Nov 04, 2021
Hercules Tires, part of American Tire Distributors (ATD), and TIS Wheels have jointly introduced a new off-road ATV tire, whose full co-branding name is TIS Offroad UT1 by Hercules Tires (abbreviated as TIS UT1).
For Hercules, the novelty is the first tire for a UTV and the company says it is a growing niche segment that requires tires that are suitable for a wide range of conditions such as sand, mud, gravel, etc. For this reason, the TIS UT1 has an aggressive ATV design with a balanced void ratio that, combined with a new engagement edge design, is designed to provide high traction on all surfaces, loose or hard.
The company added that blocks in the center and intermediate sections wrap around stones and other objects to increase traction, while complex-shaped bucket shoulder lugs combined with extended rock pushers improve off-road ability and reduce the risk of damage. In addition, deep and wide sloped grooves increase traction and self-cleaning, the use of different rubber compounds in the center and shoulders has increased tire life and increased grip during rock crawling, while the optimized contact patch and tread pattern have improved lateral stability. and handling, as well as control during acceleration and deceleration.
“Launching the first UTV tire is in line with our strategy of expanding our product range and maintaining our status as a supplier of tires for all categories in the aftermarket,” said Josh Simpson, senior vice president of Hercules. “Consumers are looking for more than just tires that will perform with confidence no matter what the conditions, and now more and more buyers want to customize their vehicles and want tires that match the look and feel of their vehicle.”
To allow for customization, the tires have been fitted with different sidewall designs so that the driver can choose the option they like best - Hercules has recently taken this approach with its new tires for SUVs and pickup trucks, and overall this is one of the fastest growing trends in the industry. The TIS UT1 has large lugs on the sidewalls, which, among other things, also provide additional protection against damage.
On the collaboration with TIS Wheels, a renowned wheel brand, Hercules says it will differentiate itself from the competition when developing new tires. “We wanted to work with a brand like TIS because they have powerful marketing abilities and could definitely help us develop a quality product. I am confident that the joint marketing efforts will grab the attention of consumers and ultimately increase the number of customers in our retail centers, ”said Simpson.
The new tires will enter the market in 2022, and production, judging by the markings on the sidewalls, will also be carried out in Taiwan.