ZC Rubber opens virtual Westlake, Goodride & Arisun showrooms
Lockdown has spurred many companies on to greater creativity in how they market and sell their products, and ZC Rubber is no exception. The tyre maker has launched virtual showrooms for its Westlake, Goodride and Arisun brands, giving visitors a 360-degree experience and access to more than 50 tyre products.
Continue ReadingBridgestone reviews 2020 OE successes
Over 80 fitments, more than 30 vehicle models, 13 car manufacturers – this is Bridgestone’s tally of new original equipment fitments for 2020. The tyre maker has summarised its OE achievements in an 80-second-long video. Steven De Bock, vice-president Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, comments that it’s “fantastic that we’ve been able to work in partnership with the world’s leading car manufacturers to meet our collective environmental goals and shape a more sustainable future of mobility.”
Continue ReadingPirelli WJ tyre to debut on Arctic Rally
Pirelli’s new rally tyre for snow and ice, which has studs longer than 8mm, will make its first appearance this weekend. Fitted to R5 cars on the Arctic Rally from 15-16 January, the Sottozero Ice WJ debuts at the opening round of the Finnish Rally Championship. Its long titanium-tipped studs are locked into place using Pirelli’s patented vulcanisation process for retention. A new tread pattern design helps the tyre to capitalise on the increased grip supplied by the studs. Pirelli says the new tyre will be available commercially for national championships run in extreme winter conditions, such as those run in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions. It is suitable for R5, R2 and historic rally vehicles.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Brawler HPS gains Comfort line
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has expanded its Brawler HPS (High Performance Solid) Telehandler Tire range to include the Comfort line, which offers tyres engineered to reduce vibration and improve the driving experience of telehandlers and compact wheel loaders in waste and recycling applications. The manufacturer says this new line of solid tyres maximises ride comfort, while delivering the best possible performance in demanding environments.
Continue ReadingPirelli launching Diablo Rosso IV
More than five million Pirelli Diablo Rosso tyres of one kind or another have been made since the first product to bear this name was introduced in 2008, and this number will keep on rising. As we enter 2021, Pirelli is gearing up to release the fourth generation of this tyre family, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV.
Continue ReadingDCR presents ‘cutting edge technology’ for alloy wheel refurbishment
The rise of diamond turned alloy wheels, which have overtaken traditional painted alloys as the most common product on the market, presents an opportunity for garages and fast-fit operations to diversify, Portsmouth-based innovator, Diamond Cut Refinishing (DCR) says. The refurbishment of these wheels is often reallocated, with significant lead times. However, DCR’s latest machinery for the automotive aftermarket enables depots to offer the restoration service themselves. It says the technology “saves hours of time in repair work” and “opens up a significant new revenue stream worth hundreds of pounds per day.”
Continue ReadingVredestein Traxion Optimall now offered in ploughing sizes
Vredestein has introduced further Traxion Optimall sizes. It says these additions to its 2018-launched Very High Flexion range are “ideal for ploughing” thanks to their maximum width of 65 centimetres. This enables the VF650/85R42 and VF650/85R38 tyres to “fit perfectly in the furrow.” The manufacturer adds that the Traxion Optimall’s traction and self-cleaning properties also make the tyre “very suitable for plough activities. In addition to these rear wheel fitments, Vredestein has released a new VF600/70R34 front wheel size.
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres renews studded winter tyre range
Winter is the season when Nokian Tyres comes into its own, which is fitting for the worlds northernmost tyre manufacturer, and the company is renewing its comprehensive and versatile range of studded winter tyres. At the beginning of 2021, Nokian is introducing its new flagship products: the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 studded tyre for passenger cars and SUVs. A special new addition to this product family is a dedicated version for electric vehicles and hybrids. For the first time, Nokian Tyres is also introducing a model especially tailored for the Russian market: the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10p studded tyre.
Continue ReadingZC Rubber debuts Flagship Series –global rollout in coming year
In the final week of 2020, ZC Rubber launched its new ‘Flagship Series’ line, which as the name suggests will serve as a premium product within its four tyre brands, Chaoyang (Arisun), Westlake, Goodride and Trazano. Flagship Series arrives first in the Chinese domestic market ahead of its global rollout in the coming year.
Continue ReadingQuayside Tyres unlocks TPMS opportunities
Theory is one thing, but practice is quite another. With this in mind, we took a look at one tyre retailer’s real-life experience with TPMS. Quayside Tyre & Service Centre reports that it has enjoyed a fruitful three-year relationship with Autogem, which began with its TPMS programme and i-sensor device, and has gone on to include Michelin Pro Series Wiper Blades for the first time. Here, owner Glenn Harrison reflects on a three-year anniversary with Autogem and outlines the benefits associated with the ongoing partnership.
Continue ReadingAutogem: TPMS programme a positive within the turbulence
While 2020 was a challenging year for the aftermarket, Autogem has reflected on a number of positives amid the turbulence which have cemented its position as a supplier of automotive chemicals, fasteners, hand tools, tyre and workshop consumables and exhaust fittings. Indeed, the firm’s TPMS programme represents a key highlight, with the company can lay claim to being “genuine innovators” in this segment.
Continue Reading“New excellence in sports performance” – Bridgestone unveils Potenza Sport
At the start of 2021, the Potenza Sport will take over from the Potenza S001 as the flagship of Bridgestone’s tyre range. Bridgestone says the new ultra-high-performance tyre possesses “excellent capabilities in both the dry and wet” as well as higher mileage potential than its predecessor. All 96 dimensions in the Potenza Sport range have an EU label ‘A’ grade for wet grip.
Continue ReadingPirelli develops bespoke Scorpion Zero for Land Rover Defender
Pirelli has created a bespoke new Scorpion Zero All Season SUV tyre as original equipment for the latest Land Rover Defender. The new development reinforces the manufacturer’s partnership with Land Rover. Work on the bespoke tyre was begun at Pirelli’s factories in Carlisle and Milan, with Pirelli engineers working closely with their Land Rover counterparts. Over the full course of the intensive development programme, testing was conducted all over the world in the most extreme conditions possible, Pirelli adds.
Continue ReadingEAG to distribute RYMEC clutches
Excel Automotive Group (EAG) will distribute RYMEC clutches to the aftermarket. RYMEC has been a prominent name in the automotive aftermarket for nearly 40 years, providing high quality clutch kits and transmission parts. Its components are accredited to ISO9001 and ISO14001, giving customers complete peace of mind when fitting them.
Continue ReadingVW Caddy 5 will run on first AA-rated Giti Tire
Giti Tire has produced its first AA-rated EU label tyre. The GitiSynergyH2 original equipment tyre, produced in size 215/55R17 XL 98H for the bestselling VW Caddy 5 light commercial vehicle, achieved A grades in the EU label’s wet grip and fuel efficiency metrics. The deal follows Gitis first LCV OE deal with Volkswagen earlier in 2020, for the larger Crafter model. An aftermarket version of the new GitiSynergyH2 will be launched in the aftermarket in March 2021, replacing the GitiSynergyE1 and GitiPremiumH1, both of which were part of the original Giti brand launch into Europe in 2016. Label ratings for the replacement range will be confirmed during the model’s aftermarket launch.
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