BFG Canada prepares winter tire rollout

OTTAWA, Ontario—Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich brand is preparing to roll out in Canada a winter tire it claims outperforms its predecessor in nearly every critical performance parameter.

The Winter T/A KSI will be available in 32 sizes for the 2017-18 winter season, the company told dealers and the media at a ride-and-drive event March 3 in Ottawa.

The firm has no plans at this time to market the tire, which replaces the Winter Slalom KSI, in the U.S.

Goodrich will add six more key sizes before the 2018-19 season and will give the firm more than 75 percent market coverage in the passenger car/CUV markets, according to Sabrina Garofalo, marketing manager for BFG in Canada. The sizes, covering 14- to 18-inch rim diameters, are not suitable for most SUVs or light trucks, with one or two exceptions.

Goodrich is targeting the Winter T/A KSI at the Tier 2 market segment, Garafalo said, which represents about 30 percent of the winter tire market in Canada. Overall, 68 percent of drivers in Canada say they use winter tires, according to industry statistics.

The Winter T/A KSI—KSI stands for Key (attribute) Snow & Ice—outperforms the Winter Slalom in several key areas, most notably in ice traction and wet braking, Category Manager Kevin Reim said. He also noted the tires excell in these areas without sacrificing other performance criteria.

BFG achieved the improvements due to a number of changes, including:

• The use of a directional tread pattern;
• Tread compounds that contain more silica;
• T speed rating, instead of S with the predecessor tire;
• Higher sipe density for maximum "biting edges";
• Serrated shoulder profile, for grip in deep snow;
• Wide lateral grooves and two circumferential grooves for enhanced water/slush evacuation; and
• Greater use of saw-tooth groove edges.

BFG is sourcing the tire from Nankang Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd.'s plant in Jiangsu, China, which helps it keep the product priced competitively within the Tier 2 segment, Reim said.

BFG did not disclose suggested retail pricing, but indicated it would sell at a premium vs. its key competitors.