Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Roadmaster line of truck tires.
“Roadmaster began with four tire lines and now we offer commercial tires for nearly every application – long haul, regional, mixed service, pick-up and delivery, and bus,” says Gary Schroeder, Director of Cooper’s truck and bus tire business. “Celebrating our tenth anniversary is more than a milestone; it’s a launch point into our next era of successful product offerings for customers who depend on Roadmaster.”
Environmental sustainability and social responsibility have always been a Cooper commitment and are important attributes of the Roadmaster brand. That’s why in 2010, Roadmaster introduced its first SmartWay-verified tire, the RM180 long-haul steer tire – a tire verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Technology Program as providing low rolling resistance and meeting the criteria of reducing fuel consumption, ultimately cutting costs and benefiting the environment. Roadmaster has since added five additional SmartWay-verified tires to its lineup, now offering tires with this designation in nearly every application.
The past decade has also seen advances for Roadmaster in terms of product distribution. Beginning as a tire offered solely through dealers, Roadmaster tires were specified for the first time as original equipment (OE) for 53-ft. dry van trailers in 2012, Cooper says. This placement served as the catalyst for a continually growing OE presence.
“Roadmaster has been supported by dealers who embraced the brand from its launch and by owner/operators who have asked for it by name. These groups have been, and always will be, an important part of our business,” Schroeder adds. “That support, combined with the confidence placed in the brand by OE manufacturers, has been a driving force in Roadmaster’s success.”
Another driver has been exceptional service. In 2015, the Cooper Fleet Service Network was introduced to provide 24/7 emergency roadside tire replacement and repair for eligible commercial trucking fleets enrolled in Roadmaster’s national account program. Cooper says the network has since grown by leaps and bounds and has become an integral offering to national account holders.
Throughout the past decade’s changes, Cooper says Roadmaster has remained committed to providing customers with the products they need at the right price, making the brand an exceptional value.
“Roadmaster tires are designed for North American roads by a team of engineers in Findlay, Ohio, who are committed to meeting the needs of Roadmaster customers,” says Schroeder. “That commitment is what has made us successful for the past decade and what will continue to do so for many years to come.”