Stapleton’s broadens choice across its high performance range

High performance cars call for high performance tyres – and understandably motorists who have invested in an expensive vehicle are among the most discerning of customers. Reluctant to compromise performance or safety, they have tended to favour major global brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin – but over the years Stapleton’s have been developing and introducing a range of alternatives from their own stable of exclusive brands.

“In our conversations with our retail partners we’ve found that the vast majority are eager to offer a wider choice of high performance tyres across all segments,” comments Stapleton’s Head of General Wholesale, Nigel O’Hara. “And we have responded by constantly honing and refining our stable of carefully selected exclusive brands, not only to provide more choice – but do so at competitive prices with virtually no compromise to comfort of ride, safety or performance.”

Nexen, for example, is pitched as a specialist in the UHP sector where it offers a range of products in multiple patterns that – according to Stapleton’s representatives – is arguably the sector’s most comprehensive. Nexen has also invested in extensive sponsorship of Premier League football and the brand’s increasing OE presence globally have generated ever-growing consumer awareness – demonstrated by an increasing number of requests for the brand by name, web contacts and social media activity.

Among the brand’s most popular models is the Nfera SU1 – a summer UHP tyre whose four asymmetric grooves and special shoulder and rib blocks are designed to offer intuitive handling in wet and dry conditions, powerful wet grip and stable cornering.

A summer alternative is the N8000, which is described as an ultra high performance asymmetric pattern with a straight centre rib for excellent steering response and continuous traction control at accelerated speeds. Like its stable-mate, the N8000 offers confident cornering thanks to the rigid shoulder block design that’s characteristic of all Nexen’s UHP tyre range.

In addition there is Maxxis, which brings products such as the ultra-high-performance VS-01. Maxxis tyres also come with a ‘peace of mind at no extra cost’ promise in the form of the Maxxis Lifetime Guarantee, which says: “We are so confident in the quality, reliability and durability of Maxxis products that we have no hesitation in offering a replacement guarantee if our tyres are found wanting in terms of manufacture or materials”.

Perhaps the most recent addition is Futurum, which comes as an extension of the Event Tyres range. Founded in 2005, Event Tyres is a relatively new player in the affordable choice market and as part of a radical pattern overhaul it has recently launched a new range of passenger car tyres: the Futurum GP and its high performance counterpart, the Futurum HP. Both designs have been developed with comfort in mind, reducing outside noise and significantly improving tyre labelling results, compared with their earlier counterparts

“The development of our exclusive brands’ high performance offerings has been led by the needs of our retail partners – so it’s very gratifying when they tell us that more and more of their customers are asking for them by name,” added Nigel O’Hara. “But our job doesn’t stop with the development and delivery of the tyres – we’re constantly striving to help our customers promote these brands to their customers through Key Dealer Programmes…’