Michelin alleges Texas company importing counterfeits.

Michelin North America Inc. of Greenville filed suit Tuesday againstTri-Ace Wheel& Tire Corp. ofHouston, including its Black BearUSAaffiliate, for importing and selling what it alleges is a Chinese counterfeit tire that violates patent protections for the BFGoodrichTires All-Terrain T/AKO2, according to a news release from Michelin.

Michelin filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District ofTexas, Houston Division.

In its complaint, Michelin alleges that the Black Bear All-Terrain II tire from Tri-Ace includes a virtually identical tread design with substantially the same features as those protected by patents for the All-Terrain T/A KO2, whichMichelin North Americamanufactures inthe United Statesunder its wholly owned BFGoodrich Tires brand. DOT markings on the Black Bear All-Terrain II tire indicate the product is manufactured inChina, the news release said.

The BFGoodrich Tires All-Terrain T/A KO tire, the predecessor for the current "KO2" product at the center of the Tri-Ace litigation, created and defined the all-terrain category when it was introduced in 1976, according to the release.

KO2 has been selected as original equipment for the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Jeep...