Ceat offering broad summer, all-season & winter line-up

Arguably best known in the UK through its agricultural range, Ceat also produces a full line of passenger and commercial tyres. The well-known Indian brand is now offering a comprehensive range in Europe and the UK, including products developed with the assistance of the CEAT European Technical Centre (CETC) in Germany. We will look at the truck range at a later date, and here focus on the eight lines Ceat is offering for the passenger vehicle and light commercial segments.

While some overlap exists between the lines Ceat offers in Europe and those sold elsewhere, company managing director Anant Goenka stresses that each and every product sold here has been developed or tailored specifically for our region. He recently commented that “you cannot just have whatever you make in India and try and sell that in Europe.” Instead, as he explained, a manufacturer needs to “develop an entire range of tyres to supply” each particular market. “We have been working on that for the last five years.”

SecuraDrive

Ceat says SecuraDrive is a popular choice amongst buyers looking for safety, stability, superior control and flawless high-speed performance. It adds that the summer tyre offers outstanding control at all speeds on long stretches. Most European market dimensions have an EU label A grade for wet grip. Ceat offers the range in 28 dimensions for 15- to 18-inch rim diameters.

EcoDrive

With an emphasis on reducing fuel consumption and carbon footprint, EcoDrive is a summer tyre that offers good mileage potential and low rolling resistance thanks to “smart compounding and modern mixing technology.” Ceat EcoDrive is available in 30 dimensions for 13- to 16-inch rims.

SportDrive

SportDrive is Ceat’s performance-oriented model. Offered in 18 dimensions for 16- to 18-inch rim diameters, SportDrive features a robust shoulder area construction that “ensures stability and precise steering control in all driving conditions.” The asymmetric tread pattern has solid outer-side geometry to aid cornering and features four longitudinal grooves for effective evacuation of water from the contact patch. These features, together with choice a compound, result in a range with an EU label A grade for wet grip across all sizes.

4SeasonDrive

The all-season tyre segment is growing in the UK and across Europe, and Ceat’s product here is the 4SeasonDrive. Developed to “weather different conditions,” the tyre features a directional pattern that addresses aquaplaning. Ceat adds that braking on snowy or wet roads is easy as a result of multi-functional sipes. Ceat 4SeasonDrive comes in 27 dimensions for 13- to 17-inch rims; all sizes have an EU label B grade for wet grip.

WinterDrive

Together with the WinterDrive SUV, this tyre has been a recent key development at the CETC. Ceat has designed this tyre with a larger contact area to provide superior grip on both snow and ice. Tread block sipes improve the transfer of forces on snow-covered roads for confident handling, while directional and v-channels displace water and slush from the contact area to enhance wet grip. Winter Drive is available in a range of 37 dimensions that cover 13- to 18-inch rims.

SportDrive SUV

With SportDrive SUV, Ceat aims for drivers to “feel confident at high speed.” The tyre maker has paired an asymmetrical tread pattern with a twin shoulder block design to provide “excellent support for lateral forces” during cornering. The summer pattern is available in ten dimensions for 16- to 19-inch rim diameters. Most sizes carry an A label rating for wet grip.

WinterDrive SUV

This winter SUV pattern features a footprint with a large contact area for excellent grip on wet and icy surfaces. All sizes in the range have an EU tyre label B grade for wet grip, and Ceat claims superior grip on snow and ice as well. WinterDrive SUV comes in ten dimensions for 16- to 18-inch rims.

EnduraDrive

Van drivers are catered for by Ceat EnduraDrive, a summer pattern with a four-rib tread and part silica compound for even wear and durability. Ceat reports that the tyre contains a new generation compound for longer life and higher tear strength. EnduraDrive is available in 11 dimensions for 15- and 16-inch rim diameters, all B rated for wet grip.