HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — American Tire Distributors Inc.'s Hercules Tires is releasing a host of products over the next few months, including passenger and light-truck products as well as a new line of commercial truck tires, the Ironman I-Series Gen 2.
The new tires include: Terra Trac Cross-V AW and the Roadtour Connect AS, while the commercial truck tires, all part of the Ironman lineup, include the Gen 2 I-19A all-positions M+S; the Gen 2 I-37D open shoulder drive regional/urban M+S; the Gen 2 I-48T long haul trailer; and the Gen 2 I-61S long haul steer.
The two passenger/light-truck products were on display at the Hercules booth at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
The Hercules Terra Trac Cross-V AW is the brand's first all-weather highway tire designed for crossovers, SUVs and light trucks, promising to bring "performance, confidence and quiet comfort year round," according to the company.
According to Steven Liu, vice president of product development at Hercules Tires, the tire, with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake designation, is rolling out this month, with an initial launch of 39 sizes in rim diameters from 16 inches to 22 inches. It is designed to fit some of the more popular vehicles on the road, including the Kia Telluride, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Outback, Toyota Highlander, and Ford F-150.
"We are formally engaged in and cutting our teeth into this all weather segment," Liu said at SEMA.
"We have acquired the necessary technology to build the right all-weather tire that is going to give you everything you wanted."
Liu calls the product "a true embodiment of our steadfast commitment" that delivers safety, performance and comfort. "Whether facing scorching summers, treacherous winters or somewhere in-between, the Terra Trac Cross-V AW is the ideal solution for all-weather driving needs," he said.
Key features of the tire are:
- An advanced all-weather compound that balances treadwear, durability and winter performance;
- Improved ride quality, with its groove design and 4% wider contact patch boost treadwear rating to 700 for longer-lasting performance, durability at high speeds and braking;
- Driving stability, with reinforced tread block stiffness that enhances stability and handling; and
- An optimized zig-zag tread pattern that minimizes tread block movement during braking for stability and control.
The tire has a 65,000 mileage mileage for P-metric products and 60,000 miles for LT-metric. It also includes a 45-day "Trust our Ride" trial period, road hazard protection and workmanship and materials coverage.
"We were able to find the balance between getting the all-weather component built in, but without taking a hit on the treadwear," Liu said.
The Hercules Roadtour Connect AS replaces the Roadtour 455 and Roadtour 455 Sport in the lineup. The all-season passenger/performance touring tire is being released as part of a rolling launch through the first quarter of 2024, with 41 SKUs, fitting vehicles with 14-inch to 19-inch rim diameters.
The Roadtour Connect AS offers consumers an extended mileage warranty, an asymmetrical tread pattern with improved traction and enhanced ride comfort. Hercules said the tire will be priced to serve cost-conscious consumers looking for overall value.
The Roadtour Connect AS will fit such popular vehicles as the Toyota Camry and RAV4, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata and the Ford Escape.
"While the Roadtour Connect AS is an entry-level product it is still a testament to our commitment to providing drivers with the best-in-class products for a seamless and secure driving experience," Liu said.
Attributes of the Roadtour Connect AS include:
- Prolonged lifespan, with a next-gen compound technology that boosts the UTQG to a 600 and upgrades the mileage warranty to 55,000 miles when compared to its predecessor.
- Year-round traction performance, with a tread block geometry strategically enhanced with high-density siping and grooves that work in tandem to provide greater control when braking, driving stability and overall all-season performance bolstered by enhanced wet and snow performance; and
- Ride comfort, featuring a tread pattern that creates an air flow path through the tire's shoulder grooves tuning out road noise for a remarkably pleasant driver experience.
Meanwhile, Hercules' new line of Ironman truck tires is replacing the current Ironman I-Series medium truck line.
The company said the products are made with advanced compounds and modern tread patterns, resulting in increased tread wear, mileage and fuel efficiency.
According to Hercules, the tires are designed to minimize downtime, improve fuel efficiency and provide longer tread wear, benefiting truck stops, independent tire dealers, fleets and owner-operators nationwide.
