Continental Tyres recently invited Mercedes-Benz World representatives and driving instructors to experience its Contidrom testing facility in Hanover, Germany. Utilising Contidrom’s 2km wet handling track, Continental set out to demonstrate the difference between premium and budget tyres on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class among other tests.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., is participating in InterAuto 2013, Russia's 9th international exhibition of automotive industry, which is being held in Moscow between 28 – 31 August. According to the company, the Yokohama exhibit will feature the firm’s three core tyre ranges – the high performance Advan line, the environmentally friendly BluEarth line, and the winter-safe "iceGUARD" line. The tyre maker is also displaying tyres for trucks and buses as well as aluminium wheels.
Mercedes has selected Yokohama’s Advan Sport V105 MO tyres as original equipment for its new Mercedes-Benz S-Class models. The new S-Class models will come with size 245/50R18 100W.
According to the company, the Advan Sport V105 MO was developed jointly by Yokohama Rubber and Mercedes parent company Daimler AG, and the "MO" mark on the side of each tyre represents Daimler's official stamp of approval. In addition, the tyres' reduced rolling resistance and improved wear resistance meet Yokohama's standards for environmentally friendly products.
Robert Wickens scored the maiden victory of his DTM career in difficult wet and drying conditions at the Nürburgring. The Mercedes-Benz driver coped best with the changeable conditions, moving from seventh on the grid to the front of the field. The race was stopped after 47 of the scheduled 49 laps, because the maximum duration of 75 minutes had been reached. Tyre supplier Hankook provided the wet, base-line slick and faster option tyres to help the teams adapt to different conditions and to use flexible race tactics.
The introduction of an option tyre this year in DTM was something of an unknown quantity, as teams had no previous data or experience with which to predict its performance. With one set available only for the race, it was always going to be interesting to see how they would be used, and the tyre supplier to the German touring car series (competing in international locations) believes that its influence has had a positive effect on the action, heading into the second half of the season at the Moscow Raceway this weekend. Hankook says the softer compound Ventus Race Plus has allowed drivers to set faster lap times in the first 30-60km of use, before the tyre’s performance drops off to levels below those offered by the regular Ventus Race tyre. It is constructed to behave in this way purposely to allow for more tactical racing, and with five races won by five different drivers (albeit with one subsequently disqualified), the top five in the drivers’ standings within 24 points and all manufacturers with at least one race victory, Hankook argues that the tyre has helped make the series more competitive.
A run-flat version of Goodyear’s Eagle LS2 will be fitted as original equipment on the all-new 2014 BMW X5 that has now gone on sale in North America. The tyre is supplied to BMW in 255/55R18 for the front and 255/50R19 on the rear.
Michelin’s supply of its high and higher than high performance Pilot Sport branded tyres as original equipment has continued to yield new deals moving into 2013. The all new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Black Series will be fitted with the new Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyre, while specially developed Pilot Super Sport ZP tyres will be fitted to the full 2014 range of Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models.
In the weekend’s DTM action, drivers were able to demonstrate the strategies made possible by exclusive tyre partner Hankook’s new option tyre in front of 65,000 fans at the Lausitzring. Four of the five fastest drivers started the race with the Ventus Race Plus that allows for faster times for a few laps before the intended drop-off sets in. Other drivers started with the base-line slick tyre and later changed to the option to try to make up lost ground in the first stint. Mercedes-Benz driver Gary Paffett scored his first race win of this DTM season and the first success of the Stuttgart car manufacturer.
TruckForce, Goodyear Dunlop’s dedicated mobile service and breakdown network, is taking delivery of 60 additional Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313 CDIs at a rate of one per day from Birmingham dealer Midlands Truck & Van. The new fleet was the focus of its activities at the CV Show. Based across TruckForce’s 15 operating centres, “hubs” for its satellite locations across England and Wales, they are being used by technicians who repair, replace and service customers’ tyres at their premises or at the roadside. The Sprinters are fitted with engine-driven PTOs which power on-board compressors, as well as Hope Safe-T-bar rear safety bumpers and roof-mounted flashing beacons.
Kwik-Fit showed its new range of light commercial vehicle fleet initiatives at the CV Show 2013, highlighting its mobile fleet’s LCV tyre repair and placement capability; its expanded range of premium, mid-range and budget tyres; a plan to expand availability of MoTs on Class 7 vans; and a new Kwik Fit Drive card, for LCV and car fleets, with supermarket fuel and vehicle breakdown and recovery benefits, as well as Kwik-Fit charge reductions.
April’s annual gathering of the UK logistics industry, The Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC represents a fine opportunity for those in the tyre industry to connect with this side of their business. The 2013 iteration boasted the best exhibitor turnout since 2009, and the show itself seemed to have exceeded many expectations for visitor numbers, which usually number around 16,000 over its three days, the organisers say. Certainly Tyres & Accessories witnessed busy stands visiting the show on day two.
Hankook and European touring car racing series DTM have signed an extension to their official tyre supplier deal, extending the partnership until at least 2016. DTM’s organisers have been sufficiently satisfied by the development of Hankook’s Ventus line of motorsport tyres to sign the deal ahead of schedule, while the Korean tyre manufacturer is keen to sustain the brand value and premium brand status it derives in part from this deal. Hankook added an all new option tyre specification this season, which it president & chief marketing officer/chief corporate management officer at believes allows the company to demonstrate the brand’s performance on premium brand vehicles.
UK and European transport specialist North West Logistics has signed an agreement with ATS Euromaster to implement and manage a 100 per cent Michelin policy across its fleet of 60 trucks and 50 trailers. Ainsworth & Martin acquired the company in 2010 and has recently merged to form a single operation based in Accrington, Lancashire. Neither company had a formal tyre policy in place before the merger, utilising local dealers to fit many different brands to their vehicles. Now mobile technicians from ATS-E’s Blackburn site seven miles away will carry out routine fleet inspections, as well as regrooving, twinning and turning tyres on the rim to increase their longevity.
Eagle-eyed Geneva motor show attendees may has spotted a 22-inch version of Vredestein’s new Ultrac Vorti fitted to the Bentley Continental GT-based Mansory Sanguis. This pairing, Vredestein states, doubled as an announcement of a new partnership between Mansory and the tyre maker.
Big appears to be beautiful when it comes to ultra high performance tyres. Continental shares that falling European demand for 18-inch rim diameter and lower UHP tyres over the last couple of years has been compensated for by growing demand in the larger sizes.
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