Roadmaster ramping up supply, tools

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 28, 2014) — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is rolling out new tires and tools for dealers and truckers to coincide with the ramping up of supply of its Roadmaster truck tire brand following the temporary interruption of supply last year, company executives said at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville.

Among the new products being previewed at MATS are:

• RM 181 premium long-haul steer tire and RM 872 long-haul trailer tire, which are expected to be available later this year, the company said. The 872 will differ from the current 871 in having decoupling grooves and reduced rolling resistance.
• Cooper also disclosed it now has four tire lines—the RM180 and RM185 steer tires, the RM871 trailer tire and the RM851 drive tire—that are verified as SmartWay low-rolling-resistance tires.
• The company also is featuring two tires launched a year ago:
• RM234, a premium regional all-position tire, and the RM 254, a premium regional pick-up and delivery drive tire. Both tires have been big sellers, according to the Findlay, Ohio-based tire maker.

The RM234 is a premium regional all-position tire designed for high scrub applications where excellent tread wear and cut and chip resistance is important, while the RM254 is a premium regional open shoulder drive tire built for pick-up and delivery applications.

Among the new tools unveiled by the company is a website devoted to Roadmaster tires which offers interactive product information and an improved dealer locator. The site is available in a mobile version as well.

For continued coverage from MATS, keep checking back to tirebusiness.com.

Other new tools include fresh point-of-sale materials and a targeted print advertising campaign that will premier in May.

“We are building on the success of Roadmaster by investing further in the brand to grow its position in the commercial tire market,” said Mike Simon, vice president of marketing for Cooper's North America Tire Operations.

“We see great opportunities in multiple channels because of Roadmaster's proven performance and value and we appreciate the incredible support this brand has received since it launched in the marketplace.”