![Nexen approved for European Octavia, Polo OE](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/newspic-nexen.jpg)
Nexen approved for European Octavia, Polo OE
Nexen Tire has secured two further original equipment supply agreements in Europe. Starting in December, the Korean tyre’s rolling resistance optimised N’Blue HD is size 205/55R16 91V will be delivered to Skoda for fitment on the new Octavia, and before the end of the year Nexen will begin shipping the N’Blue HD to Volkswagen for the Polo.
Continue ReadingDunlop Aircraft Tyres supplying Czech airline
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has shared details of its latest long-term supply contract. The company will provide new and retreaded tyres to Czech Republic carrier Travel Service Airlines’ fleet of 23 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, as well as to the four Boeing 737 Next Generation planes flown by its low-cost subsidiary SmartWings. The supply deal includes nose and main wheel tyres.
Continue ReadingVDB offering broader winter portfolio in 2013-14
Europe, beware – winter is coming, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. The first snow has already fallen in the mountains of Switzerland, and that means the start of a new winter tyre season. Van den Ban (VDB), however, reports itself winter ready and says its expanded assortment of winter tyres is even more extensive compared with prior years.
Continue ReadingWell-balanced tyres top motoring organisations’ winter test
This year, German motoring organsiation the ADAC got together with its Austrian and Swiss counterparts, the ÖAMTC and TCS, to produce its winter tyre test. Two sizes – 185/60 R15 T and 225/45 R17 H – were tested, and in both size categories Continental and Michelin received a “good” recommendation with their ContiWinterContact TS 850 and Alpin A4. Four products were rated “inadequate” by the testers.
Continue ReadingBridgestone launches R168Plus trailer tyre
Bridgestone claims it “pushes back the boundaries of performance and tyre life” with it latest trailer axle truck tyre, the R168Plus, and states the tyre offers vastly superior tear resistance, lower rolling resistance and longer tyre life.” The R168Plus will be available in size 385/65R22.5 as of 1 October and is aimed at both the original equipment and replacement markets.
Continue ReadingDunlop launches SportSmart2
Motorcyclists are an ageing consumer group – according to some figures, more than 60 per cent of riders now over 40 years old, almost double the proportion of ten years ago. While motorcycle performance has improved with significant increases in horsepower and top speeds, many riders run older models, and according to a recent report from German publication Motorrad, the average two-wheeler age in now more than 14 years old, two years older than in 2007.
Continue ReadingAnother BMW OE for Uniwheels
Uniwheels shares that it is supplying 20-inch alloy wheels to the latest BMW 6 Series M Sport Edition. The wheels are produced at the company’s Werdohl plant in Germany and are fitted to order on Coupé, Cabrio and Gran Coupé versions of the model.
Continue ReadingMichelin adds winter tyre to scooter portfolio
This winter, Michelin’s first European market winter tyre for scooters will hit the roads. The new range has been named City Grip Winter and is specifically designed for safe riding on wet and snow-covered road surfaces. Michelin says the M+S labeled City Grip Winter aims to offer optimum grip on surfaces while giving a comfortable ride and high total mileage; in order to develop a tyre that delivers performance in these three areas, Michelin reports pulling several technical innovations from its bag of tricks.
Continue ReadingTyre industry remains a Lanxess focus
While Lanxess says it is “pursuing strategic options for specific non-core businesses” and aims to reduce its global workforce by around 1,000 people by the end of 2015, the specialty chemicals firm’s reduced 2013 capex is being invested in areas serving the tyre and automotive industries. The company says work on its three key projects, including the new neodymium polybutadiene rubber (Nd-PBR) plant in Singapore is progressing according to plan.
Continue ReadingMitas enters bike radial market with Sport Force
Mitas has entered the motorcycle radial business with the global launch of the Sport Force. The new tyre is manufactured in Slovenia by Savatech, the former Sava rubber manufacturing division acquired by Mitas’ parent company CGS Holdings in October 2012. Sport Force is a sport and touring range that is initially available in three front and five rear sizes.
Continue ReadingGoodyear retreads to launch alongside new tyre lines
A point of difference between the introduction of Goodyear’s new Kmax and Fuelmax truck tyre lines and that of previous generation tyres is that retreaded versions of the Kmax and Fuelmax will be available from day one. “In the past we made a clear division,” notes Rupert Kohaupt, Goodyear Dunlop’s commercial vehicle tyre sales director for emerging markets. “We introduced a new product and took the approach that the demand for retread versions of the range would first come when the tyres were worn. We would wait a year or 18 months before introducing the retread version into the market.”
Continue ReadingUniroyal launches new RainSport 3 tyre
Uniroyal has launched the latest generation of its wet weather-orientated RainSport line. However as much as this launch is a definite upgrade and refresh of its classic wet product after more than a decade in service, the move also represents a renewal of attention on the very well established brand. As well as bringing the RainSport range into the labelling age (every single fitment in the wide 185/55 R14 to 305/30 R19 range has scored an A in wet grip), the RainSport 3 seeks to extend its “best in wet” reputation further with a few percentage points of improvements in virtually every other respect as well. The exceptions are wear and noise, which remain relatively static compared with the predecessor product.
Continue ReadingHennessy adds auto lifts to BaseLine by Coats portfolio
US-based wheel service equipment manufacturer Hennessy Industries has launched a new line of auto lifts under the BaseLine by Coats brand name. As is the case with the BaseLine by Coats tyre changer and wheel balancer ranges, the new lift line-up is designed specifically for workshops seeking quality at an affordable price.
Continue ReadingGoodyear commercial ranges address specific fleet requirements
When viewing current regulatory and competitive trends, few fleet operators harbour the illusion that life will get easier in future. Fleet operators in the UK and Western Europe must contend with rising costs and ever-stricter regulations, along with increasing competition from markets further east and a need to maximise payloads. Generally speaking, any measure that offers a cost-saving advantage is now being taken very seriously, including when it comes to tyres. But while this drive towards cost effectiveness is occurring industry-wide, fleet priorities differ depending on the routes driven and the cargoes hauled. While some consider total mileage of utmost importance, others place fuel efficiency at the top of their list.
Continue ReadingGerman tyre test votes Conti best in wet and snow
In the September issue of German publication Auto Motor und Sport (20/2013), eight brands of winter tyre were put through their paces. Seven types of size 225/50 R17 V tyre and a set of Michelin 225/50 R17 H tyres were fitted to a BMW 330d for the test and subject to handling and braking tests in snow, wet and dry conditions, along with condition-specific tests such as aquaplaning, traction, comfort, rolling noise and rolling resistance. Here is what Auto Motor und Sport found out:
Continue Reading