LAS VEGAS (Oct. 20, 2016) — Nokian Tyres P.L.C. has developed two product lines specifically for the North American market — the zLine A/S passenger and Rockproof light truck tires — as part of its strategy to reach a broader customer base in one of the Finnish tire maker's key growth markets.
The zLine A/S is an all-season, ultra-high-performance tire line designed for a broad range of luxury and performance cars and SUVs, while the Rockproof is considered a heavy-duty light-truck tire line targeted at the professional off-road market.
Both new products are due to launch in North America in early 2017, Nokian executives told a gathering of U.S. and Canadian dealers at a recent launch event for the zLine A/S in Las Vegas.
The zLine will debut with 25 sizes in 16- to 20-inch rim diameters and in the W speed category (rated up to 168 mph), while the Rockproof will debut with 13 sizes encompassing rim diameters from 16 to 20 inches.
While the zLine tire is classified UHP for its performance potential, it's targeted more at the luxury end of the UHP category, according to Hams Dyhrman, director of marketing at Nokian Tyres North America, with more emphasis on comfort, noise and tread life. It will be promoted as a “value proposition” product and thus priced between the traditional Tier I and Tier II categories, he added.