Marangoni Adds to Winter Tyre Range

Winter tyres, says Marangoni, have come a long way from the days when they were merely “snow tyres” with very deep treads to help rid the grooves of snow and ice. The Italian manufacturer believes this evolution has above all occurred due to the development of compounds that guarantee better grip at low temperatures. To this end, Marangoni has recently developed its SPE (Solid Particles Encapsulation) technology, which improves performance by encapsulating billions of sodium-based microcrystals in the compound; these microcrystals separate in a controlled manner to create microscopic holes that accommodate the snow, improving grip, traction and control under braking and acceleration.

Benefiting from this new technology, developed by the Marangoni Research & Development centre and tested at the World Test Center in Ivalo, Finland, is the company’s 2009 winter range, which includes two brand-new models, the 4Winter for middle segment cars, and the 4ICE E+ studdable tyre, as well as the existing Meteo HP high performance tyre range, which is now available in a series of new sizes.

Developed for small A-segment cars, such as the Citroen C1, Vauxhall Agila, Suzuki Splash and Toyota Aygo, and compact B-segment cars such as the Citroen C3, Ford Ka, Peugeot 107, Renault Clio and VW Lupo, the new Marangoni 4Winter comes with a directional tread pattern, featuring three wide longitudinal grooves and an optimised sequence of side blocks intended to offer very low noise both in the wet and in the dry. The Marangoni 4Winter will initially be sold in nine different sizes (five of which are available immediately) for 14 and 15-inch wheels.

The other new addition to the Marangoni 2009 range is the 4ICE E+ studdable winter tyre, designed specifically for typical northern climates, ensuring maximum driving safety even in the worst weather conditions. Featuring a directional tread pattern with dovetail siping for traction a range of situations, Marangoni says the 4ICE E+ guarantees maximum grip on icy roads and maximum stability on snow-covered surfaces, even at very low temperatures. The range includes seven different sizes, for 14 to 16-inch wheels.

The Meteo HP high performance winter tyre is a “classic” in the Marangoni Tyre product range, and in recent years has continued to gain share in the European replacement tyre market, due to its, for a winter tyre, high and constant efficiency across an exceptionally wide range of temperatures. The asymmetrical tread features four deep longitudinal grooves and dense variable-angle siping for maximum grip on tricky surfaces. The Marangoni Meteo HP is designed for efficient operation on snow and ice surfaces, yet at the same time can the tyre (which comes in speed ratings up to V) can comfortably cope with high speed motorway journeys. The tyre is specifically designed for sporting cars, large sedans and station wagons, where performance, weight and size make larger rims necessary – the range encompasses fitments up to 18-inch rim size. For 2009, the Meteo HP includes two new sizes (225/40 R18 and 215/60 R16), bringing the total number of sizes available to 20.

Marangoni’s newly introduced 2009 winter products are further proof, it says, of the continual development work the company has been carrying out for years now through its Research & Development centre, and of the considerable attention paid to this type of product by the Italian tyre maker. This commitment, it adds, is also confirmed by the lifetime warranty that for the last ten years or so has covered all tyres manufactured by Marangoni Tyre.