Product
Cooper Tire to Launch New Sport Truck Tire
Cooper Zeon LTZ offers advanced sport truck tire technology and all-terrain capability
FINDLAY, OHIO, OCTOBER 10, 2008 - COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE:CTB) is announcing the release of its newest hybrid sport truck tire, the Cooper Zeon LTZ.
The LTZ’s hybrid technology combines the performance required for today’s SUVs and CUVs, as well as many of the plus applications associated with these segments of vehicles, with the aggressiveness of a go-anywhere, all-terrain product. A real life testimonial to this product was showcased during the running of The Great Continental Divide II sponsored by OffRoving.com, where a group traveled a combined 30,000 miles round trip on-road with fully-loaded Land Rovers to reach the 4X4 trails in Colorado for a five-day, 600-mile trip along the Continental Divide. And of course, every mile was driven on the Cooper Zeon LTZ.
“This tire follows the successful launch of the high performance sport truck tire, the Cooper Zeon XSTA, earlier this year,” said Hal Gardner, Cooper’s Vice President of Marketing. “With the LTZ, Cooper set its sights on the off-road market, combining sport-truck market thinking and innovative technology. Rather than just develop an all-terrain tire for the traditional 15- and 16-inch applications, Cooper engineers designed the LTZ for larger diameter applications, currently as big as 24 inches.”
The heart of the new LTZ is Cooper’s unique tread design, which provides all-season performance on the road with all-terrain traction off the road. Dual Z-shaped sipes on each tread lug ensure great handling and solid traction. The LTZ’s all-season tread compound is molded into a tread pattern that features deep tread in the center rib for stability, slightly shallower tread in the shoulders for improved wear and enhanced wet weather handling.
The lug tie-in zones incorporate raised, serrated “lug locks” between the tread block elements to reinforce the tread pattern for enhanced steering and all-terrain traction, making it a great fit for today's SUVs and CUVs. The computer designed mold profile incorporates special venting technology in the tread area to provide a crisp, premium appearance.
The Cooper Zeon LTZ showcases an aggressive black sidewall, with reversed block lettering. This line will be introduced in two phases. Cooper Tire dealers will begin selling the initial offering of eight popular SUV sizes, and one light truck size, within the 18- to 24-inch rim diameters, while phase two will comprise the popular light truck fitments of 16- though 20-inch wheel diameters scheduled for the first quarter 2009, all S-speed rated.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com.
Company Contact: Michelle R. Zeisloft, 419-424-4251