LAS VEGAS — Finland's Kontio Tyres Ltd., one of Finland's largest wholesale tire distributors, has assigned U.S. distribution rights to its Konto-brand classic wide whitewall tires to Performance Plus Tires & Automotive Superstore of Long Beach, Calif.
The Kontio WhitePaw Classic products feature white sidewall strips ranging in width from 2 1/2 to 3 1/4 inches. Kontio-brand products are designed by Kontio Tyres of Nokia, Finland, and produced under contract in China.
The Kontio WhitePaw Classic combines the look of many tire designs from the past with performance of the latest modern radial tire technology. Kontio said the WhitePaw Classic improves the performance of classic cars around the world.
Long Beach-based Performance Plus Tires distributes vintage tires and wheels in the U.S. market from warehouses at its Long Beach headquarters and Oak Ridge, Tenn., the latter of which is being expanded.
Kontio Tyres said Performance Plus Tire's "understanding of classic car applications allows them to expertly distribute Kontio WhitePaw Classic whitewall tire products in the U.S."
Kontio principals stress that the white sidewall of its products are white rubber compounds that resist fading or discoloring.
Performance Plus Tires shows eight sizes available, ranging from 185/80R13 to 235/75R15, with up to 20 SKUs being developed for launch by mid-2023, according to Hank Feldman, president of Performance Plus Tire.
Kontio was founded in Nokia in 2006 by the Heiskanen family, who had been in the new car dealership business prior to that since 1964, accordign to Antti Heiskanen, vice president of the company.
While the company handles multiple brands in Finland on a wholesale basis, the company created the Kontio classic wide whitewall product initially for the vintage car enthusiasts in Scandinavia, Heiskanen said.
To develop the product, Kontio hired a team of engineers in Finland. The tire carries the designation "engineered in Finland."
Besides Kontio, Performance Plus Tires carries a range of vintage tire and wheel products, including Autobahn, BFGoodrich, Coker, Cushman, Deka, Diamond, Dunlop, Durandal, Excelsior, Garfield, Garland, Goodyear Classic, Indian, Pirelli Vintage, ProTrac, Speedway, U.S. Royal and Universal.
