Cooper and Avon Winter Tyres Join the Market

Cooper Tire & Rubber Europe launched its Weathermaster Snow winter tyre in May 2006 ready for the winter selling season. This T-speed rated tyre is available in 21 sizes, covering 13 – 160-inhc rim diameters. The broad range of sizes fit many small and medium cars from the new Peugeot 107 to Ford Focus and VW Golf.

The tread pattern is designed to give good traction and braking in snow, as well as resisting aquaplaning in the wet. Its rubber compound is specially formulated with a high silica content.

Avon Tyres has also launched a brace of new tyres to add to its winter range programme. Introduced to tackle the precarious driving conditions motorists face from November onwards, the Ice Touring ST and the Ranger Ice have been introduced for high performance saloon cars and SUVs, respectively.

The Ice Touring ST’s specially-designed tread pattern delivers superb grip and handling in winter temperatures. Its high silica content, together with extensive siping, helps keep the tread blocks flexible at very low winter temperatures, which aids grip in the wet and traction in the snow. Wide spacing of the tread blocks also helps prevent the tread clogging up with snow.

The Ice Touring ST has an asymmetric tread pattern and is available in a range of popular wide, low profile 16 and 17-inch rim sizes covering H and V-speed ratings.

Meanwhile, the more rugged Ranger Ice boasts an aggressive tread pattern developed to cater for modern, high-performance 4x4s. Some sizes are speed rated to 130mph. It features Avon’s patented ‘Snow Groove’ – a unique serrated cut that provides extra traction on icy, snowy roads.

The Ranger Ice’s innermost two tread blocks feature straight grooves, which aid traction even further in adverse weather conditions.

The T and H-rated Ranger Ice has a wide range of sizes available, including 15, 16 and 17-inch variants.