I am happy that Goodyear offers the driving shoe line that includes the Overdrive and Ori (S and E). I have been using Goodyear driving shoes for as long as they have been available and even before with the co-branded version. My Goodyear driving shoes and I have driven on 9 NASCAR tracks, 5X 4,000 mile multi stage road rallies, 6 road racing tracks including the Nurburgring ring, 17+ seasons of Auto-X, countless twisty roads including Stelvio Pass, 3 automotive proving grounds and long cross country runs in North America, UK and Europe.
The Goodyear driving shoes are not for cars that have fire systems so I have other Nomex racing shoes for applications that require them. I find myself wanting to drive with my Goodyear shoes all the time.
I have one pair of the Goodyear Overdrive so far. The Overdrive is a very comfortable walking and driving shoe that is perfect for driving to work every day and spending the day wearing them. This shoe is prefect for use in my newer cars (1990s and up) but still good for older cars. The fabric appears to breathe and makes the shoe very comfortable. They make the drive home something to look forward to. The heal tread and narrow sides make it possible to drive for 9 hours without foot pain and keep my feet free of getting stuck on pedal edges. The Overdrive has the same tread (sole) as the Ori with more comfort when walking.
The Ori is my favorite driving / walking shoe because some of my older cars with narrow pedal spacing require using the side of the shoe to keep the gas pedal depressed (1500 RPM to keep the 12V system running) when braking with the clutch pushed or the shoes touch each other when left foot braking. The smooth thicker sides on the Ori work for me. I have several pairs of Ori shoes (many of the colors). The white versions are used in the summer months to keep me cooler. The black versions are for the winter and rain. The shoes with colors match my cars and look great for car club drives, car shows and cars & coffee events that often include lunch and some walking around. Because the black Goodyear shoes are not over styled I have even worn them to the Opera in Milan Italy.
I ware my Goodyear shoes about 200 days each year. I cord my car’s tires much faster than my Goodyear shoes. My oldest Ori pairs are still useable after years of walking, including running after cones at Auto-X events. With over 70,000 miles of driving the tread has worn to slicks due to all the walking miles. The heal starts to separate but only after years of great service. I still use my older shoes when working under cars, because you need test drives, and worn shoes are great when the roads have more dirt than pavement. My newer shoes with less than 40,000 driving miles are fresh and work great. I keep backup sets in the box so I know I can keep driving without missing a shift. I can spend more for a pair of driving shoes, and I have, but the Goodyear Overdrive and Ori keeps up with the shoes that cost much more.
