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. , 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.