Market Research: New Tire Line
 

Hi Gang,

Driverz Inc works very closely with some of the biggest names in tires. One of which has asked us for help with development of their new tire lines in the coming year. They asked that I do not reveal their name although I can tell you they are in the top two of tire brands we sell and recommend. They have some questions, and I thought this crowd is the perfect arena to ask. Below is the email I received:

"Hey, maybe you can help me out a little bit.

We are doing some market research on a (tire) and want to know some market info.

This new (tread design) which wont be out for like a year, is going to be targeted towards the Muscle car market (New and Old).

One of the biggest things for us to decide is tread pattern, Directional or Non-direction? Are domestic guys going to appreciate the additional benefits of a non-directional tire or do they only think that Directional is the way to go?

Take some time and let me know what you think.

If you could post your thoughts on what it is you look for in a tire package for your hot rod, whether it be height, aggressive tread design, directional, non-directional, etc., I'll forward the info to them.

Thank you for your time and help in advance,

Will the non-directional have the performance of the directional tire and is this more of a racing tire or street tire?

Directional, yes.

And I have always liked the tread design of the original BFG TA/KD.

I moved this to the Open Discussion to get maximum exposure.

This is a pretty big deal from one of the big names in the industry. This is a chance to directly influence future product that is aimed squarely at us.



I agree with Rob. I like the directional look.

:thumbsup: non-direcitonal

Redlines
 

17" and 18" redlines would be cool.

I think what they are looking for is whether if it is the tread design that matters or the sizing. Also, what sizes are you guys looking for most?

They are developing a new version, of an old staple for them, in a Z rated style tire. Similiar performance, lets say, to a BFG KDW2, or a Nitto 555. Would you guys like a non-directional tire that performs as well as a one of those tires? Or stay directional? Or?

I would like a taller 315 or 305 17" tire, such as a 40 aspect ratio. A 315/35 is just a bit shorter than I'd like.

I'd like to see a 335/30/18 drag radial. BFG has a 345, but not a 335.

They do have this tire in BFG, I have a set and they are nice
335/30ZR18 102Y BSW 58900 11.5 - 12.5 13.5 on 12 25.9 10 802 1874@51

I think they need more sizes in the 19 and 20 range for the pro touring sizes, the best tire for the 19 is a 345/30ZR19 in Michelin and they made the 285/35ZR19 more narrow then the last version from Michelin. Right now Michelin has the best sizes for the 19-22 range but they need more to fit the wider wheels better. Most of the cars that we do have 19X12 or 13-inch wheels and 22X12 or 13-inch wheels. It would be nice to have more sizes available for the rims we use. This is some good food for thought and I think that the KDW is the best looking wheel for Pro Touring and they handle awesome in the rain.

That's not a drag radial, though, is it?

Sorry missed that part was just look for sizes. :willy:

Tread pattern does not matter to me as much as performance. Build some more 40 series applications for 18" wheels please. I would love to run 255/285 40 tires instead of my "rides like a cement truck" 35 series tires. I will make them fit.

Ditto, in wider widths also, 335-345, much taller sidewall than 30.

I like the look of directional. I have KDW's (original tread) on my 99 camaro and i love the way they look. I'd like a taller tire for a bigger wheel though. Big wheels and little sidewalls on the old cars looks kinda funny to me. I dont want monster truck tires but somethign with a little meat to it.

William

Non Directional. I like the directional better but end up having to dismount wheel more often when I have to rotate tires to other side of car. That leaves more opportunities to scratch wheel and wear and tear on wheel/tire.

We need more tire size options in the 18-20" tire. Not very many options out there in brands.

We have been working with Mickey Thompson for a few months, look for some 27" tall 335s (13.6 section) in 18" tires and also drag radials.

i dont really care weather ist directional or not... id like the pattern to stand out so people who know, can recognize my choice and understand the "statement" tires are accessories as much as performance items.

if i could id run michelin road race slicks... but id like to see a tuner tire.. somthing that was made for high horsepower and cornering.. and why not have letering in the thread.. this is not a tire where directional thread pattern shoud be added for improved wet driving or god forbid; looks.. no give me whatever works best! form should follow function, that always looks best in my book

Have you tried Michelins, Steve? I've had 275 & 255 35/20 Pilots on my daily driver for years and love them. I don't aim for potholes but the ride is very forgiving.

As far as my input on tires, I spend time on this site because I like musclecars that drive like Z06s and Vipers and it's also the majority of my business, so I'd like to see a similar wheel and tire to the Z06 on the musclecar, i.e. Z Rated directionals in 300+ mm widths in 17-22" diameters including 21s. I'd aslo like to see a few sidewall height options.
It's said Michelin is discontinuing the 335/30/20 because the Carrera GT it's standard equipment on is discontinued but in my opinion, it's a great size for a tire, especially the 28" height so a similar replacement for that would be well received by some in this group. There's more than a few members running it.

20's are easier because there are a number of sport truck tire options. I'm looking for wide 40 series 18's.

I like the look of
 

the directionals, but they have a tendency to have more trameling (sp) as they wear.

I would love to find some R compounds for the stock size C6 set up. The 285/19/35 and 245/18/40

Thank you all for the feedback!
 

Thank you all very much from Driverz, and from the tire company. They are reading and taking into account everything said on this thread to help with the development of their new tire. I can assure you, your voices are being heard. Keep the comments going...

Yes I agree and that is exactly why I bought mine.

I'd like to see a max effort tire in a 335/xx/18 size. The wear rating isn't a big concern.

Nitto makes a 335/30ZR18 Drag Radial in their 555R. Anyone run this tire, and what do you think? It's 26.06 tall. Are you all looking for taller?

Directional or not matters not a whit to me. There are three things that matter: Compound, Compound, Compound.

Ok, four things. Sizes. Provide 315 or so in 17" and more 40-series in wider sizes.

Yea i'd really like a 315 in a 40 series it'd be about 27 in tall if i'm not mistaken which is about what i have now. Ride would improve and as i said before, a big rim with no tire on it on a muscle car just looks funny to me.

William

I think more size options are the biggie, especially in the height(more sidewall) for the wider sizes. The wider you go, the more sidewall you lose, and I think that's what were interested in most is being able to get wide tires but still keep some sidewall. These old muscle cars need a little bit more sidewall than whats currently available(in the wide sizes), or they do look a little funny. Again, like someone else mentioned, not truck-like sidewalls, just a little more. Also, not that it's a huge deal, but if they could make them with the least amount of writing,letters,numbers blah blah blah on the sidewalls they would look much better! I know a lot of, if not all, is necessary but if they could cut down on some, that would be cool. As far as tread pattern, I like directional better, but to each his own. If the performance is there and it looks good, I don't think tread pattern is a deal breaker either way. Hey, thanks for asking!:thumbsup:

I run the Nitto 555R 305/45/18 and I'm very happy w/them. What I'd like to see are some 17" or 18" Raised white letter tires. I'd love to get some of the new 18" GM Billet SS rims(AKA Olds SSIs) and mount something like a BF Goodrich raised white letter tire 245/45/18s front and a 295/45/18 rear.

The raised white letter tires end at 15" and a few 16"

I like the old school look w/modern day performance (big brakes etc).

The first pictures I saw of the new GT40s had raised white letter tires on them and they were 18" and 19" ....I thought they looked great!

We need 335-345 wide with a diameter of 27-28. Any bigger in dia you'll need to stretch the wheel wells like a Pro-street car.
I want street and race compounds in the same sizes. Ever look for 19 or 20 race compound?
I've been using nothing but Michelins lately.

I second everything Jeff said. A good friend just had to buy a whole set of 18" wheels to run R Compound tires because there were no R compounds in 19 & 20 to match his existing rolling stock.

And what about some plus size redline tires?

Iwould like to see more larger tire choices in the 19 inch sizes.I have the kdw2s and i like that style tread pattern.also make them somewhat more affordable.19s are spensive.

Exactly what we discuss with MT, a 27" 335.

Thank you all!
 

Thank you all for your comments. This is exactly the type of response that they were looking for. Keep a look out, you are going to see a new tire out really soon, from one of the BIG manufacturers, and I know they will take into account everything that has been said here. Really, it's going to be a newer version, of an already existing, and well selling tire tread. I think everyone will be happy. Keep an eye on Driverzinc.com for more information in the coming year!

Call me crazy, I alway loved the design of the khumo ecsta supras.

well i do not drive my car that much but when i do i would love to have a sticky road race tire with an aggressive pattern that would be dot legal but that would work in the rain, like if i took a road trip to a car show and a down poor happened, i want to make sure i do not hydro-plane all over the road. i run a 315-35-17 but it's not that sticky with all the hp i have, so in the rain when i hit the throttle i feel like i'm on a slip in slide and i don't have near as much hp as most people here have. so super sticky, wet tread pattern and some real tread on them so i don't wear them out in 2000 miles.

And RWL (not OWL). At least in popular sizes.

Directional does not matter to me. When I was a Michelin dealer, MAST was always driving home the point that directional does not matter all the much, and in fact it is all about carcass & compound – tread design is more about noise and some wet abilities. This was back in the day of the original gimmick aquatreads. Michelins XH4 was the best passenger car tire out there at the time and had a simple pattern that looked like I designed it (I’m no artist). Best big hoops I drove on a DD were 245/45/16 Michelin MXXs. Loved them. No fancy tread all, IIRC.

If you stay away from directionals & inside/outside type deals, RWL and redlines become easier on the manufacturers & resellers, since they won’t need extra SKUs. Like truck tires – mount the letters on the inside.

If I could get RWL 17s, I’d buy them (and wheels) right now (or yellow only if they say Michelin or Pirelli, – shoot me, I’m tire-vain).

We need a 335 18" tire that comes in a bit cheaper than the Michelins.

17" tire w/ 28" diameter
 

seems like all performance 17" tires aim for ~26" diameter, I'd love to have 28".