Nearly 70,000 buyers from more than 100 countries traveled to Las Vegas to see if their suppliers or potential trading partners had new tires and other products that would astound and amaze them, like the neon lights on the Strip. And they weren’t disappointed.
Close to 232 exhibitors were part of the Global Tire Expo, “powered” by the Tire Industry Association. They showcased many new tires in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, including some with raised white letters — still popular and in demand in some parts of the country. But the hot tire segment catered to off-road enthusiasts.A surprising number of tires with aggressive tread patterns fit the mud/terrain mold, although some were unofficially labeled R/T (Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. labels the category “rugged terrain”). Others easily could have been labeled extreme M/T.
None of our tweets received as many impressions or total engagements as the one promoting the Nitto Ridge Grappler. “It’s a hybrid between a mud-terrain and an all-terrain,” said Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. Regional Sales Manager David Myers.
Atturo Tire Corp. will add 11 sizes, including two 24-inch sizes, to its Trail Blade Boss off-road tire in the first quarter of 2017. Entering the show, there was only one size available. After teasing dealers with the Maxxis Razr MT at the 2015 show, Maxxis International-USA said it is now available in six sizes ranging from 32 to 40 inches.
Off-road racer Jason Coleman, known for his success in the Best in the Desert Racing Association, was in the Omni United (S) Ptd. Ltd. booth promoting the new Radar Renegade R7 M/T for SUVs and light trucks.If the tread pattern looks familiar, simply compare it to the tires on which Coleman races: the Renegade R5 M/T. ?
