Continental Tire North America (CTNA) expects to have 26 studdable sizes of its new General Altimax Arctic ready to ship in the third quarter. The Q-rated sizes range from 13 inches through 17 inches.
The size breakdown is as follows:
13 inches: 175/70R13.
14 inches: 175/65R14, 185/65R14, 185/70R14.
15 inches: 195/55R15, 185/60R15, 195/60R15, 205/60R15, 185/65R15, 195/65R15, 205/65R15, 205/70R15, 215/70R15.
16 inches: 205/55R16, 215/55R16, 225/55R16, 205/60R16, 215/60R16, 225/60R16, 235/60R16, 215/65R16, 225/70R16.
17 inches: 225/45R17, 235/45R17, 205/50R17, 235/65R17.
According to Continental, the 26 sizes make up 68% of the domestic market and 72% of the Canadian market based on industry volume.
"Our target in the winter tire market is to grow up to one million tires in the next two to three years," says Andreas Gerstenberger, executive vice president of sales and marketing for CTNA's replacement passenger and light truck tire business unit.
CTNA sells Continental, General, SViking and Semperit brand winter tires in the U.S. and Canada. Its Gislaved winter tire line is a proprietary brand sold through ITS.
(For more information on the General Altimax Arctic, see "Continental launches General winter tire -- the Altimax Arctic," Jan. 21).
