Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/394657
I f P-metric tires are mounted on light trucks, are they light truck tires? Yes and no. From the consumer's perspective, the answer is "yes." In order to accurately track shipment numbers, however, our industry says "no." Te "P" is there for a reason: It stands for "passenger." All light truck tires are appropriately labeled LT. As sport-utility vehicles gained widespread popularity, however, the P-metric tire had to evolve to meet increased load carrying capacity requirements. Tey bridged the gap, so to speak, between traditional P-metric tires (and their European metric counterparts) and LT tires. Because the majority of tires on light trucks and SUVs are P-metric tires, almost every tire manufacturer competes in that market segment. Modern Tire Dealer contacted many of them, and asked them to outline the market for us. A baker's dozen responded, including Sentury Tire Americas, which is planning to launch its frst P-metric light truck tire line in the near future. Te new tires will be similar to the Landsail CLV2 and Delinte DH7 metric tires designed for the European market, according to Maxwell Wee, director of sales. Bridging the gap P-metric tires carry the load on most light trucks and SUVs By the MTD Staff feature Meet the frst responders (to our questions) • Michael Mathis, co-owner and vice president of international marketing, Atturo Tire Corp. • Justin Hayes, consumer tire product manag- er, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC. • Ken Coltrane, vice president of consumer tires, China Manufacturers Alliance LLC (CMA). • Barry Terzaken, light truck and SUV tire prod- uct manager, Continental Tire the Americas. • Don Reindl, merchandising and communica- tions supervisor, Falken Tire Corp. • Jim Davis, manager of public relations, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. • Henry Kopacz, public relations and social media manager, Hankook Tire America Corp. • Steven Liu, director of consumer product marketing, Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. • S.B. Kim, marketing director, Kumho Tire U.S.A. • Stephen Ewing, product manager, Pirelli Tire North America Inc. • Jon Vance, senior director of product mar- keting, TBC Wholesale. • Jim Mayfeld, senior director of product planning and technical services, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. • Bob Abram, product planning manager, Yokohama Tire Corp. Goodyear says the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar is its most versatile all-terrain tire.