New Vredestein EV tyre given Quatrac Pro name

December is approaching and so is the Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV. Europe’s first dedicated all-season electric vehicle (EV) tyre will arrive next month, with Apollo Tyres promising a “range of advanced design features and materials.” Developed specifically for year-round use by battery electric vehicles and hybrids, Apollo has created the tyre to deliver greater driving range while providing superior levels of grip and traction in all conditions – including ice and snow.

In benchmarking against the current range of Vredestein all-season tyres, Apollo Tyres’ computer simulations and real-world test programme confirm the new EV tyre delivers superior levels of grip, facilitates increased driving range thanks to its lower rolling resistance and lighter construction, has a lower environmental impact, produces less noise, delivers a quieter and more comfortable ride, and reduces braking distances.

In addition, Apollo Tyres has worked to ensure the generation of fewer CO2 emissions during production of the Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV, contributing to a reduced whole-life carbon impact. The tyre maker will manufacture the new range at its two European production facilities, in Enschede, the Netherlands and Gyöngyöshalász, Hungary.

3PMSF certification

The new EV tyre’s all-weather performance is fully certified to the highest industry standards for an all-season tyre, allowing it to carry the benchmark ‘Three Peak Mountain Snowflake’ symbol on its sidewall, which confirms its proficiency in winter conditions.

Among the ‘firsts’ for the Quatrac Pro EV are an optimised blend of fourth-generation polymers and ‘smart’ silica in the tread, which maximise wet-surface grip while also delivering low levels of rolling resistance. To reduce energy consumption in use, the construction of the tyre is significantly lighter, thanks to its thinner sidewalls, lower apex and lighter belt material.

The new EV tyre will feature a number of new EV-specific design characteristics. These include longitudinal grooves with much steeper flanks to brace against higher cornering loads, and an outside shoulder that is wider than the inner shoulder to resist deformation and improve dry and wet handling.

Size range to be confirmed

Apollo Tyres has drip-fed details of its new all-season EV range – and is not done yet. It plans to confirm further details of the Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV, including performance data and available dimensions, prior to launch.