Hankook introduced the new Ventus V2 Concept high performance all-season tire, which the tiremaker said features a patented design and special compounds that allow it to match the performance capabilities of most summer tires, but with twice the snow traction. The tire’s “Twister System,” a 3-D wave pattern channel, removes water from the tire’s contact patch to allow for wet traction and minimized risk of hydroplaning, the company said. The tire also features an optimized contact patch; rim protector; wide, high-tensile steel belts; and jointless bead wire and high hardness bead filler. Hankook also previewed several other tires: the enfren eco, a high performance tire designed to minimize energy consumption for max fuel efficient vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, which will be available in the third quarter of 2011; the Dynapro HT, a premium all-season performance tire for light trucks, vans and SUVs designed to excel in snow traction and braking performance, available in the third quarter of 2011; and the Optimo H426, an all-season grand touring performance tire that will sport 20% lower rolling resistance than its predecessor, which will be offered in more than 40 sizes in the second half of 2011.

Hercules unveiled the Hercules Tour 4.0 Plus, an all-season tire branded with the M+S symbol that the tiremaker said provides all-season capability on wet, dry and light snow. The asymmetrical tire features cross-block siping for crisp handling in bad weather, silica-enhanced compounds for added wet traction without reducing tread life, and a nylon overwrap designed to enhance uniformity and boost ride stability, according to Hercules. The Tour 4.0 Plus is available now in 10 sizes ranging from 14- to 16-inch diameters; 15 new sizes, with diameters ranging from 13 to 17 inches, will be added in 2011.

Nexen introduced its N Blue passenger tire, which the company said features a special compound that contains eco-friendly materials. The tire’s tread pattern is designed for stability, mileage and reduced road noise.

Greenball rolled out its Mud Hog M/T Kanati light truck tire, which features a robust sidewall for puncture resistance in mud applications. The tiremaker also rolled out its Bomb Squad MX ATV tire, which Greenball said offers “flexible knob sipes” for increased grip and traction, in addition to square shoulders.

Tenneco introduced its new series of Rancho Loaded QuickLift units, designed to simplify installation and increase business opportunities for traditional service shops. The new units – which now include the application-matched and installed coil spring and upper mounting plate – can be installed quickly and require no major investment in equipment or training, the company said. Loaded QuickLift units – designed for light truck and SUV ride control – provide 1 to 2.5 inches of additional lift, allowing for the use of larger wheel and tire packages.

TIA previewed its revised Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Prog-ram. The updated ATS Program is divided into 15 different training modules, ranging from torque and clamping force to TPMS relearn and diagnostic procedures. It also includes various resources from the RMA, the Automotive Lift Institute, and the Tire and Rim Association, as well as a copy of the 2010 edition of the TIA TPMS Relearn Chart in an 8.5×11-inch format. For more information, visit tireindustry.org or contact TIA Director of Training Christine Marnett at [email protected] or 800-876-8372, ext. 106.

Vee Rubber unveiled three new tires slated for availability in 2011: the Traimate 341, Winter Season IV and a UHP version of the company’s Vitron tire. The Traimate 341, a radial trailer tire with a long-life compound, will be introduced in ST225/75R15 and ST235/80R16 sizes. The silica-containing Winter Season IV passenger/light truck snow tire, the fourth refinement of this model, features reinforced stud holes and a tread design optimized for good performance in snow, Vee said. The new Z-rated Vitron features wider blocks and more siping. Its “dual nature technology” allows it to be mounted with either of its distinctive sides outboard; one side offers greater dry cornering performance, while the other features more grooves and sipes for enhanced wet and snow performance, according to the tiremaker.

Hunter Engineering showed its new RX10 lift, which the company said features a 10,000-pound lifting capacity and a choice of runway lengths to accommodate everything from passenger cars to the longest crew cab pickup trucks. The scissor design requires minimum bay space and can save further space with a shallow-pit installation that sets the runways flush to the floor when fully lowered, eliminating the need for long approach ramps, according to the company. The RX10 features the optional PowerSlide system, which automatically controls turn plate and slip plate operation. The extra-wide 24-inch runways with louvered ramps make positioning the vehicle on the lift rack easier and the open access at the front and rear create an unrestricted workspace underneath the vehicle, Hunter said.

Cooper rolled out four new tires: the Discoverer A/T3, Discoverer S/TMaxx, Cooper Zeon RS3-A and Cooper Zeon RS3-S. The Discoverer A/T3 is the latest addition to Cooper’s SUV and light truck tire line and is a direct replacement for the Discoverer ATR. The A/T3 uses a combination of technology, compounding and design to provide confident all-terrain performance, Cooper said. Its silica tread compound increases treadwear, improves wet traction and helps resist cutting and chipping, while the modern tread design improves off-road traction without sacrificing highway performance. The A/T3 will be available in April 2011 in 30 SUV sizes and 32 L/T sizes ranging from 15- to 20-inch rim diameters. The Discoverer S/TMaxx will replace the Discoverer S/T-C and select sizes of the Discoverer S/T. The S/TMaxx will feature Cooper’s three-ply “Armor-Tek3” carcass construction, a new proprietary cut- and chip-resistant tread compound and a progressive tread design. Launching in February 2011, it will be available in 8 sizes ranging from 16- to 18-inch rim diameters. The all-season UHP Cooper Zeon RS3-A, which replaces the Cooper Zeon Sport A/S, combines large tread elements and an asymmetric design. The tire features a silica tread compound designed for all-season driving performance and a mold profile that provides a square tread footprint, resulting in more tread-to-road contact. The RS3-A will be offered in 31 sizes in April 2011, with more sizes to follow later in the year. The Cooper Zeon RS3-S, replacing the current Cooper Zeon 2XS, is the company’s latest UHP summer tire. The tire offers a low-profile, high performance rating that combines world-class dry road traction, increased handling and exceptional cornering ability, Cooper said. The RS3-S will be available in 21 sizes and will launch in April 2011.

Falken showed three new products aimed at distinct audiences and applications: The new premium performance touring Azenis PT-722, Large Overall Diameter (LOD) WildPeak A/T sizes, and the EcoRun line of truck and bus radials, which offers SmartWay low-rolling resistance technology. Azenis PT-722 is Falken’s first all-season UHP tire, featuring a deep tread depth and long lateral groove designed for anti-hydroplaning and stability in the wet. The asymmetric tire also offers wear indicators. It will be available in March of 2011 in 44 sizes ranging from 16- to 20-inch diameters. The new Falken WildPeak A/T LOD tires offer off-road capabilities, as well as a comfortable ride on smooth surfaces, according to the tiremaker. These Wildpeak A/T additions will be available in January in 17-, 18- and 20-inch wheel diameters. Select EcoRun sizes currently are available. The tire features technology that will help fleets improve energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, while cutting fuel costs, Falken said.

Alliance Tire Group displayed its new line of tires for severe duty agricultural applications, the Flotation Radial Series 388. The tires feature a large soil contact area, excellent self-cleaning capability and a curved bar tread pattern to provide traction in the field, as well as smooth operation on the road, according to the company. Designed mainly for spreaders, tankers and other heavy agricultural trailers that must split their time between field and road duty, the Series 388 tires are available in 10 sizes. Alliance said in the popular 600/50-22.5 size, the 388 159D radial tire on drive positions offers a 13% increase in load capacity at 30 mph compared to the bias tire option.

Lexani Tires Worldwide introduced several unique sizes, including the 245/30R24, 255/30R30, 265/30R30 and 285/23R28 LX-9; 245/30R24 LX5; and 225/30R22 LX-7. The LX-9 sizes offer a wider footprint and lower aspect ratio to maintain the same overall diameter as competing tires, but boast a load index of 109, which is needed to satisfy the load requirements of most SUVs, according to the company. The 265/30R30 size is geared toward large American vehicles produced from 1971-76, including the Chevy Impala and Caprice. The 245/30R24 size fits most of today’s big body vehicles, such as the Chrysler 300C, Chevy Camaro and BMW 7 series. The LX-7 size is designed to fit the majority of mid-size vehicles, including European and Japanese fitments, with little or no modification necessary, the company said.

Balkrishna Industries introduced its Earthmax SR 45 (E4), which contains an all-steel casing designed to increase stability and resistance to snags and punctures, the company said. The tire also features a tread design for maximum traction, tread depth for added mileage and a tread compound with wear- and cut-resistant properties. The Earthmax SR 45 is available in size 24.00R35.