At a press conference today at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 2013 SEMA Show, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels introduced a new light truck tire that was developed in partnership with Brian Deegan. The announcement comes at a good time, as Deegan recently earned Mickey Thompson’s first short-course off-road championship in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS).

Deegan is no stranger to competition. He is a four-time LOORRS champion and is a 16-time X Games medalist. The new Deegan 38 tire, which Deegan himself had a large role in helping develop, is designed to be an aggressive mud-terrain tire that still offers good on-road performance.

Mickey Thompson goes on to explain the design of the tire in further detail saying it combines its unique design elements into the Deegan 38, such including its beveled tread edge designed to facilitate stone ejection and lug integrity, while special wide lateral and offset grooves channel water away and handle mud and rocky terrain. The large center tread elements are designed to provide solid grip, even wear and a quiet ride on the road. Mickey Thompson says it employs its signature SideBiters and unique shoulder scallops to guide mud and loose soil away from the tread whether in forward or reverse. The sidewall design also includes high-tensile body ply cord for increased sidewall integrity, reduced rolling resistance and heat buildup. The tire’s sidewall, which Deegan apparently sent sketch ideas over via cell phone, features a Deegan 38 Shield and raised block lettering.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with the company whose roots go back to the beginnings of short-course racing,” Deegan said. “Mickey Thompson is an iconic brand in the off-road world, and having the opportunity to develop the Deegan 38 line with Mickey Thompson is another major step in carrying on the winning ways and deep tradition of the Mickey Thompson brand.”

VP of marketing for Mickey Thompson Ken Warner also commented on the partnership with Deegan.

“Product innovation is part of our 50-year legacy, and we’ve worked with Brian, a champion competitor, to develop a new product with trusted Mickey Thompson quality and performance. The Deegan 38 offers a truly unique mud-terrain tire with long tread life, versatility and rugged appearance for demanding enthusiasts.”

Proudly made in the USA, the Deegan 38 is scheduled for availability in the second quarter of 2014, and will be introduced in 13 popular sizes. For now, check out the detail photos from the 2013 SEMA Show. There will soon be a page dedicated to the new tire, which will be live soon at http://www.deegan38tires.com.