4×4 Tyres
Reifen Gundlach is demonstrating its status as a leading European tyre wholesaler at the Reifen 2006 international exhibition. Besides its main GT-Radial brand (exclusively distributed in Germany), Reifen Gundlach will present the new Prestivo private brand and its new “Advanti Racing” alloy wheel brand. Furthermore the established Com4wheels wheel brand will be shown as well as some new designs developed for this spring season.
Avex Trade Ltd. from the Czech Republic is acknowledged worldwide as an expert in tyre rack storage solutions and is one of the biggest producers of steel storage systems for tyre, automotive, nuclear and chemical industries. Avex exports most of its production and the daily production capacity reaches 80 tons. Development is on-going and Avex is ready to cooperate with its customers on finding new solutions. Powder paint, hot dip and cold galvanization are available for surface treatment. Customers can benefit from Avex’s more than 10 years’ experience.
BFGoodrich, seven times winner of the Dakar Rally since 1999, is poised to introduce a number of new 4×4 tyres to its range in 2006. These are the All-Terrain T/A Comp, aimed at off-road rallying competitors, the Krawler T/A® KX, scheduled for launch in Europe in May, plus four new dimensions for the Macadam T/A.
Fulda Tyres has a reputation as something of an off-road specialist, with an impressive 4×4 range of tyres. There are seven patterns available covering both on and off-road use, providing the customer with the perfect tyre for every application.
Designed specifically for 4×4 Sports Utility Vehicles on the road, the latest addition to the Fulda 4×4 Range is the Fulda 4×4 Road. This tyre offers the same benefits as mid-to-high-end passenger cars with the additional advantages of a 4×4 design. It is aimed in particular at models such as the BMW X5, Chrysler Cherokee, Nissan Murano, Range Rover, VW Touareg and similar vehicles. The new tyres are designed and built to give increased road safety, road comfort and economy for the driver.
With the popularity and diversity of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) continuing to increase in the UK, sales of 4×4 tyres are soaring with Bridgestone claiming that its Dueler range is once again outperforming the market. While the overall 4×4 tyre market increased by 10 per cent in the UK between December 2004 and December 2005, sales of Bridgestone’s Dueler 4×4 tyres increased by 18 per cent over the same period. These figures come on the back of a remarkable 314 per cent increase in sales between 1999 and 2004, during which time the market grew by 181 per cent.
The Maxxis bias ply M-8060 Trepador competition tyre has enjoyed considerable off-road success – so much so that Maxxis has developed a radial version for day-to-day use. The M-8060 Trepador radial is designed to combine excellent traction with smooth handling and is available in 37×12.5 17, 37×12.5-16 and 40×13.5-17 sizes.
An aggressive directional tread element arrangement ensures a uniform tread contact area for sure-footed handling on all wet and dry surfaces, while the multi-stage staggered shoulder lugs give added control on uneven terrain, especially boggy ground and snow.
Multi-curve tread siping not only improves traction on loose dirt, but also enhances braking and driving performance. A double steel belt construction improves puncture resistance and provides long-lasting wear and uniformity, while a jointless spiral-wrapped full nylon cap boosts strength and stability.
It’s time once again to vote for the winners of the NTDA Tyre and Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards. These were introduced last year and immediately became the awards that everyone wanted to win, as it is the customers who decided the outcome.
For nearly three decades, the East Anglian company Bickers has been developing the Maxxis brand in a number of niche markets, including motorcycles and scooters, Moto-X, ATV and lawn care. Now, following the establishment of a joint venture between Maxxis and Bickers (Maxxis International UK plc), a concerted effort will be made to develop the brand – especially in the passenger car tyre and LCV markets.
The Tyre Wholesalers Group of the NTDA held its Annual Lunch on Wednesday 23rd November and Chairman Peter Gaster, of Kings Road Tyres, gave brief details of the recent survey carried out by the group – the first for two years. Brief highlights follow.
In the last winter season, the Western European winter car tyre market grew by 7.9 per cent – a fair way above average. During this time some 35.5 million units were sold on the replacement market. As far as the 2005/2006 season is concerned, current Europool figures suggest that it will be another good season for winter and/or cold weather tyres, whatever you call them.
The 4×4 and light truck markets are also likely to demonstrate a continued equalisation between summer and all-season tyres on the one side of the statistics and winter tyres on the other. The European tyre industry claims to be thoroughly prepared in terms of merchandise planning. However one exception is stocks of winter tyres featuring run-flat capabilities.
According to Cooper Tires 4×4 tyre sales have increased by a staggering 151 per cent in the last five years. In 2004, there were 1.25 million 4×4 tyres sold throughout the UK, a jump from 825,000 in 2000.
Factors such as 4×4 fashions and the increasing number of “Chelsea tractors” in town and city centers are thought to have influenced this growth. Other trends such as the replacement of standard manufacturer fitted wheels and tyres with larger sizes are also affecting the market.
Goodyear has renewed its contract as the official tyre supplier to the Land Rover G4 Challenge. Commencing in Bangkok on 23rd April 2006, the Land Rover G4 Challenge will travel through Thailand, Laos and Brazil before finishing in Bolivia on 20th May 2006. Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tyres will be fitted to all the Land Rover G4 Challenge vehicles including the new Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3 as well as the Freelander, Range Rover and Defender.
“The Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tyre displayed outstanding performance on the inaugural Land Rover G4 Challenge in 2003” said Matthew Taylor, Land Rover, managing director, “we are delighted to have Goodyear’s expertise to assist competitors as they 4×4 drive their way through some of the world’s most exciting terrain.”
Across the Texas prairie, in a place where the staff occasionally encounter rattle snakes, Cooper’s 1000 acre Tire and Vehicle Test Center can be found. Originally constructed in 1999, the site has recently been upgraded through the addition of 4×4 and off-road testing facilities. Tyres & Accessories travelled to San Antonio to experience Cooper’s newly enlarged test centre first hand.
The most recent developments at Cooper’s Tire and Vehicle Test Center (TVTC) prove that the $13 million it originally spent on the facility was just the beginning. Now the company has 4×4 testing capabilities and it is likely that there will be further additions in due course. For now the centre’s primary work is product testing and competitor benchmarking.
Pirelli is to build a new tyre plant in Romania, The Cumberland News has reported. The new Romanian tyre plant will reportedly be of a comparable size to the Pirelli factory at Cummersdale near Carlisle and will initially produce 4.5 million tyres a year. However, unlike the Carlisle plant, which specialises in 4×4 tyres, the Romanian plant will produce the full range of Pirelli products, the newspaper reported.
Interstate Europe BV, has appointed Ovethi A/S as the distributor for Sonar tyres in Denmark. Interstate’s Commercial Director, Mr. Theo de Vries, said he was “very satisfied to have an experienced and professional company such as Ovethi as the distributor in Denmark.” Ovethi A/S has been working for a number of years in the Danish tyre market and has its own retail chain throughout Denmark. The Sonar range includes tyres from 13 inch to 20 inch, plus commercial and 4×4 tyres.
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