LOUISVILLE. Already conducting extensive fleet testing in the U.S. and Canada, Pirelli has announced that it will begin selling heavy-duty truck tires in those markets later this year. An on/off highway tire will be the first product offered this Fall, with a full line of on-highway tires following as they prove themselves in those tests, according to Clif Armstrong, the executive tapped to manage Pirelli’s entry into North America.
“We will build a full line of products here one by one, but it won’t happen overnight,” he said.
All tires will be specifically designed for N.A. applications, which vary from the company’s established markets in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. For example, it’s premium long haul steer tire will feature a decoupler groove which is only found in N.A. applications, Armstrong said.
“Pirelli’s strategy for car and light truck products in North America is focused on premium products customized for the particular needs of the market,” Armstrong said. “With the launch of the commercial truck business, we plan to do the same thing.”
Promising more information on specific Pirelli technology being rolled out with its N.A. products, Armstrong said they would be positioned as high-performance premium replacement tires. That means Smart Way verification, premium wear and casing warranties, and a service/dealership network, he added.
