2015 SEMA Show, Day 3: M/T and Winter Tires from Omni-United

Nov. 9, 2015

Omni United (S) Pte. Ltd. is expanding its Radar brand of tires with the Radar Renegade R7 M/T and three winter tire offerings, the Radar RW-5, RW-5+ and RW-5S. The tires premiered at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.

Radar Renegade R7 M/T

This is the Radar brand’s answer for the serious off-road enthusiast looking for a tire with enhanced durability for harsh gravel and rock, and traction in deep mud, sand, and snow.

The latest generation in the Radar Renegade light truck tire lineup is the culmination of several years of research and development preparing for, and competing in the off-road motorsports arena. The materials and features in the Radar Renegade lineup were tuned over time, and much of what helped deliver off-road wins is available for the weekend warrior or work vehicles requiring extra grip and durability.

One of the race-inspired technologies in the latest generation tire is the stone ejector. The Radar Renegade R7 M/T has a raised nub between the tread blocks that actively deforms when the tire is rotating, opening, closing and then releasing as the tire goes through the contact patch. This action helps to eject the stones out of the tread pattern.

Omni United engineers modeled the action of stone trapping and drilling, and analyzed the reaction of traditional stone ejectors. They learned that most of the current solutions appear to only add more gauge in the tread groove with no active stone ejection mechanism.

With the 3 body ply construction, the third layer helps to strengthen and stiffen the tire to reduce the risk of punctures in the sidewall and tread areas.

Upper shoulder side-biters have a functional purpose of delivering added traction in loose surface conditions, but also provide the rugged aesthetic truck owners crave.

The Radar Renegade R7 M/T tire will have a total of 30 ROWL sizes introduced in two phases. 14 sizes are available now, with 16 more sizes planned for market introduction in 2016.

Radar RW-5, RW-5+ and RW-5S

The Radar winter tire lineup consists of three product lines with distinct size ranges. The Radar RW-5, the RW-5+ and the RW-5S all have similar aspects, but the block placement, siping density and construction of the tires have been tuned for the unique characteristics of the principal fitments taking each size. This “customization” by vehicle type helps the tire work in conjunction with the particular suspension and handling characteristics to deliver improved handling, comfort, and grip.

The Radar RW-5 was designed primarily for compact to mid-size passenger vehicles. The 16 sizes in this range are mostly H-rated, and target the most common winter tire sizes and vehicles in Europe, Scandinavia and Japan. The range does include sizes for several of the top selling compact cars in North America, as well as some coverage of popular small CUVs applications in this market. The tread is directional, with a silica-based tread compound for more grip on wet roads.

The Radar RW-5+ is designed for mid to large sports cars, luxury sedans and mid- and full-size crossover utility vehicles (CUVs.) The tread design and tire construction take into account the increased weight, longer wheelbase, and spirited driving capabilities of these types of vehicles vs. the Radar RW-5 target fitments. The tread pattern has a chevroned directional V-shape to provide increased levels of high speed handling on dry roads. Like the RW 5, the tread compound has silica, an attribute often reserved for more expensive tires.  This range is primarily V-rated XL sizes, and has several of the top selling sizes for the most common luxury sedans and CUVs in North America from original equipment manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes.

The Radar RW-5S rounds out the offering. It targets full size SUVs, with two T-rated sizes and 4 H-rated sizes. The tread pattern is clearly a winter tire, but has more of a SUV/truck look thanks to the large tread blocks and wide open grooves. These features provide the grip you would expect from an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive SUV in packed snow, slush or even muddy road surfaces common in the winter months in many northern states and parts of Canada.

“Receptivity to the three product lines in Europe and Asia has been excellent, and we are confident we will get the same reception in North America,” says Scott Rhodes, vice president of sales for Omni-United. “Globally, the winter tire market is growing, and we now have a very solid base of product and sizes to expand off in 2016. Watch Omni-United for new products, improved size coverage, and a competitive winter tire program in early Spring for the2016 –2017 season."

For more information, visit www.omni-united.com.

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