Otire offers bulletproof security

Don’t you just hate it when you’re driving down the road and people start shooting at you? Apart from the noise and inconvenience involved, a stray bullet can really wreak havoc on your tyres. Fortunately, one Hangzhou, China-based tyre maker has the answer for those who want to avoid weapons-related punctures.

Hangzhou Hanglun Industrial manufactures the Otire brand of passenger car, light commercial vehicle and truck tyres. The company, who displayed its wares during the recent CITExpo show, claims to have made “substantial achievements” in research into bulletproof and anti-thorn tyres. A number of patents have resulted from this research, and in 2012 Otire passed the tyre bulletproof test set out by China’s Ministry of Public Security. Hangzhou Hanglun says its tyres are the only totally bulletproof tyres in the Chinese market, and perhaps even worldwide.

The Otire bulletproof line-up includes 14 to 16-inch radial fitments for police cars; these are resistance to hits from 7.62mm bullets and are capable of being run at more than 150km/h after receiving a hit. A range of 14 to 16-inch bullet proof radials is also available for light commercial vehicles such as cash-carrying security vans, and these also allow speeds in excess of 150km/h following a hit from a 7.62mm bullet. The ‘Armored Personnel Carrier’ offers the same protection and performance and is available in size 14.00R20.

Motorists who don’t find themselves on the receiving end of a hail of bullets very often can still protect themselves from less threatening puncture sources with Otire’s anti-thorn range. Car, light commercial, and truck radial fitments are available. All tyres in the Otire range are said to be suitable for use in temperatures between a brisk minus 50 ºC to a very uncomfortable 150 ºC.