Giti-brand commercial tires coming to North America

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Giti Tire (USA) Ltd. is launching the Giti brand of commercial truck tires in North America with products available for long-haul, regional, urban/light-duty and mixed-service applications.

The Giti brand will complement the GT Radial truck tire brand for the time being, but eventually the GT Radial brand will be phased out in North America.

Having a research and development center in the U.S. — at the company's plant in Richburg, S.C. — "affords us access to global technology while focusing on specific service conditions for our clientèle in North America,” according to Armand Allaire, executive vice president of commercial sales for Giti Tire (USA), the U.S. distribution arm of Singapore-headquartered Giti Tire Pte Ltd.

The range covers 17 tread patterns and 59 SKUs, Mr. Allaire said, and features Giti's new naming nomenclature — GTL922FS indicates Giti trailer long haul and FS is fuel saving.

The range being launched includes:

• GSR225 – Regional steer;

• GDL633FS – Long-haul, ultra-wide-base drive tire;

• GTL933FS – Long-haul, ultra-wide-base trailer tire; and

• GAM851 – All-position mixed-service tire.

Giti is offering a limited new tire replacement warranty covering the tires for 72 months from date of manufacture or down to 2/32nds inch tread depth, along with a casing guarantee covering tires through a second retreading through the 72-month period.

To support the launch, Giti earlier this year hired two regional sales representatives dedicated to the commercial business and is evaluating additional hires, according to Jim Mayfield, senior executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Giti did not offer a timetable for phasing out the GT Radial commercial tire brand in North America, but said it it will continue to offer GT Radial-branded passenger and light-truck tires.

Giti sources the Giti truck tires from company plants in China. Giti Tire provides OE commercial truck tires to more than 300 models of trucks and buses worldwide, the company said.

Visit gititrucktires.com for additional information.