Following their announcement last year to enter the commercial truck tire market, the Pirelli brand will preview their tire product line under the TP Commercial Solutions entity at the 2017 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), the largest annual heavy duty trucking show in the world.
After a successful testing process, TP Commercial Solutions says it is ready to launch the sales and marketing of the Pirelli Brand of Radial Truck Tires, Agricultural Tires and Off-The Road Tires along with the Formula Brand to the U.S. and Canada.
“We are excited to announce at MATS that we have the start of a solid product line-up now available for sale – and most importantly, all of these products uphold Pirelli’s iconic brand values and quality after exhaustive testing on our end in this market,” said Clif Armstrong, president of TP Commercial Solutions.
After a rigorous R&D and testing process with multiple fleets in multiple applications to develop tires for the specific needs of the U.S. market, the products being shown at MATs include:
- Pentathlon D – a premium long haul drive tire that is SmartWay verified.
Pentathlon will be the name of the premium long haul Pirelli product family in the U.S./Canada. Pentathlon D will be the first to launch and as the name connotes, this tire has five distinct areas that distinguish it – high mileage, energy efficiency, even wear, high traction and high retreadability. Incorporating a dual layer tread compound for long lasting performance, a special undertread compound to equal low rolling resistance and fuel consumption, an optimized pattern geometry and 3SB belt evolution for durable, even wear; a directional tread pattern for excellent grip on wet and dry, and finally, Pirelli’s patented SATT (Spiral Advanced Technology for Truck) technology and Hexa Bead Wire to deliver on retreadability needs. Pentathlon D provided excellent results in testing against the industry’s most important performance benchmarks of mileage and traction in all conditions.
- G:85 Series for On/Off Road – the FG:85 and TG:85 are specifically designed for the steer and drive on/off road application.
The G:85 Series comes in both an All Position rib product as well as a drive companion. These tires are "workhorses" for mixed use vehicles, designed to enhance structural integrity while resisting stress factors and laceration. Equipped with a durable casing for multiple retreads, both tires were placed in the most demanding service environment tests possible and performed at the highest levels versus the competition, according to the company.
- FH:01 Motor Coach – Designed for the bus fleet market is the long haul and regional all position FH:01 Motor Coach tire.
Its key product features include durability and a smooth comfortable ride, according to the company. An optimized tread pattern promotes steering precision and grip on both dry and wet surfaces. A Pirelli patented innovative shoulder tread contour allows even distribution of pressure, ultimately resulting in even wear and high mileage.
- Formula Driver II All Position rib
This product is part of the Formula Brand, a Pirelli Tier II brand that will be launched in the U.S./Canada, including the Formula Driver II All Position rib, which will start with limited sizes and then expand to a full product line. Formula Driver II delivers value in mileage, handling and durability thanks to Pirelli SATT technology, engineered to enhance uniformity of wear, tire life, handling characteristics and retreadability, says the company.
“All of these products offer best in class benefits for North American fleet needs," Armstrong said. "This was proven during our dedicated local testing phase thanks to ongoing innovations in Pirelli’s tire technology. Pirelli has been a world leader in tire technology for over 140 years. We’re confident in the results, and in providing superior products for truck and fleet applications. We look forward to building relationships and discussing our products’ features and benefits in-depth at the show."
TP Commercial Solutions is an entity that supplies commercial truck tires and fleet solutions with the Pirelli brand to the global market. Dedicated to the North American market, TP Commercial Solutions LLC maintains the renowned quality and heritage of the Pirelli family. Its headquarters are in Rome, Georgia. For more information, including more detailed product information and brochures, visit www.pirelli.com/commercial/us.
