The company added "incremental capacity to produce two-piece tread belts last week in Topeka," the company said in a statement.

Introduced in 2003, Goodyear’s two-piece assembly gives customers flexibility in operating trucks in various conditions. The tread belts may be replaced to give the customer a different type of tread to operate in a mine.

The increased production will provide additional treadbelts for the two-piece assembly used in OTR tire applications, particularly in the mining and construction industry.

The unique design of the two-piece assembly differs from a conventional tire in that it requires a separate tread belt and a casing, each with corresponding grooves that interlock during assembly.

One benefit of the two-piece assembly is evident when dealing with damaged tires. If a conventional tire is damaged, the tire is taken out of service and either repaired or scrapped. In contrast, if a two-piece assembly is damaged, only the damaged piece – tread belt or casing – needs to be replaced.

Increasing the production of two-piece tread belts is one way Goodyear has chosen to address the current tire shortage in the mining industry, Goodyear said.

"We are very excited about the additional treadbelt capacity in Topeka, the incremental production will give our customers what they are asking for – more Goodyear OTR tires," said Ryan Waldron, general manager for OTR in Topeka.

"The market demand has been higher than our capabilities," said Lisa Spangler-Ignoto, Topeka Goodyear communications manager. "I’ve got a list of customers from all over the world."

"They are huge tires," said Spangler-Ignoto. "We manufacture the rubber and all the components in Topeka."

She said hundreds of people are involved in all facets of the tire construction in Topeka – from manufacturing of the rubber, making the components and building the two-piece assembly.