Goodyear has launched a new Dunlop SUV tyre line, aimed at mid-market SUVs and light trucks, Tire Review reports. The Dunlop Rover H/T, which replaces both the Dunlop Grandtrek AT 20 and the Dunlop Rover A/T, is now available to US and Canadian dealers. Officials said about half of the 33 total sizes are now available for shipment, with the remainder slated for early 2011 release.
Avon Tyres has reported a very successful 2010 FIA European Rallycross Championship, with every competitor in the top 10 of all three divisions using Melksham-made rubber. In an open-choice formula where the demands on the tyre are great – competitors need a product that performs on both gravel and asphalt over the course of a race – Avon was delighted to be proved the tyre to be selected throughout the field and across all classes.
Van drivers looking for a tyre designed with rolling resistance in mind have a new option open to them in the form of Continental’s VancoEco range. The manufacturer states the new tyre has been specifically developed for van such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit and Volkswagen T5 and claims the VancoEco reduces rolling resistance by around 30 per cent – which equals a four per cent fuel saving. At the same time, adds Continental, the engineers have managed to keep the braking distance on dry and wet roads short, giving the VancoEco performance “like a car tyre.” The VanEco range is already available and has already been approved as original equipment on the new ‘BlueEfficiency’ models in Mercedes-Benz Viano and Vito line-ups.
Pirelli Tire North America has expanded its OE business with Ford with the new fitment on the upcoming 2012 Mustang Boss 302 and Boss 302 Laguna Seca models, says Tire Review. The cars will be shod with P Zero and P Zero Corsa tyres, respectively.
Aluminium Wheel Manufacturer Superior Industries International has announced a net income of US$10.1 million for the second quarter of 2010, a figure that includes a $4.1 million loss on the sale of the company’s joint venture in Hungary. This compares to a net loss in the second quarter of 2009 of $21.0 million.
Hankook driver Andreas Mikkelsen celebrated after an eventful finale to the Stat Rallye Acores over the weekend resulting in an impressive fourth overall. During the three day event the Hankook crew of Mikkelsen and co-driver Ole Fløene recorded their maiden IRC fastest time and challenged more experienced teams on their first visit to the island and only their second rally on gravel using the M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 on Hankook tyres.
The Norweigen rally ace was comfortably running in the top five on the IRC event until a herd of cows, that had strayed, obstructed the stage causing Mikkelsen to hit them, consequently damaging the crews Ford Fiesta S2000. When speaking about the incident Mikkelsen said: "We were flat-out in sixth-gear and 50 metres after a big crest there was eight or ten cows in the middle of the road. We had to put the car into the ditch where we hit two of the cows. It was a scary moment."
The all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta is due for its US launch this summer, and Kumho reports that its Solus KH25 will be fitted as original equipment in size P185/60R15. This H-speed rated tyre, the Korean manufacturer states, is engineered to provide high performance grip and handling in all weather conditions while delivering long mileage.
Hankook Tire’s North American OE activity is growing – in more ways than one. For the first time ever, the Korean tyre maker will supply a 20-inch high-performance tyre as original equipment to a North American manufacturer. This sizable dimension will be fitted as an option on the Canadian market 2011 Lincoln MKT, due to be released later this year. Other MKT models will be equipped with 19-inch Hankook tyres.
Dunlop is urging followers of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship to the Festival of Speed at Goodwood this coming weekend, where the company’s Live arena in the Goodwood Stable Yard will host some of the UK’s top touring car stars in a ‘Meet the Fans’ question and answer session. Croft winner Andrew Jordan, 2010 pacesetter Tom Chilton, multiple champion Matt Neal and race winner Mat Jackson are among the drivers who will talk about their experiences in the series.
Pirelli Tire North America has teamed-up with DUB, Ford, Microsoft and Roush Industries for the customized Crackdown 2 version of the 2011 DUB Edition Ford Mustang V6, reports Tire Review. The customized car, tied in with the launch of the XBox 360 Crackdown 2 video game, will be given away in a sweepstakes.
Hankook Tire has expanded its North American original equipment portfolio with new additions from Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Kia. The tyre maker now supplies its Optimo H426 for the 2011 North American Ford Fiesta model and for the 2010 model Kia Soul and Forte 2010. In addition, Hankook is expanding its fitment of the Optimo H725 to the 2010 Ford Taurus, the first time a Hankook tyre has been fitted OE to a Ford family car segment saloon in this region. The Optimo H725A will be fitted to the Volkswagen Golf as original equipment in North American markets, continuing a partnership that began last year with fitments on the new Beetle, Jetta and Jetta SportWagen.
Michelin has received a Ford World Excellence Award based on its 2009 efforts with the automaker, Tire Review reports. The global awards recognize Ford suppliers for exceeding standards in quality, cost, delivery and embracing the ONE Ford program. Michelin earned the Recognition of Achievement Award for its Energy Saver A/S low rolling resistance tyre fitted to the Ford Fusion. The award also recognized Michelin’s passenger and light truck/SUV tyre plant in Lexington, South Carolina, where the Energy Saver A/S OE tyre is manufactured.
Michelin and wheel manufacturers Hayes Lemmerz and Ronal are three of 13 new companies the Ford Motor Company has added to its Aligned Business Framework (ABF). The presence of the tyre and wheel manufacturers within Ford’s ABF brings the number of key component and service suppliers Ford has chosen for long-term relationships and closer collaboration to 90.
Avon Tyres’ latest high-performance tyre, the ZT5 has been designed with what the company calls “the latest ‘pitch technology’ to reduce road noise for a quieter ride and to ensure that the new tyre conforms with EU noise legislation.” The ZT5 also possesses what Avon calls an “innovative tread design, which offers optimum road grip when wet”. The tyre caters for a wide range of popular small, medium-sized vehicles, such as the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Vauxhall Corsa, Citroen C3 and Peugeot 207.
Mikko Hirvonen won the Rally of Sweden stage of the World Rally Championship, after his nearest rival and 2009 champion Sebastien Loeb chose to hold onto his worn tyres at stage 14. Hirvonen changed the Pirelli tyres on his Ford and opened up a 6.2-second gap, finally ending the second day 16 seconds ahead of Loeb, whose change to new front tyres at the next stage saw his challenge effectively ended: “Having new tyres at the front and destroyed ones at the rear was worse than have four destroyed ones,” he said. The margin widened during the latter stages of the third day, allowing the Finn to claim victory for BPFord AbuDhabi WRT.
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