Lassa Tyres used Autopromotec as the platform from which to launch three new products as well as for showcasing 21 different types of tyre. Two of the new tyres are winter tyre patterns, namely CompetusWinter 2 and Wintus2. Lassa also presented its new medium commercial tyre, the Maxiways.
As the company said in pre-show previews, Zenises showed its new Z brand run flat programme during Autopromotec. However, the company also announced a further expansion of the new high performance Z tyre range during the first day of its participation at Autopromotec in Bologna.
This year SD-International took an outside booth between Halls 19 and 22 of Autopromotec. According to the company, this meant the contract manufacturer attracted “a constant stream of visitors including established customers and potentially new international distribution partners”. Peter Nicholls, SD-International’s sales and marketing director explained, stating: “With a recently opened new warehouse in Germany enabling swift delivery throughout Europe, we were initially intending to attract increased customer sales in Italy and other parts of Europe.
With International Contract Tyre Manufacturer – Enjoy Tyre making its Autopromotec debut at the 2015 Show in Bologna, the company saw it as “the perfect opportunity” to stage a dedicated European Partners Evening Dinner Event to express “immense appreciation” for the support and enthusiasm of its Rotalla and new Routeway dealers across Europe.
Having working together since 1997, at this year’s Autopromotec Italian distributor Intergomma SpA showed tyres representing the entire Aeolus range. The centrepieces were the two forks of the new ACE2 range, the ultra high-performance SteeringACE2 and high-performance PrecisionACE2.
Linglong reports that the first truck and bus radials produced at the firm’s Rayong, Thailand production plant rolled off the manufacturing line at 9:28 on 28 May 2015. Construction of the truck tyre production line began in June 2014.
Kumho’s latest high-performance offering, the ECSTA HS51, was awarded a ‘Recommended’ rating in the recent test by the highly regarded German consumer magazine, ACE Lenkrad. And, according to company representatives, it was the racetrack as much as the test track that led to this result.
High performance cars call for high performance tyres – and understandably motorists who have invested in an expensive vehicle are among the most discerning of customers. Reluctant to compromise performance or safety, they have tended to favour major global brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin – but over the years Stapleton’s have been developing and introducing a range of alternatives from their own stable of exclusive brands.
The new Davanti brand, which distributor Oak Tyres launched at Autopromotec in Bologna at the end of May reportedly received “rave reviews” from contacts and customers.
With impressive EU labels boasting strong wet-grip performance and consistently low noise ratings across the range, visitors and exhibitors alike were eager to see the tyres for first time.
Having heard both the consensus and a third party perspective on what the high performance tyre market is and what is happening in it, when Tyres & Accessories asked Neil Hendry, general manager – Passenger Car Tires, Europe for Giti Tire for his and Giti’s view, he offered another perspective again.
Treadsetters is promoting its Hifly HF 805 UHP pattern as “the competitive option”, while at the same time highlighting its production in “an international, technologically advanced production facility which incorporates all the very latest tyre building and design developments”.
As we have seen, the high performance tyre market is a complex and competitive environment. The fact that most manufacturers define and therefore calculate the market in a slightly different way adds to the complexity. With this in mind, Tyres & Accessories asked GfK automotive account director Kevin Glynn for some outside insights into what is going on in the world of high performance tyres.
Singapore-based Firenza, which is distributed by wholesaler Stamford Tyres, reports that it intends to offer an “established and highly competitive” range.
Taking centre-stage is the Firenza ST-05A pattern which is specifically manufactured at an “advanced production facility” in South East Asia, which includes the very latest tyre building innovations.
With manufacturers continuing to increase the performance of their cars, Maxxis reports that it is “continually investing in the development of its tyres to ensure that it offers drivers the perfect solution, whatever their requirements.”
Since the launch of the Victra Sport VS01 high performance tyre at the beginning of last year, Maxxis has increased the size range it is available substantially, with fifty-nine sizes currently available in this fitment. Furthermore, the VS01 range now has a Y rated option.
New tyre brand Davanti has launched a new website ahead of its debut at Autopromotec 2015 in Bologna later this month. The website, www.davanti-tyres.com, showcases the new range and the key features of the new tyres.
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