WHAT’S NEW TOYO LAUNCHES OPEN COUNTRY A/T III EV An early entrant to the EV light-truck replacement market broke cover at the 2023 SEMA show by GRAHAM HEEPS T 20% lower rolling resistance from the new compound 6 www.tiretechnologyinternational.com March 2024 he North American light-truck EV sector is set for huge growth in the coming years as contenders from Chevrolet, Ram and Tesla set their sights on trailblazers Ford, Rivian and Hummer. Buyers expect to use their electric pickups to reach some of the same off-road spots that are frequented by ICE-powered machines, so the door is opening for the tire replacement market to fill a new niche. “You’re starting to see more EVs at overlander events,” says Sonny McDonald, national training manager at Toyo Tire USA. “They want an all-terrain product to get them there, and a little more aggression in the styling, too.” Toyo is one of the first into the space with a made-for-EV, all-terrain tire – as opposed to a conventional A/T with an appropriate load rating. Its Open Country A/T III EV in size LT275/60 R20 has just gone on sale as a replacement for the Ford F-150 Lightning’s standard H/Ts. The newcomer shares its tread pattern with the regular A/T III, introduced in 2020. For the EV version, Toyo’s goal was to keep the look and traction of the conventional A/T – including its 3PMSF certification – while reducing noise, optimizing aero and lowering rolling resistance. The biggest change is a new tread compound that features better bonding and more uniform filler dispersion for a more homogeneous result. As part of the new development, Toyo has also liquefied the rubber FLUID THINKING