Holmdel, N.J.-based GTS North America LLC says it will begin selling Ukraine-made Rosava brand radial passenger tires in the United States next month.
GTS, a subsidiary of Ukraine-based import/export logistics firm Gem Industries Ltd., has secured exclusive rights to Rosava passenger and light truck tires in the Americas. Rosava tires have never been sold in the U.S. before, says Len Rubinstein, a principal at GTS.
"We feel Rosava's niche is going to be entry-level in the beginning," Rubinstein recently told www.moderntiredealer.com. "But once we start saturating the market and put some marketing dollars behind the brand, our ultimate goal is to be in the mid-range of the tier-two level."
Manufacturer C.J.S.C. Rosava is re-tooling the Rosava line to fit the North American market, he explains. "Because Rosava has always been geared toward Europe, they've never exceeded 16-inch tires. We're working on a finance package to put in three new lines for the 16- through 20-inch market."
Most of those sizes will top out at 18 inches, he notes. "We should have some new sizes coming online by the fourth quarter of the year."
Rosava tires currently are being tested an independent facilities in Ohio and Texas. "We're testing every single tire we hope to bring in. We're almost finished with our final testing."
