Pirelli has tailored two of its tyres for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It reports that comfort-oriented drivers may wish to opt for the Cinturato P7, while sportier models can be equipped with the P Zero in size 225/40 R19 at the front and 255/35 R19 on the rear axle.
Continental tyres will provide the point of contact between road and car for BMW 4 Series models around the world thanks to the car maker’s approval of summer and winter products for global markets. It will fit the Continental EcoContact 6 in 17- and 18-inch sizes and has homologated the WinterContact TS 860 S for colder conditions. All tyres bear the XL increased load capacity marking.
Apollo Tyres has gained a further original equipment approval in its domestic market. Upmarket versions of the new Tata Punch compact SUV will wear the Apollo Alnac 4G in size 195/60 R16, while mid- and lower-range models will roll of the production line on 185/70 R15 tyres.
Continental shares that the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is being delivered with its tyres as original equipment. The plug-in hybrid, which is the most powerful roadgoing AMG vehicle ever, wears the SportContact 6 at the front in size 265/40 ZR 20 (104Y) XL and 295/35 ZR 20 (105Y) XL on the rear wheels. Both dimensions are marked MO1B on the sidewall to denote their OE status.
Linglong Tire says the start of its original equipment tyre supply to the Honda Crider represents “another milestone breakthrough” for the company in the global OE tyre market. It shipped the first batch of tyres to Guangqi Honda in September 2021, almost three years after commencing development work on OE tyres for the Crider, an exclusive to China model that sits in the Honda range between the Civic and Accord.
Ferrari has chosen a custom version of Bridgestone’s new Potenza Sport ultra-high performance tyre for its new GT car. The tyre manufacturer collaborated with the supercar brand to produce bespoke rubber for the 620bhp, rear-wheel drive Ferrari Roma. The tyre is produced in the Bridgestone’s specialist Rome EMIA Technology and Innovation Centre, boasting the tyre-maker’s latest technologies, and is the result of close development work to fine-tune the all-round performance of the newly-launched Bridgestone tyre. It is supplied to the Ferrari Roma in 245/35ZR20 91Y and 285/35ZR20 (100Y) front and rear sizes.
Audi has selected Apollo Tyres’ latest Vredestein Ultrac and Sportrac summer tyres as original equipment for the Audi A1 Sportback, with factory fitment on selected models. Produced at Apollo Tyres’ facilities in Hungary, the tyres chosen by Audi will be supplied in two sizes, 15-inch for the Sportrac (185/65 R15 V) and 17-inch for the Ultrac (215/45 R17 W). Both tyres are also available in the replacement market.
Changan, one of China’s top-selling domestic automotive brands, has unveiled its first all-electric model, the C385. Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) is supplying original equipment tyres to the new electric Changan, which will wear the SU318a all-season tyre in size 245/45 R19.
Porsche has approved three Continental tyre models as original equipment for the Taycan. The all-electric sports car can be delivered from the factory with the Continental PremiumContact 6 summer tyre in the front wheel size 225/55 R 19 XL and size 275/45 R 19 XL at the rear. Customers in European markets can also select WinterContact TS 860 S in the same sizes. Taycan buyers in North America can order their car with all-season Continental ProContact RX tyres in the aforementioned dimensions as well as 245/45 R 20 XL and 285/40 R 20 XL or 265/35 R 21 XL and 305/30 R 21 XL.
Half a century after fitting out the original, Pirelli is back as Lamborghini Countach tyre supplier. All 112 examples of the new 814hp, 220 mph Countach LPI 800-4 will wear Pirelli P Zero tyres in 255/30 R20 size at the front and 355/25 R 21 at the rear. Pirelli says it has optimised the tyre’s structure and compound to “reach the best possible roadholding in all driving situations” and provide “high levels of traction and braking in the wet as well as the dry.”
Hankook is supplying its new Ventus S1 evo Z ultra-ultra-high performance tyres for the new Porsche Panamera in 19 and 20-inch variants. The tyre-maker extensively tested the tyre at maximum speed on the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack, a popular proving ground for sporty handling and longevity. “The Porsche Panamera is a high performing four-passenger sports car with outstanding comfort,” says Sanghoon Lee, president of Hankook Tire Europe. “As such, we are very pleased to be the first to equip this model, as it shows that our products are extremely competitive even in the high-end segment. Additional tyres for future Porsche models are already in development at Hankook.” The tyre made its debut on the Mini John Cooper Works GP in late 2020.
Typically a quiet month like the car market, August 2021 was the second-best on record, with 20,582 new van registrations, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show. In the year to date the uptake of new vans is up 2.6 per cent on the pre-pandemic five-year average (although down -4.0 per cent on the same period in 2019). Despite a drop in sales in certain sectors of the light commercial vehicle market, vans have largely maintained good figures throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, an effect of booming last-mile delivery and mobile services. Several segments are currently enjoying the market entrance of new zero-emission and specialist models. Despite this buoyancy, the SMMT warned that the semi-conductor shortage is looming over the sector and is already affecting production and throttling new van sales.
Demand for electric cars has continued to surge even during a quiet August ahead of the registration plate change. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures show that even as new car registrations fell by -22.0 per cent, demand for battery electric (BEV), hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles rose 32.2, 45.7 and 72.1 per cent respectively. Overall, the UK new car market is up 20.3 per cent versus Covid-hit 2020, though the pandemic remains a blight on the market due in part to chip shortages.
With immediate effect, the Case IH Vestrum, Maxxum and Puma tractor series are available with Continental TractorMaster and VF TractorMaster tyres. The tyre marker says this original equipment partnership is “the next step for Continental in its agricultural growth strategy.”
Italian manufacturer Piaggio & C. SpA has selected the Mitas Touring Force-SC as an original equipment tyre for its new 2021 Piaggio Beverly 400 range. It will equip the Beverly 400 and 400 S with the Mitas tyre in size 120/70-16 at the front and 150/70-14 on the rear.
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