Kumho tyres OE on Hyundai Staria
Hyundai has selected the Kumho PorTran KC53 as the standard tyre for its new Staria MPV. Kumho primarily designed the KC53 for European vans and LCVs, and it is an upgraded version of this pattern that it is now supplying in two sizes – 215/65R17C 108/105H and 235/55R18 104H XL – for fitment on the Staria. Kumho comments that the popular tyre is “recognised for its high durability, low wear rate and notable handling performance,” and is “tailor made for the climate and road conditions that prevail in Europe.”
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India first: Vredestein pauses motorcycle tyre sales in Europe
Early in 2019, Apollo Tyres announced it would introduce motorcycle tyres into Europe under the Vredestein brand name, promising performance that competed with its rival’s first line products at prices competing with their second or even third line ranges. The first three models – the Vredestein Centauro ST radial for sport touring bikes, Centauro Road sports radial, and Staccata scooter range – debuted at the EICMA show in Italy later that year.
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Pro-Align: maximise wheel alignment opportunity with standard free checks
Wheel alignment checks offer garages the opportunity to demonstrate professional customer service while boosting profitability considerably, with a sizable proportion of the car parc suffering from misalignment, according to a leading garage equipment company. Pro-Align, the distributor of Hunter garage equipment products, says that 70 per cent of cars on the road today are misaligned. This, it continues, means there is a prime opportunity for workshops to help identify these issues through free alignment checks for every customer, regardless of what they had originally booked in for. After returning the initial outlay on machinery, Pro-Align says realignment jobs can then typically return profit margins of 88 per cent.
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Autogem’s TPMS tool, expertise and aftermarket strength rewarded
Aftermarket supplier Autogem is bringing its product range to life in front of hundreds of garage businesses at Mechanex 2021, energised by its maiden victory in the NTDA’s Aftermarket Supplier of the Year Tyre Industry Awards category. The company said that it will showcase its solutions to a host of key decision makers and centre owners at the 9-10 November event. While making its name as a one-stop shop for all sorts of garage consumables, Autogem is also a specialist in TPMS, built around its investment in the I-sensor Pro handheld tool. The tool offers instant, personalised tyre pressure reporting with a completely integrated tread-depth measuring device to give technicians a full picture of the condition of each tyre they are tending to on an easy-to-read colour screen.
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Falken OE on Seat Leon
Seat has selected one of Falken’s most popular tyre models, the Ziex ZE310 Ecorun, as a factory fitment. Seat Leon models rolling of the line at the car maker’s plant in Martorell, Spain will wear the tyre in size 205/55 R16. An additional ‘A’ in the product name will set these tyres apart as original equipment Seat tyres – the OE tyre is thus known as the Falken Ziex ZE310 A Ecorun.
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NUFAM launch for European Austone, Fortune ranges
With some 22,000 people visiting this year’s NUFAM commercial vehicle trade fair in Germany between 30 September and 3 October, attendance numbers were around 85 per cent of those at the last pre-Covid show in 2019. These visitors met with numerous tyre industry exhibitors, including Prinx Chengshan Tire Europe GmbH, which was there to launch its commercial vehicle tyre portfolio for Europe.
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A cause of great pride: Vredestein on Auto Bild honour
Apollo Tyres expresses pride in its Vredestein brand’s podium finishes in Auto Bild’s annual Tyre Manufacturer of the Year awards. The leading German car magazine awarded Vredestein joint second in the winter tyre category and joint third place in the all-season category.
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Vredestein Pinza AT debuts in Times Square
After launching the Vredestein brand across North America in September 2020, Apollo Tyres Ltd presented its new tyre on a Times Square billboard in New York, USA. According to the company, the new Vredestein Pinza AT features ‘Silent Groove’ multi-pitch technology for quieter operation “than competing all-terrain tyres”; a three-ply triplex casing for enhanced durability and protection against external damage; and a “severe snowflake marking”.
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Modular Beissbarth equipment range helps maximise ADAS opportunity
The rise of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems within the European car parc is a fast-growing trend. Not only are many cars already fitted with ADAS, the standardisation of various forms of ADAS on new vehicles, coupled with their adoption within the fast-growing electrified car parc, ensure that the demand for ADAS-enabled vehicle servicing will continue to rise. Therefore the ability to service increasingly connected vehicles remains the most prominent consideration for servicing equipment suppliers. Everard, the UK distributor of Beissbarth equipment, notes that ADAS recalibration represents a necessary step in many routine maintenance jobs, calling it a natural extension to wheel alignment services. Altering wheel alignment often changes the alignment of sensors and cameras; for ADAS to work as vehicle manufacturers intend, it is vital that these components are carefully and accurately recalibrated.
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Nokian adds to E-Truck & R-Truck ranges
New sizes have joined the Nokian E-Truck medium/regional haul and Nokian R-Truck on-/off-road ranges. Nokian Tyres has introduced a steer axle Nokian E-Truck Steer fitment in size 385/55R22.5 as well as a Nokian R-Truck Trailer tyre in size 285/70R19.5.
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Mickey Thompson, Cooper give Goodyear SEMA award, podium places
Mickey Thompson’s Baja Legend EXP off-road have claimed 2021 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show Best New Product Awards in the Tire and Related Product category. Mickey Thompson’s ET Street Front drag tyre and Cooper Tire’s Discoverer Snow Claw were also named runners-up.
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Pirelli P Zero & Cinturato P7 for Mercedes C-Class
Pirelli has tailored two of its tyres for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It reports that comfort-oriented drivers may wish to opt for the Cinturato P7, while sportier models can be equipped with the P Zero in size 225/40 R19 at the front and 255/35 R19 on the rear axle.
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Auto Bild honours top all-season, winter tyre makers
After conducting no less than five comparative evaluations for various Auto Bild titles, testing specialists Dierk Möller and Henning Klipp possess a solid understanding of which all-season and winter tyres are worth recommending, and which aren’t. Auto Bild has presented a summary of Möller and Klipp’s testing for the current season in its 42/2021 issue and at the same time has named its leading manufacturers in the all-season and winter categories. Three brands occupy the podium’s upper step.
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Auto Bild Sportscars: 3 exemplary performers in winter tyre test
Performance car magazine Auto Bild Sportscars has evaluated a dozen brands in its 2021 winter tyre test, and also looked at an all-season tyre and a summer tyre for comparative purposes. It chose the front axle size 225/45 R18 and rear size 245/40 R18, testing these on a Mercedes C-Class for performance in dry, wet and snowy conditions.
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BKT launches new L-5 size of Earthmax SR 51 wheel loader tyre
BKT has introduced a new 875/65 R29 L-5 size in its Earthmax SR 51 range. The manufacturer says the extra-deep tread offers excellent cut and puncture protection and longer wear life. The new 65 series OTR tyre line has been designed for wheel loaders working in aggressive applications, such as highly abrasive rock quarries and landfills.
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