On 27 January Michelin unveiled the first set of specially designed race tyres for the Project 56 DeltaWing vehicle that will compete in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. And the tyre maker says that just one look at the tyres, and their “unique” size, makes the radical nature of the US group’s prototype design obvious.
Falken has introduced the Azenis FK453CC – a tyre specifically designed to improve the stability, feel and noise of vehicles such as the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, BMW X6 and Audi Q7, among others in the performance SUV segment.
The US market 2012 Audi A7, winner of the Motor Press Guild’s “Vehicle of the Year” award at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, will be fitted with Yokohama Advan Sport tyres as original equipment. Announcing the OEM supply deal, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s director of OE sales, Jeremy Kahrs, commented “the 310 horsepower Audi A7 is a sleek, stylish sporty five-door coupe. We couldn’t agree more with the award and are proud the A7 runs on our ultra high-performance Advan Sport tyres. They are a perfect fit.”
According to the latest vehicle registration figures, the Volkswagen Golf remains Europe’s best-selling car despite a sales decrease of 2.5 per cent in October compared to a year earlier (its sales also fell 1.8 per cent measured year-to-date). The Volkswagen Polo, with sales up by 1.2 per cent in October, regained second place while the Ford Fiesta claimed third, selling 26,553 vehicles.
Martin Tomczyk is the new DTM champion. In Sunday’s penultimate season round at Valencia, the Audi driver wrapped up the title by finishing third and prior to the finale at Hockenheim, he is now beyond reach with an advantage of 13 points. His main rival Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) only scored two points by finishing seventh and now has to defend his current second position in the drivers’ standings at Hockenheim. With his third race win of the season, Mattias Ekström (Audi) came within two points from the Canadian.
Keskin Tuning Europa GmbH has taken on a new wheel brand, just in time for the winter season. According to the company, these MAM alloy wheels are not only designed for the warm season but are also for winter season applicable and therefore suitable for all-year use. Keskin representatives report that the trademark of the MAM alloy wheels is the good quality, long life and the extraordinary design.
Toyo Tires’ has updated its flagship Proxes range, with the addition of the Proxes T1 Sport and the Proxes C1S. The Proxes line has been selected as original equipment on brands from Audi, Mazda and Nissan to bespoke sports cars like Westfield, Farbio and Invicta.
According to the company, the Ultra High Performance Proxes T1 Sport is all about making “the best even better.” For ultimate handling and grip in both wet and dry conditions, the Proxes T1 Sport is said to be “supremely stable,” even at fast motorway speeds. The tyre has an asymmetric tread pattern with a multi-compound concept engineered for braking, aquaplaning and cornering performance.
Several of Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian’s tyres have been awarded recommendations by German tyre testers including the ADAC and Stiftung Warentest. The Nokian V received a “good” rating from the German Automobile Association, ADAC on the back of strong balance, with “good in all safety relevant disciplines, top mark in the wet”. Nokian says the V was also “recommended” after 2011 tests by the European Automobile Association ACE/GTÜ, Öko-Trend.
Continental has gained new OE approvals from Audi for both quattro models R8 and RS3, the luxury A8 saloon and the compact A1. The sporty models come equipped with Continental's high-tech ContiSportContact 5 P as well as the economical ContiPremiumContact 2, whilst the A1 is being fitted with the ContiSportContact 3 and the ContiPremiumContact 2. 19-inch diameter tyres have been approved on R8, with tyres up to 21 inches destined for the A8. The RS3 is being fitted with 19-inch tyres, while for the A1 has a choice of 15, 16 and 18-inch sizes.
Toyo Tire has announced that its Toyo Open Country W/T tyre has been chosen by Audi as original equipment tyres for its Q7. Commencing in January 2011, the Open Country W/T (AO) in size 255/55R18 109H will be fitted to the Q7, also supplied on 18” rims where winter tyres are ordered.
Audi’s new A7 Sportback, released in Europe in Autumn 2010 and now being introduced into global markets, is to be fitted with Yokohama Advan tyres as original equipment. Yokohama Rubber reports its Advan Sport in size 265/35R20 99Y XL has been selected for the four door coupe, the fourth Audi model to be shipped with Yokohama tyres as original equipment.
In the US, Federal has added the Couragia F/X to its Couragia SUV tyre line. The new tyre is designed to deliver steering precision, powerful controllability, long mileage and a comfortable ride, the tyremaker said. The asymmetrical Couragia F/X features a wide and stability-improved footprint; a scuff rib that strengthens the sidewall and protects the rim; and an aggressive tread pattern with stiff, interconnected blocks, Federal said.
Toyo Tires has breakfasted with Goodwood at this months’ Breakfast Club, Deutsch Marques. Toyo says the event attracted a “spectacular gathering of the most prestigious German cars”. It was held on Sunday, 7 November and as always, was free to attend.
The newest member of Audi’s RS family is the 4.2 litre, V8 powered RS 5 coupé, a vehicle capable of producing 450hp. Toyo reports it has supplied its Proxes T1 AO tyre as OE since the launch of the RS 5 earlier this year. The Proxes T1 AO is already fitted as original equipment to the Audi S6; a size 265/35 R 19 98Y tyre is being supplied to the RS 5.
Michelin contributed to a motor racing milestone during the race at the Hungaroring near Budapest. For the first time since the start of the Le Mans Series in 2004, a round of the competition has been won by an LMP2 prototype. Strakka Racing's Michelin-shod HPD-ARX 01c caused a stir by claiming outright victory. All the LMP1 prototypes entered by Michelin's partners were hit by technical problems, including the Oreca-run Peugeot which was delayed by transmission trouble while leading. The collective rout of the front-runners enabled Michelin's sole LMP2 runner – the Strakka Racing HPD-ARX 01c of Watts/Leventis/Kane – to clinch outright victory.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
