion in Las Vegas.

Toth said Goodyear's winter tire technological excellence is derived from its European operations, where winter tires reign supreme. In Europe, winter tires represent up to 15 percent - or more than 25 million tires - of replacement tire shipments.

Toth said the U.S. winter tire market, which could more than double in size to 20 million tires, "presents a tremendous opportunity for Goodyear. There's no substitute for the traction that winter tires offer."

The studless Ultra Grip Ice tire delivers 25 percent improved ice traction compared to a conventional winter tire. For further comparison, a winter tire provides about 25 percent better snow traction than an all-season tire.