Milestar to be official UTV tire of King of Hammers

GARDENA, Calif. — Private- and import-brand tire distributor Tireco Inc. has struck a partnership deal with Hammerking Productions that makes Tireco's Milestar brand the official UTV tire of King of Hammers (KoH) off-road racing.

Tireco said the partnership includes the use of Milestar Patagonia SXT and SXS tires on all KoH support vehicles; a race contingency program for qualifying racers; and two factory-backed UTV teams that will participate in UTV-focused competitions during the race week, which started Jan. 28 and runs through Feb. 11.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The King of the Hammers is an annual week-long competition for racers that fall under the "Ultra 4" category of off-road vehicles.

Featuring a cut- and chip-resistant, silica-enriched tread compound, the Patagonia SXT and SXS are off-road tires designed for harsh desert and rock conditions. Tireco branched into the ATV/UTV product area in 2018 with the launch of the Milestar Patagonia X/T and SXT off-road tire lines.

The tires have deep, wide grooves with stone ejectors to disperse dirt and debris, Tireco said, while the overlapping tread blocks maintain stability and control in rugged conditions.

The SXS has a polyester belt package, Tireco said, while the SXT features a Kevlar belt package to enhance strength while keeping the tire's carcass weight as light as possible.

Martin Castro, events and activation manager at Milestar, touted the partnership and the line of tires, which includes light-truck and UTV products in sizes covering 28 to 34 inches rim diameters.

Dave Cole, owner of Hammerking Productions, said the Progressive King of the Hammers has grown to include nearly every class of competition on dirt.

"With that, you need a diverse group of invested partners that are able to support those competitors," he said.

"Milestar Tires leveraged their Patagonia products to support racers in several classes as well as made sure all of the Crimple factory-support Can-Ams have fresh rubber for the duration of KoH. The vehicles, like our volunteers, are the backbone of ensuring a great week of racing."

Two Milestar factory-backed teams will be running during the King of the Hammers UTV Race: Logan Goodall in a 2019 Polaris RZR Turbo S, with 34X10R15 Milestar Patagonia SXTs; and Jeff Bader in a 2022 Polaris Pro R shod with 34X10R15 Milestar Patagonia SXTs.

For more on the Ultra 4, visit midamericaoutdoors.com.

Find the King of Hammers schedule at kingofthehammers.com.