Yokohama USA launches Geolandar A/T XD pickup truck tyre
Across the Atlantic, Yokohama Tire Corporation, the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has launched the Geolandar A/T XD. The Geolandar A/T XD is engineered for “full-size pickup trucks and commercial vans”. It is severe snow service-rated and moulded for optional studs purportedly offering “outstanding on- and off-road traction all year round”. The A/T XD is initially available in 21 sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches, with more sizes coming later in the year.
Continue ReadingMickey Thompson helping Dodge break V-8 muscle records one last time
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the brand’s last V-8 muscle car and the final home for the 6.2 litre Hellcat engine, which is being retired to make way for eMuscle. As the concluding chapter in Dodge’s V-8 muscle story, the SRT Demon 170 will reportedly be the world’s quickest 0-60 mph production car. Mickey Thompson Tires has taken on the important car-to-road remit.
Continue ReadingYokohama adds SUV and EV-orientated HLC tyres to range
The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has started selling HLC (high load capacity) tyres. According to the company, HLC tyres are designed “to meet the needs of heavy-duty passenger cars such as EVs and hybrid cars with high capacity batteries, as well as large SUVs.” Having been developed as the original equipment (OE), Yokohama Rubber reports that the company will also develop products for the replacement market in line with market needs.
Continue ReadingMaxxis supplying OE tyres for BMW 1 Series
Maxxis is now supplying original equipment (OE) tyres for the BMW 1 Series in Europe. The new deal, which began this month (March 2023), calls for Maxxis to supply BMW Group with 225/40R18 92Y XL Premitra HP5 tyres.
Continue ReadingFalken e.Ziex debuts in Europe
It’s more than a year since Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) first announced an upcoming electric vehicle tyre for Europe. Visitors to The Tire Cologne gained a sneak preview of Falken e.Ziex last May, and a further sign of the tyre’s impending arrival came earlier this month with a strong tyre test result. SRI now confirms it is launching Falken e.Ziex as a “new line of replacement tyres for electric vehicles in Europe, where the market for EV has been growing at a rapid pace.”
Continue ReadingSumitomo/Falken adjusts prices across Europe
Falken Tyre Europe GmbH has announced that it will “structurally adjust” prices across its entire brand and product portfolio.
Continue ReadingLaunch Tech UK’s latest ADAS calibration equipment
Launch Tech UK has revealed its new passenger car advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) calibration equipment, ADAS PRO+ and ADAS Mobile. ADAS PRO+ is an ADAS calibration tool that meets the requirements of daily ADAS calibration for car workshops. X-431 ADAS PRO+ contains the main frame, wheel clamp, target holder, laser range finder, range indicator and calibration target.
Continue ReadingMintex expands brake disc and pad ranges
TMD Friction UK has introduced six new brake pads and three new brake discs to its Mintex product portfolio. The six new brake pads cover many popular passenger car and light commercial vehicle makes and models. New parts include pad MDB3389, fitting BMW 2 Coupe, 3 Series, 4 Coupe and Convertible, Z4 Roadster and Toyota Supra (all 2018-) cars.
Continue ReadingNexen raises winter tyre prices across Europe
Nexen Tire has increased the price of its winter tyres across all the companys own brands in the replacement market. The new price list for winter tyres will be valid for the whole European market, including the United Kingdom and Turkey.
Continue ReadingMitas expands Sport Force+ RS tyre range
Mitas is expanding its Sport Force+ RS tyre range with the addition of larger sizes. The new 120/70 ZR17, 180/55 ZR17 and 190/55 ZR17 sizes expand the range to a total of six fitments and are expected to hit the market in April 2023.
Continue ReadingOne test, two winners – AMS compares EV-specific tyres with conventional flagships
The electric vehicle tyre market is evolving quickly, with manufacturers adding EV-appropriate technologies to existing ranges and in some cases launching new lines of specialist products. These products have several goals, most notably offering range-maximising fuel economy, increased resistance to wear, reducing noise, and the ability to carry heavier loads, all while demonstrating greater sustainability and continuing to offer a high level of safety performance. Naturally these characteristics require technological advancements in order to reconcile contradictory demands; for example, making lower-weight tyres that consume fewer materials while also increasing ruggedness to reduce wear and tyre emissions. With tyres specified for electric vehicles now appearing on the European aftermarket in greater numbers, the need for independent scrutiny is becoming greater, and German magazine Auto Motor und Sport has responded by comparing three of the newest EV-specified products with current flagships, fitted to comparable Kia EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) models.
Continue ReadingSportauto latest to acclaim Conti SportContact 7
Continental’s SportContact 7, WhatTyre Tyre of the Year 2022, added to its impressive tally of test victories as it was named the “outstanding” tyre in the Sportauto summer tyre test 2023. Elsewhere there was a very notable showing for the “very good” Firestone Firehawk Sport, one of only two tyres to record above-average ratings in all three disciplines rated in Sportauto’s final analysis – wet, dry and environmental. The tyre infiltrated the group of five premium brands in the top half of the rankings, beating its Bridgestone stablemate, the Potenza Sport, and the Pirelli P Zero PZ4. The magazine tested eleven tyres in size 225/40 R18 92Y XL mounted on an Audi S3.
Continue ReadingNortec tyre fires compound Russian military tyre supply bottleneck
As the war in Ukraine drags on into its second year, ongoing vehicle usage as well as the kind of tyre failure episodes that have been reported for the last 12 months mean Russian military tyre supply is as stretched as ever. Indeed, some social media videos show Russian military equipment in active service with less than a complete set of tyres.
Continue ReadingGoodyear: Avon will remain in our portfolio both for passenger and motorcycle tyres
Following reports that Avon is set to become a two-wheel/motorcycle-only tyre brand in Germany in the future, Goodyear representatives have sought to clarify that the Avon brand will remain in the company’s product portfolio both for passenger and motorcycle tyres.
Continue ReadingFirst MOT date extension to increase tyre-related road safety risk
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which represents more than 90,000 automotive professionals, has conducted in-depth analysis of MOT data to formulate what it calls a “considered and balanced response” to the Department for Transport’s MOT Consultation. Working with Garage Industry Trends to examine root causes in current patterns of MOT failure, the IMI analysis provides clear evidence that extending the date for the first MOT will significantly increase road user risk.
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