Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
If you look good then you feel good, which ultimately means you will do good. In this case that means ultimate comfort with a performance edge behind the wheel of your favorite sports car whether it’s an Audi TTS, BMW M5 or Cadillac CTS-V. Many drivers don’t realize the importance of a driving shoe until they are hours into the task at hand. Well, this doesn’t apply to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who integrated their historic rubber technology into a fashion forward statement for the US consumer market.
If you have a constellation of racetrack experiences like myself then of course you will appreciate and respect the Goodyear Performance Collection which comes in five unique styles including the Ori Performance Racing ($70.00), Clutch Performance Racing ($70.00), Index Performance Racing ($60.00), Groove Goodyear Racing ($60.00) and the Vulcan Var Canvas ($80.00). I chose the Ori Performance Racing which is a white shoe outlined in black to provide that causal vibe while blazing sports cars across the globe. Not only do the driving shoes match the Automotive Rhythms and Fit Fathers gear and hues, but they are connected to the pedals. I can feel the sensitivities of what the vehicle is doing when accelerating and braking and they are not so wide whereas the sole clips both pedals. Speaking of soles, Goodyear formulated them from the tread patterns of some of their tires. I presume I should also be able to sprint in the rain without slipping!
“Being able to extend our racing heritage into casual footwear, a growing category, enables us to introduce more consumers to the Goodyear family of products,” said Nancy Ray, director of licensed products at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. “We look forward to building upon the success of our safety and outdoor lines and connecting more people to our brand.”
Since I received the automotive kicks I have spent countless hours in various vehicles including two days in Malaga, Spain for the 2017 Volvo S90 and V90 media launch. It took a day to break them in and soften the structure but after that I was good to go. In fact, not only was I driving in them for extended periods, but a few times I had to run around the resort on errands and didn’t need to change into my Saucony’s. The Ori handled those duties with aplomb in addition to the Malaga walking tour.
Of course any white shoe needs to be handled with extra care, so I do wipe them down more often. However, I can sport a white or black polo and jeans or khakis and feel in place at a meet-n-greet. In fact, Volvo wanted us in attendance as casual as possible. Once again the Ori was suited for that assignment as well.
Maybe next I’ll try the Index Performance Racing model because I’m always in need of a black set of sneakers. For further information please visit www.goodyearfootwearusa.com.
