AKRON, Ohio, Nov 29 - Goodyear and Honda are certain ATV enthusiasts will go for the strong, silent type.

That's why engineers from both companies came together to design a new ATV tire that gives a quieter ride, yet can muscle its way through all kinds of terrain. The result is the Tracker CL, the original equipment tire for Honda's new FourTrax Rancher and FourTrax Rancher ES.

The set includes the AT 25x11-10 Tracker CL rear tire and the AT 24x8-12 Tracker CL front tire.

"Both of these companies have a long history of innovation - Goodyear with tires, Honda with ATVs. So we were excited to see what would happen if we merged our creative abilities to develop a new ATV tire specifically for the FourTrax Ranchers," said Tim Rooney of Goodyear's Advanced Engineering ATV Tire Design.

One of the engineers' chief tasks, according to Rooney, was to create a quieter rear tire while not sacrificing performance. The team responded with a uniquely pitched tire in which the lugs are spaced in an uneven pattern in order to reduce the noise.

At the same time, though, the lateral lugs provide increased traction, and the open design allows for strong performance in the mud.

"The lugs are spaced to give maximum traction while still providing a comfortable ride and durability," said Rooney. A patent, jointly filed by Honda and Goodyear, is pending on the design of the rear tire.

For the front tire, the designers focused on responsive steering. The key feature to the front tire is a series of circumferential lugs at the center line. Aside from steering response, this design also increases riding comfort and reduces tread wear.

The Honda FourTrax Rancher and Rancher ES are versatile full-sized 2-wheel-drive ATVs in the tradition of Honda's popular FourTrax 300s. Honda has sold more than 530,000 two and four-wheel drive FourTrax 300s since the models' inception in 1988. Once thought of as strictly recreational vehicles, Honda ATVs now are used in agricultural, ranching, industrial and law enforcement settings.

About Goodyear:

Goodyear supplies ATV and farm tires as original equipment to a number of manufacturers and offers a wide range of replacement tires. Additional information on Goodyear's tires can be found by visiting the company's home page at www.goodyear.com.

About Honda:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, ATVs, and scooters in the U.S. For further information about Honda products, racing teams, programs, and dealer locations, visit the Honda web site at: www.honda.com.