Maxxis’ original equipment portfolio in the all-terrain vehicle sector gives the manufacturer some authority when it comes to the ATV tyre market. The company says it is “in a perfect position to monitor and react” to trends in the “growing” segment.
Maxxis is joining forces with German electric carmaker e.GO. The strategic partnership will see Maxxis create tyres for the manufacturer’s future models. The latest e.Go to be launched is the aptly named ‘Life’. Being fully electric, the car will produce more torque than its comparable combustion-powered peers, which will present Maxxis with some very specific development challenges. The brand is set to re-engineer its premium sports tyre, the Victra Sport 5, to fit the ‘Life’, with modifications to include a unique sidewall design to help balance strength, performance and durability on the roads. Being OE on the TX electric taxi means Maxxis has plenty of experience in producing tyres for electric vehicles, making it the perfect partner for e.Go.
The Maxxis Group’s first tyre factory in India opened in March. The facility in Gujarat state was set up with an investment of US$400 million and began operating with an initial daily capacity of 20,000 tyres and 40,000 tubes. Maxxis Rubber India shares that original equipment tyres have now begun to be shipped from the 43-hectare Sanand plant to Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), and it plans to supply one million tyres to its OEM partners by the end of the year. Furthermore, the tyre maker intends to complement its recently-opened plant with five additional factories in India that will produce tyres for other segments.
China’s largest tyre manufacturer, Zhongce Rubber, has entered the global top ten, research published today by Tyrepress shows. Best known in Europe for its Westlake brand, the company has pushed up in the rankings past Giti Tire – manufacturer of GT Radial – which did not supply 2017 figures before the deadline, Toyo Tires, and Cooper Tire & Rubber, which fell three places. Competition in the lower quarter of the top ten places is fierce, with turnovers for tyres between 2.4 billion euros (Cooper in 13th) and 3.2 billion euros (Maxxis in ninth).
As the UK reacts to varying extremities of weather, from snow drifts to heatwaves, motorists are forced to question their tyre choices for the changing conditions. While many opt to switch from winter to summer tyres and back again, a secondary option (all-season tyres) has emerged as a popular choice for road users looking for year-round performance without the hassle of switching their tyres partway through the year.
Maxxis hosted a large, professional stand with plenty of information about different products at Tire Cologne. However, the headline news was the launch of the Victra Sport 5 at a well-attended press conference during the course of show week.
At the end of May, anti-Chinese truck tyre tariffs were implemented. They included nominal (as opposed to percentage) tariffs at levels that surprised many. As a result, supply shortages and challenges at distributors were predicted. Shuttering of some of the lowest cost Chinese tyremakers is also expected. However, speaking to affected firms during the recent Tire Cologne reveals that many are already prepared to source tyres elsewhere. Indeed, the largest manufacturers have been off-shoring for some time. As a result, virtually all the leading Chinese tyre manufacturers already have non-Chinese tyre production in place. Let’s take a look at who’s got what.
While Maxxis’ most recent launch indicates its increasing focus on high performance car tyres, the manufacturer continues to pride itself on its position in the specialist all-terrain market, providing solutions for a wide variety of turf, 4×4 and ATV vehicles. Maxxis states that all of its speciality range is hard wearing with high levels of grip, making it a popular choice for councils and contractors demanding value for money.
The UK’s high performance tyre sector – in this case defined by tyre diameters of 17” and above – has continued its growth trend, but at a very much slower rate than in 2017.
Maxxis’s new Victra Sport 5 received its full launch at The Tire Cologne, as the June issue of Tyres & Accessories went to press (see Tyres & Accessories’ July issue for a more in-depth write-up). The new tyre is the latest in the brand’s range to target premium brand performance at a lower cost.
Stapleton’s wholesale director Nigel O’Hara states that it has built its high performance tyre range to fit in with the somewhat counter-intuitive growth of the sector in turbulent macro-economic times.
General Motors recognized its most innovative partners at its 26th Supplier of the Year awards ceremony on 20 April in Orlando, Florida. Recipients of the Supplier of the Year award include 125 suppliers from 17 countries, with 16 first-time winners, as well as 11 companies who earned GM’s Innovation Award, Overdrive Award and Customer of the Year award.
Maxxis is heading to the Tire Cologne show (29 May to 01 June) ready to show off one of the most innovative tyres it has ever produced. The new Victra Sport 5 premium sport tyre will be officially unveiled on the manufacturer’s stand (Hall 7, C030) at 15.00 on the opening day. According to the company, the new tyre “is set to follow in the footsteps of other recently launched products by elevating the Maxxis range to a whole new level of performance.”
The CST brand is perhaps best-known in the UK for its presence in the ATV market, with its tyres distributed by one-stop motorcycle parts and accessories shop Bickers. The Cheng Shin Group has announced it is to diversify its CST range in Europe with the addition of passenger car, van and 4×4 tyres to its expanding portfolio.
Brad Freeman ended 2017 on a high, clinching the Maxxis FIM EnduroGP Junior World Championship title in the final round with the help of Maxxis MaxxEnduro Extreme Soft tyres. 2018 is promising to be just as thrilling for the Beta Boano Racing Sport team rider, as he gears up to take on The Maxxis FIM Enduro GP and British Enduro Championship, again with the support of Maxxis.
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