New tires go flat-out

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 10:59 a.m.

A Las Vegas taxi driver was delivering a fare to an industrial area in town one night and left his vehicle to take care of some other business.

When he returned to his car, the driver found that a forklift had collided with the vehicle, gashing the body and leaving a 3 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch hole in one of his tires.

The driver hopped in the car, drove back to the garage, had the tire changed and had the cab back in service as if nothing had happened.

It was one of the first documented cases in which the Michelin Tire Co.'s MXV4 ZP zero-pressure tire performed as advertised after incurring what could have been a crippling blowout.

Michelin officials verified the story and now use the testimonial in the company press kit.

The Greenville, S.C.-based tire manufacturer and rival Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron, Ohio, are taking slightly different roads in testing whether American motorists are willing to pay for tires that will keep a car on the highway after a blowout, nail or pesky leak disables it.

Both companies are offering test drives to the more than 130,000 delegates attending this week's automotive aftermarket industry trade shows, running through Friday under the umbrella of the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association convention at the Sands Expo Center and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The new tires allow a motorist to operate a car with a flat for up to 50 miles at speeds of up to 55 mph.

Goodyear took a wait-and-see approach for the wide distribution of its Eagle F1 EMT tire after testing the waters by developing a product to fit the Chevrolet C-5 Corvette. Robert Toth, marketing manager of high-performance tire sales, said Goodyear's version of the tire would be ready for more cars by the first quarter of 1998.

On the Goodyear tire, EMT stands for "extended mobility tire."

Meanwhile, Michelin's MXV4 ZP -- the ZP stands for "zero pressure" -- is being introduced at the SEMA show to the replacement marketplace in three sizes capable of fitting 41 makes and models, including Honda Accords, Nissan Altimas, Audi Quattros and several Saturn, Acura and BMW sedans. The largest tire is designated for large luxury car models, including Michelin's test car of choice, the Lincoln Continental.

Although Michelin and Goodyear stress safety, reliability and convenience in marketing the tires with stiff vertical sidewalls, independent dealers aren't so sure consumers will shell out the extra money for the costlier tires and the pressure monitoring system that's an essential accessory.

Although dealerships have control over their pricing policies, the manufacturers estimate the tires will cost about 25 percent more than a standard radial tire. That means the ZPs and the EMTs will weigh in at around $130 to $140 each.

However, since only the most discerning motorists would be able to tell when their tires are airless, the manufacturers recommend a pressure monitoring system. Although there are some simple systems that fit over tire valves that cost under $100, the system that Michelin uses in its tests, manufactured by Norwalk, Ohio-based UniCom, goes for $350.

The UniCom system places battery-powered radio-equipped sensors inside each wheel assembly with a counterbalance weight. The pressure data is radioed to a dash-mounted readout, giving a status report on every tire.

"We think this is the biggest breakthrough in the development of the tire," said Gene Culler, executive vice president of Goodyear.

Toth points out that in addition to the safety issues associated with the new tires and the pressure monitors, fuel economy and tire wear should improve with EMTs as motorists take a more active role in monitoring and caring for their tires.

While the system should remove the need for spare tires and jacks, Toth said another tough selling point is convincing motorists they'll no longer have to travel with a spare.

"But one day," said Toth, "I think you'll hear our grandchildren talk about the old days when people used to drive around with spare tires."

Steve White, marketing manager of Michelin touring performance, added that what is now considered an expensive accessory -- the monitoring system -- should come down in price like most consumer electronics.

"You used to pay $100 for a calculator," said White. "Now, they give them away when you sign up for long distance service."