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2015 SEMA Show: tires, tools and technology By the MTD staf
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ith upwards of 2,300 exhibit booths showcasing thousands of products, the annual four-day Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show is an extravaganza of choice for atendees involved in the automotive industry. Yet some trends that speak to the over-arching preoccupations of tire dealers emerged from the abundance of products on display at this year’s edition, which ran Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas. Inside some of the busiest booths were products refecting the larger business concerns of independent dealers, from tires that complement their product screens to equipment that boosts workplace efciency to technology that automates the tire registration process. Inside conference rooms were industry experts speaking on topics aimed at improving the listener’s skill or business, from tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to employee training to consumer online tire buying habits and more. Here are some of the products, services and education sessions that caught the atention of tire dealers as well as Modern Tire Dealer’s editors.
Hankook will expand Laufenn line Hankook Tire America Corp. will add sizes to its Laufenn brand for passenger car and light truck tire lines in the U.S. market in 2016. Hankook launched the entry-level brand in November 2014. “The Laufenn brand combines value with solid fundamentals, outstanding performance and style, and delivered solid growth in its frst year in a highly competitive tire market that was consistent with our expectations,” says Hee Se Ahn, president of Hankook Tire America Corp. Te company says the Laufenn brand ofers consumers seeking value, quality and style a wide range of quality products to meet a variety of driving conditions. Te fve Laufenn tire lines are: S Fit AS, an ultra-high performance all-season tire; G Fit AS, an all-season touring tire; X Fit HT, a SUV/light truck highway tire; X Fit AT, a SUV/light truck all-terrain tire; and I Fit Ice, a studdable winter passenger tire.
Expect two new tires from Kenda Kenda USA will release tires for two market segments in 2016. Te Kenda Klever ST will be
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available to dealers in the spring of 2016. Te tire will be available in 30 sizes for 17-inch to 22-inch wheel diameters for the CUV/SUV segment. It will have a 60,000-mile tread wear warranty and be T-, H- and V-rated. Te Kenda Klever H/T2 will be available to dealers in the summer of 2016. Te light truck and SUV tire will initially be ofered in 14 light truck and P-metric sizes with more sizes to be added later. Te Kenda Klever H/T2 will have a 50,000-mile tread wear warranty for light truck sizes and a 60,000-mile tread wear warranty for P-metric sizes.
Greenball has a new heavy-duty trailer tire Greenball Corp. introduced a heavy-duty specialty trailer tire, the 12-ply rated Tow-Master ASC (all-steel construction) tire. “As pickup truck towing capabilities continue to improve, we felt there was a need for a specialty trailer tire that could accommodate heavier loads and higher speeds,” says Randy Tsai, senior vice president. Along with the Tow-Master ASC, Greenball displayed new OTR/agricultural tires, expanded Dirt Commander and Mongrel lines under the GBC Motorsports brand, new Centennial Terra Master commercial truck tires, and some new golf tires. Te new products include new designs and expanded size oferings. Te company covers nearly every segment of the tire market with its family of brands.
Look for Duraturn passenger tires in the U.S. Ken Coltrane, executive vice president of YC Rubber Co. (North America) LLC, is on a mission to spread the word about the Duraturn brand, and convince tire dealers they are a quality product for budget-conscious consumers. Coltrane hopes to build on the success of the Duraturn truck-busradial (TBR) products, which have been available in the U.S. for the past three years. “I’ve had dealers tell me they like selling Duraturn. It’s easy to sell,” Coltrane says. “Our goal is to have a complete tire line.” In 2013 the company began construction of a passenger tire plant in Xian, China, and production of three passenger lines began in 2014. Shipments to the U.S. were halted while the Department of Commerce considered implementing tarifs on Chinese passenger tires, but shipping has
MTD December 2015
