Still the only UK wholesaler to operate a specialist 4×4 division (which is based at Southam), the MTS group offers next/same day delivery nationwide on all major brands including every OE fitment, a comprehensive range of quality budget 4×4 tyres from Enduro, and the market leading mid-range replacement brands including BFGoodrich, General, Kumho, Falken, Insa Turbo and Toyo.
Talking to Alan Baldwin, MTS wholesale director, Tyres & Accessories discovered that all is not lost in the current financial climate for the 4×4 tyre – far from it, in fact, as in many areas strong growth continues. New vehicle sales declines are always good for the replacement market, comments Baldwin, and today is no exception. “We have seen continual growth in the 4×4 vehicle parc for the last 10 years, and with relatively long replacement cycles, and the more recent waves of highly successful 4×4 vehicle sales fitted with 19-inch tyres and larger, which, having faster wear rates, are already providing business.”
Baldwin reports that no significant growth has been seen in budget 4×4 product, in contrast with what has been the case for passenger car tyres. However, in hand with the passenger car segment, premium 4×4 brands are seeing serious pressure from declining consumer demand due to the recession.
For MTS, the largest ongoing growth sector is the mid-range 4×4 product range, with General, BFGoodrich, Kumho, Falken and Toyo leading the way. 4×4 vehicles, with their with high centres of gravity and high gross vehicle weights, are highly demanding in performance criteria, and the need for off-road performance dictates the fitment of aggressive patterns. Very cheap Far Eastern budget products are often found to be lacking, says MTS, and stopping a low cost MT pattern tyre on wet tarmac can be a testing experience.
General 4×4 is named as the star performer at MTS/Southam, offering all the quality of its Conti heritage, but with advantageous mid-range pricing. Working hand in hand with General’s engineers, Southam’s specialist 4×4 division have identified many niche sizes that are now providing strong sales results for MTS customers. According to the company, General’s 4×4 tyre range is “the best, the quality perfect, and performance unbeatable, and the manufacturer has a strong interface with our 4×4 specialist team.” This relationship with the MTS 4×4 team has allowed the company to provide its customers with a number of unique sizes, including real 18-inch All-Terrains.
BFGoodrich remains, reports MTS, the darling of the AT/MT serious off-road sector with incredible wear rates guaranteeing consumer retention. The company adds that the Insa turbo range is the best 4×4 retread available, and offers serious off-road patterns for any terrain. Another serious growth area in 4×4 vehicle sales has been good value, high spec Korean 4×4 vehicles, and MTS reports this has resulted in very strong growth for Kumho, a major OE supplier.
In conclusion, MTS/Southam shares the reasons it believes it has becomes the 4×4 market leader – the delivery of great products, consistent service and the best technical back up – in other words, the true one stop shop for 4×4 tyres and wheels. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)
