GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich Tires brand is adding a light truck version of the Advantage T/A line it launched a year ago as its primary year-round broadline tire.
The BFG Advantage T/A LT launches with 10 sizes, and an additional 23 sizes will become available starting Sept. 1, the company said, thus offering SUV/light truck market coverage of more than 70 percent.
The size range will cover 15- to 22-inch rim diameters in T, H and V speed ratings, and includes 12 new sizes not offered in the predecessor lines. Six more sizes are in development for a first quarter 2018 launch.
This expansion completes the brand's "power line" strategy to simplify its product mix by combining the performance characteristics of four previous tire lines — including the Long Trail Tour — into one.
The Advantage T/A and Advantage T/A LT lines share an "advanced" construction designed to combine performance and versatility, BFG said. The lines' all-season and all-purpose performance is backed by improved hydroplaning resistance, snow traction and enhanced handling.
BFG is promoting the core design focus of the T/A lines as "all-season/all-purpose," according to Matthew Cabe, BFG's marketing manager.
"Our commitment is to provide the most well-balanced, consistent handling product on the market," he said. "The Advantage T/A LT tire affirms its true winter performance, delivers best-in-class handling and consistent performance in all weather conditions."
Among the performance features of the new line are: 3-D active sipes, designed for increased wet and snow traction; Aqua-Flume technology for enhanced water dispersion; and a casing structure and tread compounds that achieve the industry's "three-peak mountain snowflake" rating for snow traction.
BFG claims the Advantage T/A LT delivers 30-percent better snow traction than leading competitive tires, as well as 9-percent better hydroplaning performance and 10-percent better handling that the Long Trail Tour it's replacing.
BFG is offering a 65,000-mile limited treadwear warranty on T- and H-rated versions, and 60,000 miles on V-rated versions; this is up from 40,000 on the Long Trail.
The line is available at more than 20,000 authorized BFG dealers and online through the company's e-commerce platform.