News Release from Titan International, Inc. August 25, 2009
Titan's Giant OTR Tires in Production and Use
QUINCY, Ill.-Titan Tire, a subsidiary of Titan
International Inc., has been manufacturing its products, including large
63-inch off-the-road (OTR) tires used in mining applications, without
interruption.
"It
is interesting to see just how much misinformation is flowing around," said
Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. "Bloomberg reporter Joe Carroll
called me from Calgary to discuss 63-inch tires that were being tested with
heavy loads, running at faster speeds and longer distances. This scenario is
beyond the rated conditions of any tire this size. Our competitor's tires don't
hold up to these excessive conditions, either. In these tests, Titan's tires
were getting too hot in the steel belt, which was melting the rubber, resulting
in a failure. The report didn't mention the other hundred Titan tires that have
been in use.
"The
average life of a 63-inch tire in the Oil Sands is around 5,000 hours, not
10,000," said Taylor. "In fact, Mr. Carroll noted that a celebration was held
for a tire that ran 10,600 hours-that is a special occasion, not the average.
"It
is noteworthy that one of the mines scraps all of its wheels after 10,000 hours
of use, which generally equates to the life of two tires. Other mines magnaflux
wheels for surface cracks. Titan is the only company that X-rays its giant
63-inch steel wheels 100 percent," said Taylor.
"Titan
has the capacity to produce over 20 super giant radial tires a day. The current
market does not require that capacity at this time. Titan's patent pending
radial design carcass has held up great, and we are reducing the heat build up
in the steel belt area to extend tire life. Titan has had tires run over 4,000
hours in the Oil Sands, and the company's two current competitors are doing the
same. New tread designs will be
tested as well, once the best design for heat
reduction has been determined. A two-week change to each mold segment is
required to begin production on new designs. In next few months, Titan expects
to ship each tire with a sensor that will monitor air pressure and temperature
so that each mine will know tire data instantly, as will Titan. This is a
service we will supply, and our cost is expected to be lower than the reported
$2,700.
"It's
also interesting that Mr. Carroll didn't mention that Titan was the only public
company that produces tires and didn't lose money in the second quarter. I have
invited Mr. Carroll to our Bryan facility, and other journalists are welcome,
too. Just send a note to the Grizz and I will be more than happy to show you
what we do.
"Titan
is in the business not only to produce every off-the-road tire size, but also
to be the best, and we will. It is a great compliment that we share the
spotlight with the ‘big dogs' and we love the challenge to prove the naysayers
wrong. Titan is still on the move, and never forget that the word ‘Titan' means
giant," said Taylor.
Titan
International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI), a holding company, owns subsidiaries that
supply wheels, tires and assemblies for off-highway equipment used in
agricultural, earthmoving/construction and consumer (including all terrain
vehicles) applications. For more information, visit www.titan-intl.com.
