Hercules adds premium truck tire line

FINDLAY, Ohio — Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. added a premium medium truck tire line, the Strong Guard, to its portfolio and is backing the line with a seven-year limited protection policy and a casing allowance for three retreads.

Hercules, an American Tire Distributors Inc. business unit, is launching the line in the U.S. with a pair of all-position radials, the Hercules Strong Guard HRA and Strong Guard HRD. The tires are manufactured in China.

Hercules said the Strong Guard name will be used to denote the brand's premium medium truck tire products and distinguish them from the Hercules- and Iron Man-branded products already in the portfolio.

Jedd Emans, vice president of marketing, called the Strong Guard line "next generation" and an "excellent example of our brand promise to deliver unmatched value."

Both of the new products feature a silica-infused tread compound and offer "excellent" heat dispersion to deliver longer life with lower rolling resistance, Hercules said, while a "modern" profile shape promotes long, even tread wear.

The Strong Guard HRD is optimized for higher-scrub applications with a deeper tread depth. It launches in seven standard- and low-profile 22.5- and 24.5-inch rim diameters, inkling a 315/80R22.5

Other features include: a wide shoulder design; stone ejector ribs; micro sipes on circumferential groove edges and zig-zag lateral siping for heightened wet traction and even wear.

The Strong Guard HRA, a five-rib design, launches in 10 in ten sizes ranging from 215/75R17.5 to 11R22.5.

Hercules plans to expand the range of tires available under the Strong Guard name eventually as well as extend availability to Canada, but the timing of those moves is as yet not available.

Other features: a wide shoulder design; zig-zag groove design for "outstanding" handling; multi-point edged grooves for dry and wet traction; wavy lateral sipes for wet grip and even wear.

The limited protection policy offers free tire replacement during the first 50 percent of usable tread life, if the tire is found unserviceable due to manufacturing defects.

Hercules did not identify the tires' manufacturer or country of origin, nor provide any pricing information.

Hercules Strong Guard products are now available in the U.S. exclusively through American Tire Distributors.