Andrew is an editor for WhatTyre, Tyrepress, and Tyres & Accessories magazine. He has more than a decade of experience in editing, writing, and journalism.
The Nova Force Acro is the latest generation performance tyre from Leao Tire, a sub-brand of Linglong Tire. Tuned for “ultra-high performance luxury cars,” Linglong says the development of the tyre began with the extensive use of FEA simulation in the early product design stage. Using these methods to analyse and optimise overall tyre stress and strain distribution, Linglong says it improved the durability of the new Leao tyre.
Davanti Tyres launched its new flagship tyre, the ultra-high performance Protoura Sport, in early 2021. The brand says the development of the premium pattern complements its existing DX640 UHP product, giving drivers more choice within the range. “With Protoura Sport we have taken the latest in tyre engineering innovation and created a new benchmark in our UHP offering,” said Davanti’s development director, Gary Cross.
General Tire’s Altimax One S is the heritage-rich Continental group brand’s successor to the Altimax Sport, offering reliable dry performance, increased wet grip, and higher mileage due to its silica enriched rubber compound. The tyre is available in the UK from exclusive distributor Micheldever Tyre Services in a broad range of 15 to 20” sizes, approved for speeds of up to 186 mph.
Kumho’s Ecsta UHP tyre range is currently represented by the PS91 and PS71 models, covering fitments between 17 and 21”. This Ecsta range has been embellished with runflat and SUV variants, extending its reach into other areas of the market, and in the process collecting an original equipment homologation on the BMW 5 Series.
General Tire’s Altimax One S is the heritage-rich Continental group brand’s successor to the Altimax Sport, offering reliable dry performance, increased wet grip, and higher mileage due to its silica enriched rubber compound. The tyre is available in the UK from exclusive distributor Micheldever Tyre Services in a broad range of 15 to 20” sizes, approved for speeds of up to 186 mph.
Marangoni’s positive recent business figures could have a sting in their tail for 188 workers at the manufacturer’s Rovereto, Italy plant. Negotiations with Brazilian retread supplier Vipal Rubber about a potential majority takeover of the Italian Marangoni Group are at an “advanced stage”, according to local press. According to the Corriere del Trentino, the regional edition of the Corriere della Sera, unions are increasingly worried about the future of Rovereto.
Yokohama is supplying its Advan racing tyres to seven cars entered by four teams in the 49th Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race (3-6 June). Supported teams include Walkenhorst Motorsport, a BMW customer racing team that entered into a partnership agreement with Yokohama Rubber last year. Four Walkenhorst machines will run on Advan tyres, including three BMW M6 GT3 cars competing in the top-level SP9 class. The cars will use the Advan A005 for dry conditions and the A006 for wet conditions.
Nexen Tire will raise prices across its entire product range on 1 August 2021. The global tyre manufacturer said the increases are due to “significantly increased raw material prices as well as freight and logistics costs.” The increase affects prices for all company brands in the replacement market, including summer, winter and all-season tyre product lines on the European market, including UK and Russia.
Stapleton’s (Tyre Services) is conservatively optimistic for the summer months thanks to its exclusive brands, which offer particularly strong UHP tyres in the mid-range. Korean manufacturer Nexen Tire is due to begin shipping new N’Fera and N’Blue tyres to the UK imminently, while the latest tyres from Maxxis have helped the Taiwan-based brand to its best year of independent tyre test results ever in 2020.
Toyo Tire is heading to the Nürburgring for the 49th ADAC Total 24H Race on 3-6 June 2021. The Japanese tyre manufacturer will supply specially developed tyres to Novel Racing, following up its entry in the delayed 2020 edition of the race for which it signed a partnership agreement with Toyo. Toyo developed its new rubber for Novel’s Lexus RC F and Toyota Supra GT4, entries tuned by Nürburgring based Ring Racing, which has been building cars for the circuit for more than a decade.
Linglong is introducing a new range of European focused car tyres in 2021, all carrying the new “Master” brand. The UHP Sport Master represents a big leap forward for the manufacturer in terms of wet grip, with a 17 per cent improvement over its previous UHP products snaring it an A grade on the tyre label. Linglong says its new summer UHP tyre inherits the genes of its D1 racing tyres; the Linglong Tire Drift Team Orange won two annual championships in the Japanese D1 Grand Prix 2020. The manufacturer adds that this sporting pedigree accounts for around 20 per cent of the tyre’s performance – its sporty handling – with the other 80 per cent tuned for regular driving performance.
Mitford peer Lord Redesdale and Conservative Andrew Griffith MP, UK Net Zero Business Champion, will inaugurate the UK’s first fully electric ‘Carbon Battle Bus’ at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, London on Wednesday 9 June at 1pm. The event will launch the start of the ambitious Zero Carbon Tour, organised by sustainability certification Planet Mark, and set in motion a series of zero carbon initiatives, including UK businesses showcasing their sustainability journeys. The Tour culminates at COP26 in Glasgow in November.
Seventy-four per cent of garages saw their business decrease in April 2021, an independent survey carried out from Impression Communications can reveal. The survey, which was sent to Impression’s database of more than 15,000 garages, was designed to look at the consequences of the MOT extension, first announced at the height of the pandemic in 2020, and the subsequent effects on business.
Garage equipment supplier AES UK has introduced a new range of portable heat inductors. Designed for the HGV, PSV and automotive sectors, the new products speed up workshop procedures, cut costs and improve safety, according to AES UK. It adds that the lightweight electrical heating inductors greatly improve working conditions for workshop technicians because they will not be exposed to open flame, hot gases and the risk of fire or explosion when using a flame.
Norwegian waste tyre recycling company Wastefront has appointed Vianney Valès as its new CEO, replacing founder Inge Berge, who moves to chief operating officer. Valès is a former top oil and gas executive in in companies such as Shell and Galp Energia. He was first introduced to Wastefront by its liquid offtaker Vitol in 2019, was initially engaged with the Norwegian company in his former position as CEO of Devaltec LLC, a project developer and solutions provider in new and sustainable energies. Valès will be responsible for de-risking the company’s first waste tyre plant project in Sunderland, due to begin construction in early 2022. Valès will relocate immediately to London from Houston, Texas. Wastefront added that Valès’ initial priorities will include the selection of an EPC partner, developing commercial agreements, and ensuring all outstanding permits are approved.
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