"There are more than 500 points of sale in the United States that carry super singles," Michelin North America Inc. (MNA) official Mike Hurley told attendees earlier today at the 2003 Tire Industry Asociation World Tire Expo.
More super single points of sale are expected to sprout up, says Hurley, who believes the proliferation of outlets that sell the wide-base tires will have a significant impact on how the products are received in the country.
Lack of availbility "can absolutely kill a product. There was a push for super singles in the mid-1980s, but there was no availability."
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone America Holding Inc. plan to introduce new super single tires to the North American market later this year.
Continental Tire North America Inc. super singles are expected to be available in the U.S. within two years.
MNA's super single product is the X-One.
