PHOENIX (Jan. 24, 2001) — BFGoodrich tire dealers and their employees in 28 cities across the U.S. will have a chance to "Kick Asphalt" this year, thanks to Michelin Americas Small Tires.
MAST´s BFG Tires unit has put together a mobile proving ground that it will set up for a few days in an appropriately large enough venue in the selected cities.
Selected dealers will be invited to send their salespeople to the mobile proving ground for hands-on driving experience and training in selling the BFG brand, according to Matthew Aaron, BFG brand manager.
Dealers will be surveyed ahead of time as to which brand or brands they feel are the primary competition in their respective areas, Mr. Aaron told dealers attending MAST´s 2001 national sales meeting in Phoenix.
The mobile unit will set up autocross-type circuits at the Kick Asphalt Tour venue, and the invitees will have a chance to make back-to-back driving comparisons, he said.
In addition, BFG will bring the invited salespeople up to date on the issues and opportunities facing them today, as well as brand positioning, target consumers and the latest products.
All told, BFG said it can handle up to 3,500 in its mobile classroom. the tour kicks off in February.
The Kick Asphalt Tour supports several product launches BFG has in store for 2001, and complements a consumer-oriented g-Force T/A Tour, which will set up shop at more than 30 sport compact shows and race events, Mr. Aaron said.
In the car segment, BFG will launch a new version of its g-Force T/A Drag Radial for sport compact racers.
In light trucks, BFG is rolling out its P-metric sized Rugged Trail T/A and later this year will introduce the Mud-Terrain T/A KM for the true off-road crowd.
The Rugged Trail line is original equipment on the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma pick-up trucks and will be OE on the 2002 GMC Envoy and Chevrolet Trailblazer sport utility vehicles.