LAS VEGAS—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. showcased some of its latest products at the SEMA Show, including three new winter tires, a new size to its RS3-S ultra-high-performance summer tire and the recently introduced Discoverer HT3 commercial vehicle light truck tire.
Cooper also launched the Mastercraft Courser MXT light truck radial mud tire.
Company executives at Cooper's trade show booth said the tire maker also is expanding the size range of its Discoverer S/T Maxx light truck radial by adding 26 sizes that will be available by year-end. The additions will expand the lineup to 34 sizes. Cooper introduced the Discoverer S/T Maxx two years ago.
For winter driving traction, Cooper is launching the WM-SA2, Weather-Master Snow and Discoverer M+S Sport.
The WM-SA2 is a studless performance touring winter tire designed for coupes and midsize sedans. It features a “performance-enhancing” directional tread pattern to deliver added grip in snow, slush, cold and wet conditions, and is designed with a tapered alternating groove technology to enhance braking and improve traction, the company said.
The Weather-Master Snow is a high-performance, studless asymmetric tire, “offering improved grip thanks to a special silica-rich compound tuned for winter's cold temperatures and provides first-rate braking performance on slippery surfaces,” Cooper said. This tire is available in H and V speed ratings and is marked with the severe snow symbol.
To further enhance winter performance, Cooper has incorporated what it calls D Squared Sipe Technology—a dense zig-zag sipe pattern in the tire's tread.
The third winter tire is the Discoverer M+S Sport, a premium studless winter tire for sport-utility vehicles and light trucks. It is “designed for drivers looking for excellent traction on snow and ice,” Cooper said.
Along with D Squared Sipe Technology, the M+S Sport is designed with a patented “Snow Groove” design for increased snow-on-snow grip, as well as a strategically placed stud pin holes for traction on ice. The tire's “Sawtooth” center increases stability, maintains even tread-wear and aids in acceleration and braking, the firm said.
The M+S Sport is available in T, H and V speed ratings to cover 16- to 19-inch rim diameters.
Cooper said the tires suit a wide range of vehicles ranging from performance passenger car to sport-utility applications. The tires make their debut with 28 sizes.
In the UHP summer tire category, Cooper has added size 325/30R19 to its Zeon RS3-S lineup as a replacement fitment on the Chevrolet Corvette, said Mike Graham, product design manager.
The tire is going through the certification process and will be available in the fourth quarter.
Cooper also displayed its recently introduced Discoverer HT3 light truck tire. Among the tire's features are a silica-infused tread compound and full-depth 3D micro-gauge siping, which helps maintain traction as the tire wears, according to Chuck Yurkovich, Cooper's vice president of global research.
The tire, which is designed for highway and commercial driving for light trucks and small fleet delivery vehicles, also features a continuous shoulder rib to resist irregular wear and provide a quieter ride.
The Mastercraft Courser MXT will feature a lower profile design than its predecessor, the Courser MT, to provide better wear and will employ silica-infused technology, Mr. Yurkovich said. In addition, it is designed with deep side-biters for extra traction in soft terrain.
Tire noise is reduced as a result of a new tread sequence, he added.
The Courser MXT will be positioned as a value tire offering premium benefits to the consumer, said Scott Jamieson, director of product management. It will be available in the fourth quarter.
To reach this reporter: dzielasko @crain.com; 330-865-6131.