Five years from now, all vehicles will come with performance tires.
So said Rick Brennan, vice president of marketing for Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc., at the annual Kumho Dealer Meeting in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He said larger rim diameters and 50- and 55-series sizes are coming into play at the original equipment level.
That will lead to a lot of "accidental performance customers," and the resulting sticker shock when the tires need to be replaced.
There also will be more size proliferation. Brennan said there will be 54 new sizes offered by vehicle manufacturers in 2008.
In contrast, two sizes introduced with the popular Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum may eventually fall by the wayside. With Chrysler LLC's announced cancellation of the Magnum, Brennan said he doesn’t expect sizes 255/30R24 (front) and 275/30R24 (rear) to be in as much demand.
