Nankang’s Sonar PF-1: Good for Winter, Good for the Environment

Nankang Rubber Tire has introduced a new winter tyre range for its house brand, Sonar. The Taiwanese tyremaker’s latest cold weather offering, the Sonar Polar Fox (PF-1) studless winter tyre will be available on the market in time for the 2007 northern hemisphere winter.

According to Nankang, the launch of the PF-1 represents a new era for the Sonar brand, and the company highlights the steps towards an environmentally responsible approach it has taken with the design of the PF-1 – the tread compound used in the entire series contains no carcinogenic high aromatic oils, eliminating a potentially serious health risk to both humans and the ecosystem.

The PF-1 features a unidirectional tread pattern with 3-Dimensional sipes reduce tread block stiffness, thereby improving performance on icy roads. The central tread’s arrow pattern and zigzag grooves enhance snow and ice surface traction, as do the mutli-sipe tread blocks in the central tread area.

Initially the PF-1 will has been produced in eight sizes: 175/65R 14, 185/65R 14, 185/65R 15, 195/65R 15, 205/55R 16, 215/55R 16, 225/55R 16 and 225/45R 17. Nankang reports that vigorous marketing of the Sonar brand has already led to strong initial sales of the tyre in numerous markets. The company also states that new sizes in the PF-1 range will be made available in 2008 as the company strives to meet demand and gain further market share in the winter tyre segment.