BKT wants us to know that it is “ready” for electric mobility in the off-highway segment, and is denoting products it has tailored for such vehicles with a new E-Ready sidewall logo. E-Ready made its debut at last November’s SIMA exhibition in Paris on the Agrimaxfactor 70 series tractor tyre range, and BKT plans to gradually extend its use to all products in this category.
Mono Mars is, I am told, a virtual influencer inspired by Mars exploration rovers. His quest to go to Mars has helped Mono Mars gain more than 115,000 followers, and Hankook Tire has now joined up with this Red Planet-obsessed robot to reach out to motorsports fans as part of its Formula E partnership.
Hankook Tire, new official technical partner and tyre supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and title sponsor of the current season’s opening race, says it is “prepared and ready” for its engagement in the all-electric race series. The Hankook Mexico City E-Prix takes place on 14 January and is the first of eleven race weekends around the world this year that will host a total of 16 races.
Yeovil-based Ariel Motor Company is probably best-known for the hair-raising fun associated with its Ariel Atom and Nomad. However, last August the company entered supercar territory with the launch of the 1180 bhp electric-powered Hipercar.
In 2022, several significant events took place in China’s tyre industry. These things had a profound impact on the tyre industry not only in 2022, but for a long time.
Hankook will commence its role as the new official technical partner and tyre supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2023. The manufacturer, which is taking over from the original tyre supplier to the championship, Michelin, will further underline its commitment to the series with title sponsorship of three rounds in 2023, including the season finale in London. Hankook has invested heavily in the marketing of its new line of tyres for electric vehicles in 2022, the iON series. The manufacturer will supply the iON Race to Formula E, having tested the tyre in Valencia in December.
Following the news of the launch of the Quatrac Pro EV earlier this month, Vredestein has revealed further details about the product’s performance and range.
Bridgestone reports that it has applied its electric mobility expertise to the development of bespoke tyres for the BMW iX, the company’s first all-electric vehicle since its pioneering BMW i3. According to the tyremaker, the ultra-low rolling resistance Bridgestone Alenza tyres feature a host of cutting-edge technologies.
Earlier this year Hankook introduced its iON range of electric vehicle (EV) tyres to the world. Here, the global tyre maker gives us a unique insight into the company’s ground-breaking range.
The iON name is one we’ve recently become acquainted with on Hankook car tyres. With the launch of the iON Evo and iON winter, Hankook Tire has a range of summer and winter tyres specifically aimed at electric vehicles. The South Korean tyre maker is now launching a series of iON truck and bus tyres in its domestic market, and this is worth noting as Hankook says some of these products are being developed with European markets in mind.
Having introduced its iON range of electric vehicle tyres – along with the company’s philosophy of specialist tyres for electric vehicle applications – back in May, Hankook has now formally introduced its iON winter tyre line, which is available in a range of 18 to 22 inch sizes. Following on from the iON evo, Hankook’s summer tyre, the new Hankook iON winter is the second member of the new, global “iON” tyre family for premium electric vehicles.
In the run-up to the launch of its first Vredestein tyre developed specifically for electric vehicles (EV), Apollo Tyres asked 1,000 motorists if they were aware that such products even exist. The response wasn’t encouraging, with the results suggesting that 82 per cent of UK motorists are unaware it is possible to purchase specifically-developed EV tyres.
Recreating a historic motoring exploit, the 3,600-mile challenge will visit 15 countries in just 120 hours. Kumho’s Ecsta PS71 EV tyre is an original fit on the Kia EV6 and it is this specialist product in 235/55R19 size that the challenge car will be equipped with throughout the trial.
During The Tire Cologne show, which took place in May, we spotted the Landsail Qirin EV concept tyre on the stand of wholesaler Inter-Sprint. It is a concept no longer, as Qingdao Sentury Tire officially debuted the tyre yesterday.
Michelin is parting ways with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship following the 2021/22 season finale. With Hankook limbering up and ready to take over next year, the French tyre maker has looked back on its eight years with the championship, convinced that its work has “made a concrete contribution to the success enjoyed by Formula E today.”
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Ariel
Vredestein
Bridgestone; BMW
Hankook