New Milestar tire targets muscle car owners

GARDENA, Calif. (March 9, 2017) — Private brand marketer Tireco Inc. is adding a "value-priced" all-season performance tire, the "Streetsteel," to its Milestar brand.

The new line, which features a checkered flag-inspired sidewall motif with solid white raised lettering, is aimed at owners of classic American muscle cars, hot rods and classic trucks, the company said.

The line launches in 10 sizes, in 14- and 15-inch rim diameters ranging from P225/70R14 to P295/50R15, covering most staggered combinations of wider, low-profile sizes.

The Streetsteel is designed to revive the "heydays when hot rodding and Detroit muscle ruled the highways and byways of America," Tireco said.

"With present-day cars coming off the assembly line with larger diameter wheels, it is becoming more difficult to find modern 14- to 15-inch tires for that period-correct restoration look," said Andrew Hoit, vice president of sales and marketing for Gardena-based Tireco.

"We're proud to offer the new Streetsteel, with great sizes, good looks and aggressive performance, all at an amazing Milestar value."

The tire features angled siping and a grooved pattern, along with four circumferential grooves, features aimed at providing grip and wet performance.

Tireco did not disclose the line's country of origin or manufacturer.

Additionally, Tireco has added six new sizes of its Milestar Steelpro MS597S aimed at the growing commercial van market segment.

The new sizes — 215/55R16, 215/50R17, 205/65R15C, 185/60R15C, 195/75R16C, and the 235/65R16C — fit the OE tire profile for the new generation of commercial vans, such as the Ford Transit and Transit Connect, Ram Promaster City, Nissan NV200 and Chrysler Sprinter, Tireco said.

The MS597S is engineered with an aggressive highway rib design for quiet, longer-lasting treadwear, Tireco said, and stone ejectors within the groove to protect against stone retention and drilling. It's offered with a 40,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.

"We see great opportunity, as fleet and commercial van sales continue to outpace the overall industry by segment," Mr. Hoit said, citing industry figures that show commercial vans to be one of the fastest-growing vehicle segments in North America.

Tireco owns and distributes the Milestar, Geostar, Geotrac, Nanco, and Tracguard brands and distributes the Nankang and WestLake brands exclusively in North America.