Las
Vegas, NV - The BFGoodrich®
Krawler T/A®KX,
the tire that has already made a name for itself in rock
crawling competition, will be available to consumers early
next year. Initially, two sizes will be offered –
a 35x13.50R15 and a 37x12.50R17. The 17-inch dimension will
come in two versions.
In an
innovative move, BFG will offer one of those versions with
a partial tread design, leaving about 50 percent of the
tread area to be custom grooved by the consumer. This tire
is intended for those who participate in extreme rock crawling
and off-roading, and who want their vehicles to reflect
their distinctive styles and needs. The other version, which
is the same as the 15-inch size, features a full tread design
made up of huge, aggressive lugs for maximum traction. It
can be run as-is, or "fine tuned" for specific
applications.
"The
response to prototype versions of the Krawler T/A KX has
been extraordinary," said Scott Dishman, marketing
manager for BFGoodrich light-truck tires. "We worked
hard to develop the ultimate tire that would provide drivers
with the unique traction capabilities and exceptional durability
they need in rock crawling. Given our success in competition
and the overwhelmingly positive comments we're getting from
those who've had a chance to run the tire, I'd say our engineers
hit another home run."
In true
BFG style of using competition in the final development
phase for new products, engineers used feedback from those
who tested prototype tires in a range of extreme conditions
to refine the Krawler T/A KX's performance and durability.
"Real-world
testing is so important," Dishman said. "We have
a 30-plus-year history of using the knowledge we gain from
motorsports and from testing in the extreme to give true
enthusiasts the authentic performance they want."
Besides
providing valuable technical information, teams running
the Krawler T/A® KX were awesome in competition. They
capped a very successful season by sweeping the top three
spots in the Unlimited Class at the inaugural running of
The SuperCrawl World Championships in Farmington, N.M.,
a by-invitation-only event, which attracted a field of 106
competitors.
In regular
series' events, teams using BFGoodrich tires this season
have won six championships so far and 22 of a possible 37
class wins.
Credit
for the Krawler T/A KX's performance goes to the tire's
construction and design features including:
Huge, aggressive lugs in the tread and sidewall areas for
traction and resistance to punctures and bruising. They
also enhance the tire's ability to grab and maintain grip
in the full complement of rocks and rough terrain that make
up the courses in rock crawling.
A four-ply race-proven nylon carcass with slightly angled
alternate plies for increased puncture resistance.
Two lightweight-steel belts, which enhance the tire's ability
to flex over rocks for optimum traction.
A specially formulated tri-polymer tread compound tuned
for extraordinary traction and toughness that provides optimum
grip and control on rocks and hard-packed dirt.
BFGoodrich® tires, made for people looking to take control
of the driving experience, combine technological expertise
with the experience gained in motorsports to offer a traction
advantage for almost every type of vehicle and driving preference.