Michelin North America Inc. will be introducing 36 new sizes of the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW ultra-high performance tire line by July 2004.
The new sizes range from 15 to 20 inches and include tires designed for passenger cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles.
With the addition of the new sizes, the g-Force T/A KDW tire line will have 85 sizes. The company plans to add four more in 2005.
The g-Force T/A KDW tire offers special sport compact sizes engineered for two- and four-wheel-drive applications as well as SUV "dub" and "dub-plus" sizes designed to handle truck load capacity requirements.
While the original tread pattern closely mimics the BFGoodrich g-Force rain tire used in the Trans-Am road-racing series, the newest tread pattern features unidirectional CAD-designed tread elements designed specifically to appeal to high-performance sport compact car and sport truck owners, the company notes.
The tire has a silica-reinforced tread compound and a unidirectional tread design for optimum grip in both wet and dry conditions.
Deep, wide grooves speed water evacuation and reduce hydroplaning while large block elements enhance stability, wear and handling under high-torque conditions.
Tall, high-volume, g-Control sidewall inserts help resist deflection, generate cornering forces and provide lateral firmness. Dimensionally stable polyester carcass plies and the BFGoodrich brand's ETEC (Equal Tension Containment) System give the tire strength and a consistent and maximized tread contact area for a smooth ride.
The g-Force T/A KDW tire also has a rounded shoulder profile, which contributes to the tire's breakaway characteristic, predictability and good feedback at the limit of adhesion, the company says.
