Best balance: Vredestein debuts Pinza all-terrain tyre

Following a five-year global research and development programme, Apollo Tyres is launching its first dedicated all-terrain tyre: the Vredestein Pinza. Designed to be the “most capable off-road Vredestein tyre ever” while at the same time offering “superior standards of on-road grip, traction, rolling resistance and refinement,” Apollo says the Pinza has “the best balance of on- and off-road capabilities of any all-terrain tyre on the market.”

Particularly well suited to 4x4s, pick-ups, and sports utility vehicles that venture off-road, the Pinza will arrive in a range of 24 dimensions from August, with more size options to follow later.

Tread & casing design

The Vredestein Pinza’s tread features a distinctive four-groove herringbone pattern and full-depth interlocking sipes – Apollo Tyres says these offer excellent grip on all surfaces, including mud, sand, ice and snow, while minimising on-road noise. The three-pitched shoulder features ‘biting’ edges to further aid loose-surface grip and twisted ‘stone ejectors’ have been incorporated into the tread to help clear debris.

The Pinza has a three-ply triplex casing for enhanced durability, while the aggressive tread pattern extends onto the sidewall to provide a “rugged aesthetic befitting a tyre in this category” and to provide enhanced protection from rocks and ruts.

Alongside its off-road capabilities, Apollo shares that it engineered the Pinza to deliver high levels of on-road grip and refinement. Multi-pitch technology and broad tread blocks help to minimise noise and maximise steering precision, and the use of a fifth-generation polymer compound and deep sipes ensure “outstanding grip in all conditions.”

Underlining its all-weather credentials and further differentiating it from many other products in the all-terrain segment, the Pinza has secured 3PMSF ‘Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake’ certification, signifying that it delivers superior standards of grip and traction on snow and icy surfaces.

Most ambitious project

Apollo Tyres designed and developed the new tyre within its in-house R&D operation in the Netherlands, extensively using simulated and real-world analysis to achieve an optimal balance of performance characteristics. The tyre maker calls the Pinza development programme the “most ambitious product-specific R&D project” in the Vredestein brand’s 113-year history.

Pre-launch product testing took place in “challenging all-weather conditions,” both on and off-road, in North America, Finland, South Africa and the Middle East. Apollo debuted the tyre in the USA last year and says Pinza has “quickly established itself as one of the most highly rated products in the competitive all-terrain segment.” The manufacturer further points out that is is one of only four all-terrain tyres recommended by independent testing agency, Consumer Reports.

Two types of construction

Apollo will offer Vredestein Pinza in two types of construction: ‘P’ and ‘LT’. The more aggressive ‘LT’ tyre pattern is suited for working vehicles primarily used on more demanding off-road terrain. The ‘P’ variant features a more road-biased design, making it a good match for passenger vehicles. Apollo Tyres stresses that both versions are “highly capable off-road, enabling users to feel safe and secure across on all surfaces, year-round.”

“In addition to incorporating new designs and materials, we have utilised our experience in the all-season tyre market to deliver the perfect balance of off-road ruggedness and on-road civility,” says Daniele Lorenzetti, chief technology officer at Apollo Tyres Europe. “Extensive AI-driven analysis and real-world testing across multiple geographies and climates has then helped our research and development team give the Pinza a unique balance of on- and off-road attributes.”