The seventh generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 (992) will wear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres as one of its original equipment fitments. Michelin is also offering its Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Connect as a dealer-fit option “for those who wish to push on-track performance to the limit.”
Heavy equipment manufacturer Manitou has homologated the Alliance 585 tyre range as an option for its MLT NewAg telehandlers. The Alliance 585 is now available from the factory on MLT NewAg and NewAg XL ranges in size 460/70R24.
Despite the gloomy January figures, there are signs of optimism in the UK car industry. Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK, said that the steep fall in sales was expected as a result of the January lockdown, but she went on: “Retailers are optimistic about the year ahead, provided that dealerships will be allowed to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.”
January proved to be a traumatic month for new car sales in the UK, as the market fell -39.5 per cent in the month with 59,030 fewer registrations compared to January last year, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Just 90,249 cars were registered as showrooms across the country remained shut, leading to the worst start to the year since 1970.
The first tyre produced by Giti Tire to attain A grade wet grip and fuel economy on the EU label tyre has secured its second VW Group fitment in as many months. This time, the Skoda Karoq will roll off factory lines on the GitiSynergyH2 in size 225/55R17 97V. The mid-sized SUV joins the light commercial Volkswagen Caddy 5 in selecting the version of the new tyre, specially developed in cooperation with the VW Group. The tyre is due to receive its aftermarket launch in March 2021, and will replace the GitiSynergyE1 and GitiPremiumH1, with which Giti launched its brand in Europe in 2016.
Motorcycle manufacturer KTM says its 1290 Super Adventure S offers “unmatched sportiness with unrivalled performance,” promising riders a motorcycle “capable of chewing up many miles of varying terrain with untroubled ease.” These miles will be Mitas miles: KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH has chosen the Mitas Terra Force-R as original equipment tyre for its new 160 hp travel-enduro bike.
A decade ago, Air France entered into a ten-year tyre supply contract with Michelin. The French airline has now renewed this arrangement, extending its partnership for a further ten years. The Michelin Group will equip the company’s short-, medium- and long-haul aircraft, except for the Boeing 787, with new and retreaded tyres primarily produced at the company’s Saint Doulchard plant in Bourges, France
Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM and Continental Motorcycle Tires have announced a new cooperation for the new year: Upon its launch in 2021, the KTM 890 Duke will come equipped with ContiRoad tyres as standard equipment.
Hankook Tire is delivering original equipment tyres for the Audi RS Q8. The 600 hp SUV will thus roll off the production line fitted with the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV in 295/40 ZR22 112Y XL AO. To ensure safe driving in the colder months, Audi customers can additionally order the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 2 in sizes 275/40 R22 107V XL AO or 295/35 R23 108W XL AO.
Pirelli shares that its tyres have gained a total of 78 original equipment homologations for the latest versions of the BMW 8 Series Coupe, Gran Coupe, and Cabrio, including M Sport models. These cars ride on bespoke Pirelli P Zero and Cinturato P7 tyres. Depending on model, Pirelli will supply BMW with 18- to 20-inch fitments.
Over 80 fitments, more than 30 vehicle models, 13 car manufacturers – this is Bridgestone’s tally of new original equipment fitments for 2020. The tyre maker has summarised its OE achievements in an 80-second-long video. Steven De Bock, vice-president Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, comments that it’s “fantastic that we’ve been able to work in partnership with the world’s leading car manufacturers to meet our collective environmental goals and shape a more sustainable future of mobility.”
Qingdao Sentury Tire Co., Ltd. has appointed Martin Winter as global technical director OE. Winter has more than 20 years’ experience of working in original equipment tyre development with Continental, Goodyear, and most recently Hankook. Sentury Tire states that Winter will work to establish relationships with leading original equipment manufacturers. Sentury is seeking to “establish and increase a competitive partnership and relationship” with European and global light vehicle makers. Manufacturing from its base in Qingdao, China and in Thailand, Sentury is primarily known for its Landsail brand in the UK and Europe.
At the start of 2021, the Potenza Sport will take over from the Potenza S001 as the flagship of Bridgestone’s tyre range. Bridgestone says the new ultra-high-performance tyre possesses “excellent capabilities in both the dry and wet” as well as higher mileage potential than its predecessor. All 96 dimensions in the Potenza Sport range have an EU label ‘A’ grade for wet grip.
Pirelli has created a bespoke new Scorpion Zero All Season SUV tyre as original equipment for the latest Land Rover Defender. The new development reinforces the manufacturer’s partnership with Land Rover. Work on the bespoke tyre was begun at Pirelli’s factories in Carlisle and Milan, with Pirelli engineers working closely with their Land Rover counterparts. Over the full course of the intensive development programme, testing was conducted all over the world in the most extreme conditions possible, Pirelli adds.
Giti Tire has produced its first AA-rated EU label tyre. The GitiSynergyH2 original equipment tyre, produced in size 215/55R17 XL 98H for the bestselling VW Caddy 5 light commercial vehicle, achieved A grades in the EU label’s wet grip and fuel efficiency metrics. The deal follows Giti’s first LCV OE deal with Volkswagen earlier in 2020, for the larger Crafter model. An aftermarket version of the new GitiSynergyH2 will be launched in the aftermarket in March 2021, replacing the GitiSynergyE1 and GitiPremiumH1, both of which were part of the original Giti brand launch into Europe in 2016. Label ratings for the replacement range will be confirmed during the model’s aftermarket launch.
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