PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — TBC Corp. is planning to add a line of tires later this year designed for use on electric vehicles — the ERange EV — to the portfolio of Sailun-brand tires it distributes in the U.S.
The launch of the Sailun ERange EV line in the U.S. is scheduled for the fourth quarter. Chinese producer Sailun Group Co. Ltd. disclosed recently the launch of the EV line is tied to the development of its "EcoPoint3" liquid-phase rubber mixing, which the Chinese company has developed.
TBC said this family of tires was designed to enhance performance and increase range for almost every electric car, pickup and SUV on the market, but the company did not offer any comparative performance data for the line versus competing EV-dedicated tire lines.
The line will launch in 32 sizes covering 15- to 22-inch rim diameters, covering what it claims will be over 80% of the parc of electrified vehicles available today.
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TBC intends to distribute the tire line both on a wholesale basis through its TBC Brands and National Tire Wholesale units as well as through its captive NTB and Tire Kingdom retail chains and franchised Big O and Midas outlets.
The tire's asymmetrical tread pattern and specially formulated rubber compounds were created to handle the instant torque of EVs and provide dynamic driving performance in various road conditions, TBC said.
"TBC Brands is excited to introduce the ERange EV family to meet the needs of the growing EV segment," Jenifer Golba, TBC's senior vice president of consumer product marketing, said.
"This family of tires was designed for those seeking an exclusive, high quality product which addresses the top three concerns of EV consumers — enhanced electric vehicle performance, increased range of the electric charge and a quiet, comfortable ride."
Sailun developed the ERange EV at its plant in Dongying, China, but plans to manufacture the line at plants in Vietnam or Cambodia.
