Value oriented tire offers advanced tread and compound design, as well as provision for studs.

In Canada’s highly competitive winter tire market, having a product that’s specifically designed and engineered for local operating conditions, offers flexibility, quality and a value-oriented price point tends to resonate strongly with consumers. It’s one reason why Sailun Tire Americas (STA), through its RoadX brand has seen a strong response to its RXFrost FX11 stud-able winter tire.

Unidirectional, 3D multi-wave siping

Designed to optimize handling and traction even under the most severe winter conditions, the RXFrost FX11 incorporates a unidirectional tread pattern with 3D multi-wave siping technology to maximize handling performance on both snow- and ice-covered roads, as well as significantly reduce braking distances.

Lateral grooves also provide an efficient way for the RX Frost FX11 to channel away slush and water for enhanced grip under slippery conditions.

Dwayne Sawyer, Account Manager, PLT for STA, says that while the RXFrost FX11 is ideal for retail customers who want a higher performing, capable winter tire, since its launch into the Canadian market in 2022 there has also been a sizeable amount of interest from light-duty fleets.

“We’ve really noticed that over the last couple of years,” states Sawyer. He notes that the RXFrost FX11’s combination of a value-oriented price point and high performance in winter driving conditions provides added safety and flexibility for fleet customers.

Besides its tread design and option for studs, another key attribute of the RXFrost FX11, is the tread compound. “When you’re designing a specific tread, you need to ensure you have a compound that will work with that tread,” explains Sawyer. “For us at STA, that’s where our Research and Development team really comes in—they are consistently pushing the envelope when it comes to both rubber compounds and tread design.”

Proprietary compound

The RoadX RXFrost FX11 uses a proprietary winter rubber compound that’s specifically designed to excel at lower temperatures, meaning that it remains super pliable, ensuring maximum contact with the road surface, enhancing the properties of the tread design and the 3D multi-wave siping to deliver superior traction.

Additionally, product testing and development is conducted at the Sailun Tire Americas Technical Center (SATC), located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The facility is responsible for research, design and development of our product line-up for the North American market. “These tires are specifically engineered for local market requirements and conditions,” explains Sawyer. “At STA, we have a real passion for manufacturing a tire that truly meets the demands of our customers in Canada, including the ability to excel in Canadian winter conditions, from Atlantic Canada to Vancouver Island, and everywhere in between.

Aiding that ability, is an exclusive distribution partnership that sees the RoadX brand of tires sold through Kal Tire and Total Tire locations coast-to-coast. “Since we’ve launched RoadX here in Canada, we’ve had great feedback from our customers on the brand and products like the RXFrost FX11. It’s been a great partnership and Kal Tire and Total Tire has been really effective in supporting the brand,” explains Sawyer.

More fitments

At launch in Canada, the RXFrost FX 11 was offered in 41 different sizes. The feedback from stores was very positive and they identified an additional 19 sizes, which we added in 2024,” says Sawyer.

Given the competitiveness of the winter tire market in Canada, STA continues to move forward with new initiatives and products. “We’ve launched a factory stud tire program this year that we’re particularly proud of,” Sawyer explains, “plus we’ll be adjusting some of the sizes and adding EV ready tires with higher load ratings, so that the RXFrost FX11 fits more vehicles.”

Sawyer notes that while all-weather tires have been making inroads in the Canadian marketplace in recent years, there remains a strong demand for a product like the RXFrost FX11 particularly for those that must drive regularly in real winter conditions, including contractors and first responders, as well as commuters. “These folks need a value-oriented winter tire that they can depend on, that will get them to work or their destination safely with the capability to handle the best that winter can throw at them, that’s why we offer products like the RoadX RXFrost FX11, to keep them and our country moving.”