The Audi Q3 is the latest vehicle to be factory-fitted with Falken tyres. The compact SUV will be fitted with the Falken Ziex ZE914 A EC AO pattern in size 215/65R17 99V. Commenting on Audi’s selection of the tyre, Christian Stolting, key OE account manager at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, said: “The Audi engineers’ decision highlights once again the excellent quality and the capability of our tyres.”
Three Hankook tyre models have been chosen as original equipment for the new Audi Q8. Customers in Europe can receive their crossover fitted with a size 285/45 R21 113 Y XL Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV or, if selecting a winter tyre, the Winter i*cept evo 2 SUV in 285/45 R21 113 V XL. In North America, the Hankook Dynapro HP 2 Plus will be an original equipment tyre for the Audi Q8 in sizes 275/50 R20 113H X, 285/45 R21 113H XL and 285/40 R22 110H XL. Hankook Tire reports that further dimensions will follow.
Giti Tire will supply the GitiSynergyE1 in size 205/60R16 92H to the VW T-Cross. The T-Cross is built for the European market on the MQB-A0 small car platform in Pamplona, Spain alongside the Seat Arona Compact Crossover and VW Polo, for which the tyre manufacturer already supplies OE tyres in the same pattern.
Harley-Davidson has gone and made itself an electric motorcycle – and Michelin has developed tyres to fit the ‘e-hog’. Michelin Scorcher Sport tyres have been selected as original equipment for the new Harley-Davidson LiveWire.
Last month, a Bugatti Chiron became the first near production car in the world to break the 300 mph barrier, after reaching an independently verified speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany. The Chiron wore Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 – the world’s fastest street legal tyre – for the speed record attempt.
Falken is supplying original equipment tyres to the new Toyota Corolla, available since March 2019. The new vehicles will be fitted with the Ziex ZE914B Ecorun in sizes 225/40R18 92 W XL and 225/45R17 91W, and the Sincera SN832B tyre in size 205/55R16 91V. The tyres are manufactured at the SRI plant in Turkey and fitted at the Toyota plants in Castle Donington in the UK and Sarkaya in Turkey.
Michael Haupt, formerly a tyre development specialist at Porsche, has been appointed head of the ‘Premium OE’ business sector at the recently-opened Nexen Central Research Institute (Nexen univerCITY). In his new position, Haupt will be responsible for creating premium tyres for OEM customers.
The relationship between Shandong Linglong Tire and vehicle manufacturer Geely Auto Group has deepened with the signing of a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement. Guan Yu, vice president of Geely Auto, and Wang Feng, chairman of Linglong Tire, signed the agreement on 26 August.
Pagani has a new hypercar, and once again Pirelli has been assigned to take care of the tyres. Of course, not just any tyre will do – Pirelli has developed a version of its most performance-focused road tyre specifically for the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC. The P Zero Trofeo R will be fitted as original equipment on the Huayra Roadster BC in size 265/30 R20 at the front and 355/25 R21 behind.
Hankook Tire has extended its original equipment supply activities, this time in North America with tyres for the new 2020 Ford Explorer. America’s best-selling SUV will wear Hankook Kinergy GT all-season tyres in size 255/65R18.
The latest Triumph Rocket 3 has arrived, complete with a 2,500cc engine – the largest ever seen on a production motorcycle. It’s also the torquiest production bike ever made. This power and torque meet the road through the new Cobra Chrome from Avon Tyres.
Xlite forged aluminium wheels have been selected as the OE fitment for a new lightweight tri-axle Clearspan Curtainsider trailer from Tiger Trailers, which is 500kg lighter than its conventional equivalent. The trailer will allow operators to carry a greater payload of up to 29.5 tonnes. Reducing weight on vehicles is a key factor for increasing the sustainability and profitability of fleet operations.
The Kia range recently grew with the arrival of the Seltos. The compact SUV officially debuted in India on 20 June, and in addition to spearheading Kia’s planned growth in that market, Seltos models will be exported around the world. The Seltos is heading our away soon and will reach Europe from September. It will be wearing Kumho tyres when it arrives in showrooms.
Following a rigorous battery of tests, Embraer has approved a new version of the Michelin Air X radial as original equipment for its Embraer E170. The Michelin Air X M19602 is thus now available for the Embraer E170 main gear.
When tourists visit Croatia, they don’t come to Beli Manastir. The sleepy town of around 8,000 inhabitants is about as distant as you can get from Croatia’s bustling beach resorts and still stay within the country’s borders. But Beli Manastir’s lack of package holiday cred doesn’t matter a jot to STARCO – instead of bringing the world to Beli Manastir, it is taking Beli Manastir to the world.
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