Where do we go from here? To find out, we begin a three-part series to see where tire and wheel manufacturers, along with retail dealers, believe the performance market is heading.
First up: tires. We have all questioned the proliferation of sizes over the past two decades. The UHP market has steadily increased in volume, and is crowded with competing brands and styles. In recent years, vehicle OEMs have been increasing rim diameters and specifying Z-rated tires for just about everything.
The government mandated that fuel economy standards be raised substantially over the next 10 years. To do this, there will be an increase in hybrid and total-electric vehicles. Next, rolling resistance, as well as the total weight of the tire and wheel assembly, will be scrutinized. Lastly, the cost of a UHP tire compared to a more basic T- or H-rated tire will be substantially higher, especially to the OEMs, which are trying to trim cost while delivering product as attractive as possible.
New Tire Trends
According to Mike Martini, president of Bridgestone Americas’ consumer OE division, “If anything, we will see an increase in H-rated and above tires being produced.
“OEMs are asking for more fuel efficient tires right now, which, in turn, is driving the tiremakers to improve technology to combine traction, handling and mileage,” Martini said.
It is pretty obvious that the UHP market is going to continue to grow, so Bridgestone is offering us a new tire line – Ecopia – to meet the demands of the replacement market.
“This UHP tire will be the new standard for lower rolling resistance and weight combined with high fuel efficiency,” Martini said. Bridgestone plans on applying the Ecopia technology to the Potenza and Turanza lines in the near future. This will enable dealers to offer more fuel efficient replacement tires.
Goodyear’s Bob Toth, HP marketing manager, echoes the same sentiment. “The UHP market is still projected to grow substantially over the next several years. Wheel diameters will continue to trend upward with aspect ratios of 55 series and lower growing, while 60 series and higher will decline.”
With hybrid and electric vehicles, Toth sees the same trend applying. “Even the upcoming fuel-efficient Chevy Volt will come on 17-inch tires. However, tire section widths have stabilized, and are projected to remain as such, with 225mm capturing the largest share of OE market. This suggests that the tire load-carrying requirements of new vehicles are being met without additional load-bearing tire section width, even though wheel diameters are larger and aspect ratios are lower.”
TPMS Trends
Then there is the TPMS part of the equation, the single most talked about tire-related component of the 21st century. We know about the history of the product, so what about the future?
TPMS has taken a role in reducing rolling resistance and overall tire weight, and that won’t change.
Schrader-Bridgeport developed its snap-in two-piece sensors a couple of years ago. According to Gordon Hoffman, director of marketing, Schrader recently introduced a snap-in sensor which is currently in use with Ford, GM and Subaru. Other OEMs are planning to introduce this technology as well. Snap-in sensors are much easier to service, both for removal and re-install, he said.
This product has saved a lot of us from headaches. The rubber stem seals better than the clamp-in style and isn’t as likely to break while simply airing the tire up. As for the profit side of the equation, retrofit kits are available for vehicles that come OE with TPMS.
Well, it looks like the tiremakers have spoken. Get ready for more UHP sizes and styles – and more competition, volume and higher prices.
Next, we’ll look at the wheel side of the performance business.
