Sgcarmart, purportedly Singapore’s car sales platform, has a new online marketplace, Sgcarmart e-Shop. Available as a new feature on the platform today, automotive suppliers and distributors can now list, price and sell their inventory of car tyres to consumers online.
While most tyre manufacturers are evolving their approach to building ranges of electric vehicle tyres, with specialism not always the preferred route, a small number of tyre-makers were quick off the mark with new product lines. Korean manufacturer Kumho was one of the small number to bring an all-new product to the electric vehicle replacement tyre market, entering the burgeoning segment in 2016 with the Wattrun VS31. The tyre garnered several accolades for pioneering design work, including both the prestigious German Red Dot Design Award and American Green Good Design award. Now Kumho’s strategy is to bring its EV line more directly into alignment with its existing passenger car tyre brands; the Wattrun VS31 pattern has now been superseded by the Ecsta PS71 EV, the company’s next generation electric vehicle tyre.
Arnold Clark Autoparts has expanded its network of branches offering tyres to the trade. Tyres can now be ordered from Arnold Clark Autoparts branches at Aberdeen, Bilston, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Newcastle, Rugeley, and Wolverhampton.
Giti Tire has added nine new GT Radial SportActive 2 sizes, including its first 22” rim for premium powerful SUVs and three recently unveiled dedicated electric vehicle (EV) tyres. Size 275/40R22 is aimed at large premium segment vehicles such as the Audi RSQ8, BMW X7 and Range Rover Sport while 275/45R21, 255/50R20, 235/50R19, one of the biggest sellers in Europe, and 255/60R18 develop the pattern’s 4×4, CUV and SUV coverage. The recently launched AAA-rated GT Radial SportActive 2 EV is now available in sizes 255/45R20 and 235/55R19 to cover the largest selling EV models from Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, VW and Volvo to name a few, while 235/45R18 is aimed primarily at the Tesla Model 3. The tyres are now available in the UK from GT Radial’s exclusive distributor in the market, Micheldever Tyre Services.
Indonesian tyre manufacturer, Elang Perdana (EP Tyres) has released the 651 Pro under its Accelera brand.
During the last few years, tyremakers have repeatedly increased prices. The combination of pandemic-related complications, lower car production rates, higher shipping costs as well as higher raw material costs meant that was inevitable. More recently, the situation was compounded by unusually high rates of general inflation driven by increased energy costs that came as the result of war in Ukraine. However, shipping costs are now lower than they were and industry sources report that tyre manufacturers are beginning to change their previously one-way price movement policy. But is that reflected in sell-out pricing? Specifically, what about the stereotypically more price-drive online etail tyre business? Tyres & Accessories got in touch with Encircle Marketing, which specialises in the kind of market research that can answer those questions, in order to find out.
Petlas is exhibiting its new winter tyres at IAA Mobility 2023. The IAA Mobility fair, which runs from 5th to 10th September in Munich, will speaking see Petlas showcases its collection of passenger car radial (PCR) tyres to attendees.
Grupo Soledad has won the contract to supply and maintain tyres for the Spanish National Police fleet. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior reportedly chose Grupo Soledad, which will supply and fit Nexen tyres for Spanish National Police cars, based on the distributor’s “quality and service proposal”.
Recently, the United States Department of Commerce’s anti-dumping review investigation on PCR tyres produced in Thailand has a preliminary result. Tyrepress China notes that the new developments are positive for Thailand’s tyre factories.
Prinx Chengshan’s flagship tyre brand has entered the European market in style at a lavish event in Milan, Italy. Hosting tyre distributors and dealers from all around Europe the brand chose the European fashion capital as its launchpad to signify its bullish expectations for the new range, which arrives offering fitments for a comprehensive range of applications, premiumised technologies, and a European marketing strategy openly setting mid-range-plus targets from the off. During a day of driving workshops at Alfa Romeo’s historic La Pista circuit, Tyres & Accessories was able to trial two Prinx tyres fitted to Tesla Models 3 and Y, and Mercedes AMG A Class hatchback and SUV models: the Xnex Sport EV UHP tyre designed for electric vehicle compatibility, and the Quattura 4S all-season tyre. T&A also spoke to several representatives from the brand’s European team, including the manufacturer’s European CEO Thomas Wohlgemuth who is heading up the rollout of the brand around the continent, about its new products and aspiration to make its mark on the European tyre segment.
Pirelli has launched the P Zero Trofeo RS, a new iteration of its semi-slick tyre range designed for sporting performance. The tyre has already been requested, in a specialised edition, for the Pagani Automobili Utopia hypercar. Pirelli said the tyre is a “technical evolution” of the P Zero Trofeo R, though the RS is primarily targeting original equipment channels, compared to the R’s positioning as an aftermarket tyre to improve on-track performance.
Yokohama Europe has invited journalists from across the continent to attend the launch of the Advan Sport EV V108 at the renowned Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Yokohama launched the Geolandar CV 4S G061 crossover-oriented tyre at the same time. Meanwhile, the event also incorporated a celebration of the 45th anniversary of Yokohama’s flagship Advan brand.
Goodyear has developed a bespoke version of its ultra-ultra high performance Eagle F1 Supersport tyre for the different versions of the Maserati GranTurismo. The car will be available with a V6 twin-turbo configuration with two different levels of performance. The tyres have been tuned to suit the characteristics of the new Maserati models and carry MGT markings to show that they have been specifically developed for the Italian brand.
Nearly half of UK motorists will make the switch to an electric vehicle in the next five years despite heightened concerns about charging point infrastructure and range anxiety, a survey commissioned by tyre manufacturer Bridgestone suggests. The survey of 2,000 UK car owners was conducted online by Research Without Barriers (RWB) between 23 February 2023 and 28 February 2023. 40 per cent said they would buy an EV by 2028, up 11 per cent from a similar result in a 2022 survey conducted by YouGov for Bridgestone (29 per cent),. 67 per cent raised fears about the availability of charging stations, a rise of 1 per cent versus 2022, while half of all respondents continue to have range anxiety, an increase of 21 per cent over the 2022 survey.
Pirelli is expanding its Collezione range of vintage tyres with the Scorpion BK for the 1986 Lamborghini LM002. The tyre’s size and strength put it at the cutting edge of tyre technology when it was introduced, while its distinctive “ears” helped the tyre stand out further: lateral winglets that allowed the tyre to float across the desert sands. Recreated as part of the Pirelli Collezione range dedicated to historical cars, the tyre was shown at FouriConcorso: an event for the collectors’ cars near Lake Como. Pirelli has supplied tyres to Lamborghini’s SUV range from 1963, through the LM002, to the modern Urus.
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Sgcarmart
Kia
RoadX
Giti Tire
Rupixen; Unsplash
Petlas
Scott Graham; Unsplash
Prinx
Pirelli
Chris Anthony/Tyrepress
Maserati
Bridgestone
Pirelli