Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled until 2022
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
    • DTM switches horses mid-stream; awards race tire contract to Michelin
      Icahn Auto trims fiscal 2020 operating loss despite 14% lower sales
      Oshkosh unit gets contract for new USPS local delivery vehicle
      Sumitomo adds treadwear-detection to 'Sensor Core' toolkit
    • CarAdvise partnering with RepairSmith mobile repair services
      Goodyear to raise prices by up to 8% on all passenger tires on April 1
      Point S posts strongest year ever in sales profit, growth, store growth
      Conlan Tire buys BestDrive locations in Ark., Okla., Texas from Continental
    • Conlan Tire buys BestDrive locations in Ark., Okla., Texas from Continental
      Michelin upgrades 2 lines of Energy-branded truck tires
      TravelCenters plans 6 TA Express sites in California in 2021
      Carlisle TyrFil broadens recycling technology options
    • USTMA joins coalition supporting passage of Equality Act
      McMahon's Best-One increases its minimum wage to $15
      Oshkosh unit gets contract for new USPS local delivery vehicle
      Conti recalling 94,000 Conti-, General-, Barum-brand LT/SUV tires
    • DTM switches horses mid-stream; awards race tire contract to Michelin
      Sentury's 10-year global expansion strategy will include plants in North America, Europe
      Rebound in car tire demand drives USTMA market forecast for 2021
      Michelin driving for '100% sustainable' tires by 2050
    • DTM switches horses mid-stream; awards race tire contract to Michelin
      Bridgestone World Solar Challenge canceled due to pandemic restrictions
      Pirelli, Goodyear ink sedan racing series contracts in Canada, Europe
      Goodyear extends partnership with Nürburgring race circuit
    • U.S.-sourced Milestar Weatherguard AS710 offers all-season value
      Michelin upgrades 2 lines of Energy-branded truck tires
      Falken revamps winter tire lineup with studless Eurowinter products
      Michelin launching ‘eco-responsible' performance tire for sporty EVs
    • U.S.-sourced Milestar Weatherguard AS710 offers all-season value
      New Nexen Tire Garage offers dealers digital resources
      CarAdvise partnering with RepairSmith mobile repair services
      Goodyear to raise prices by up to 8% on all passenger tires on April 1
    • Pennzoil offering carbon-neutral lubricants for passenger cars
      Washington dealership uses new-school solution for recruiting auto techs
      Marinucci: Customers may ignore dangerous conditions
      Automotive Lift Institute introduces Check360 inspection, label
    • SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
      SEMA scholarships and loan forgiveness now available
      WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
    • SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
      Trade groups oppose minimum wage increase proposal
      New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
    • U.S.-sourced Milestar Weatherguard AS710 offers all-season value
      New Nexen Tire Garage offers dealers digital resources
      Goodyear to raise prices by up to 8% on all passenger tires on April 1
      Sentury's 10-year global expansion strategy will include plants in North America, Europe
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
    • Video: Demounting
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
      How to clear rim rust and corrosion
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
    • Video: Safety
      Customers
      Considerations for shop safety policies
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
    • Video: TMPS Service
      The life-saving work of TPMS
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
    • Video: Training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
      Choosing the right auto service tech school
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      The gravity of proper lift points
      Safety essentials when using jack stands
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      The importance of torque specifications
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
February 01, 1999 01:00 AM

OEMS EVALUATE TITAN'S LOW-SIDE WALL TIRES

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    AKRON—Since the introduction of its Grizz LSW tire/wheel package, Titan Tire Corp. has been touting the benefits of the system to anyone who'll listen—especially the major manufacturers of machinery such as skid-steers, farm tractors and construction equipment. The OEMs have been listening, but due to various factors, the biggest problem has been actually getting their hands on Titan's products for testing.

    How well do they perform?

    For a progress report, Tire Business contacted Gehl Co. and Deere & Co.—two equipment makers testing or already using LSWs.

    Lee Walter is director of engineering for Gehl's new Madison, S.D., plant, dedicated to the design, testing and manufacture of skid-steer loaders. It has evaluated five Titan LSW sizes and is awaiting more.

    Gehl has requested that its name be branded on the tires, he said, and also asked Titan for other changes including more bead/rim protection, and a change to the profile of the tires to give more of a crown rather than flat outside profile. A crowned tire, Mr. Walter explained, provides the best performance for skid-steers.

    Reaction to the LSWs is mixed.

    ``We get some people in the field who are pro some other brand, and have said Titan tires don't last as long as somebody else's,'' he said. ``Then we follow up and find it's an especially rough application where you aren't going to get any tire life anyway. It's a real mixed bag out there.

    ``I don't know that there's any one tire out there that's a superior performer than the others....''

    Titan has said bounce is a major affliction among skid-steers, and claims its LSW greatly reduces the problem. But Mr. Walter said a number of factors affect that condition, including tires, tire inflation, ground surface, wheel base and weight distribution. ``So it's difficult to say one brand is better than another....

    ``Basically, we've been pretty well satisfied with Titan's products,'' he continued. ``We've used some Titan tires, on and off, and soon as we've checked them out and gotten good customer feedback, we'd be in a position to put them on our approved tire list.

    ``The monkey's on (Titan's) back to get us their latest and greatest (tires).''

    Gehl's evaluation process includes in-plant and field testing; the company uses tires from both Titan and its competitor, Galaxy Tire.

    Meanwhile, Deere is in final testing on a trio of Titan skid-steer tires, including one LSW size that engineer Dave Doering said is ``the best of the three—so far it's working out pretty good.''

    Deere also uses skid-steer tires supplied by Galaxy. In terms of treadwear, Mr. Doering has found both manufacturers' tires comparable. ``But the applications vary so widely, it's tough to come up with some big conclusions.''

    He acknowledged skid-steer bounce is a hindrance—and ``the LSW greatly reduces bounce''—but said flats are a bigger problem.

    ``Because of the nature of skid-steers, the tires don't last very long. They're always turning and sliding sideways, so they wear out pretty quickly. You have to pay close attention to air pressure.''

    Mr. Doering works in Deere's new Knoxville, Tenn., skid-steer factory, which began production a couple months ago. Though the company has sold skid-steers for more than 20 years, until its new Knoxville venture, it had never actually manufactured them itself.

    As testing continues, Deere has begun using Titan tires in production. But deciding which tires come on a skid-steer ultimately is up to the customer, he said.

    The LSW ``could definitely benefit'' Titan because the tires are much more productive,'' said securities analyst Elaine Thomson, vice president with Merill Lynch & Co. Inc.'s Equity Research Department in New York.

    ``It's a selling point for the people who make machinery: This is a new product, more productive, and will make their equipment more attractive,'' she said. ``But it's too early to tell, since Titan hasn't gotten that up to full production with a full-scale rollout yet.''

    The LSW ``has potential, but right now it's difficult to see when that would benefit their earnings.''

    Historically, Maurice ``Morry'' Taylor Jr., Titan International Inc.'s president and CEO, ``has done a very good job in terms of buying `distressed properties,' let's say, at a very attractive price, then turning them around and making them work,'' Ms. Thomson noted. However, Merrill Lynch has been cautious on Titan's stock because of ongoing labor strikes.

    The strikes have been significantly impacting Titan's earnings, she said. ``It's difficult to see what the potential of the company is until it's back up to full production with everyone working.''

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award