Toyo Tires bolsters Open Country line

CYPRESS, Calif.—Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has expanded its Open Country family of tires with the Open Country Q/T premium all-season touring tire and Open Country C/T on-/off-road commercial grade tire.

Both models are available for purchase immediately, and dealers can take advantage of product training for the new tires as of Aug. 1. The firm added that in order to support the launch, it will begin shipping point-of-purchase kits—featuring counter mats, data book pages, a multi-tool pen, brochures and posters—this week.

The Open Country Q/T is available in 35 sizes, according to Toyo, with rim diameters ranging from 16-22 inches. It is offered with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty—backed by Toyo's “No Regrets” trial offer—that allows consumers to test the tires for 45 days or up to 500 miles before returning them.

With the Q/T, Toyo is targeting the SUV and CUV markets. During a recent presentation to tire industry media, Chris Gomez, product marketing manager for Toyo, said the Q/T's CUV fitment offerings will serve as an indirect replacement for the Toyo Versado CUV all-season touring tire, which provided similar vehicle coverage.

Todd Bergeson, senior product manager for Toyo, added that the Q/T offers 10,000 miles of durability beyond what the Versado CUV's capabilities.

Features of the Q/T include: Toyo's Silent Wall technology for a quiet ride; multi-wave sipes to minimize irregular wear, improve braking on wet and dry roads and offer light snow traction; four wide circumferential grooves to evacuate water; and open lateral slits for improved water drainage and overall wet performance.

Toyo's new Open Country C/T—available in 16 original equipment replacement and flotation sizes ranging from 16-20 inches in rim diameter—boasts all-terrain, commercial grade durability, the tire maker said. Developed for on- and off-road work, the C/T's tough construction is designed to deliver long tread life and traction in gravel, mud and snow, the company said.

The C/T initially was launched about a year ago in Canada, which served as a test market for the tire before bringing it to the U.S.

Features include: high turn-up, three-ply polyester construction for durability, impact resistance and handling; a balanced tread compound made with high levels of natural rubber and designed to resist cutting, chipping and stone drilling; dual-angle shoulder blocks for enhanced traction in snow, mud and rutted road conditions; an open shoulder design to provide traction in mild mud, slush and snow; and stud pins able to accept TSMI No. 15 studs for ice traction.

Despite its rugged appearance, Toyo claimed the tire provides a quiet, comfortable highway ride.

Toyo said the C/T, while not a winter tire, features the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, qualifying it for use in severe snow conditions.

As of now, both tires are 100 percent manufactured at Toyo's plant in White, Ga., the company said, but production is subject to change.