Giti Tire has won its first European original equipment contract for the Volkswagen Group. The manufacturer will supply its GitiSynergyE1 for the Seat Ibiza in size 185/70R14 88H. Giti Tire Europe managing director for product technology, Stefan Fischer stated that the new approval “underlines our ambition for the OE segment,” in addition to the “outstanding work” of the company’s Hanover-based European R&D centre.
Pirelli has recorded what it describes as a record number of homologations in August 2017, with 110. These include the Scorpion Winter and Sottozero for winter conditions; P Zero and its racing counterpart P Zero Corsa for UHP fitments; and the Cinturato family, including the P7 All Season for cars of medium engine capacity.
Trico has been chosen to supply Toyota’s Optifit wiper blade range, supplied as original equipment replacements throughout its main dealer network using Trico’s Hybrid Blades.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd reports it is supplying its Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyre for original equipment fitment on versions of the Nissan Fairlady Z Nismo sold in Japan. The Dunlop tyre is being fitted to the Nissan (which is sold as the 370Z in other markets) in size 245/40R19 98W XL (front) and 285/35R19 103W XL rear.
Apollo Vredestein’s work to shift its Dutch brand’s replacement market focus to become an original equipment supplier has resulted in fitments on three major models. Vredestein, has been selected as a fitment on the Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza and Ford EcoSport.
Hankook’s ultra-high performance flagship tyre, the Ventus S1 evo², will be fitted to the latest Audi RS5 Coupé as original equipment in 19 and 20-inch sizes. The tyre manufacturer has previously supplied the tyre to Audi’s TT RS in 2016. The RS 5 Coupé will use the newly developed V6 biturbo engine, which combines performance with greater efficiency. This suitability for everyday use is, Hankook states, reflected in the tyres, which are designed to provide sporty handling alongside driving comfort, and improved grip alongside durability.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries shares that its Dunlop Enasave EC300+ is being fitted as a factory standard tyre on the latest generation Mitsubishi Xpander crossover MPV in certain markets in Asia. The eco tyre is being supplied to Mitsubishi in sizes 85/65R15 88S and 205/55R16 91V.
Original equipment deliveries of the Yokohama Advan Sport V105 tyre have begun for the Subaru WRX STI, which was released on June 20 after a major redesign. Yokohama Rubber reports that the WRX STI will come equipped with 245/35R19 89W size tyres in Japan and overseas.
Following the start of production at its Gyöngyöshalász plant in Hungary last quarter, Apollo Tyres is on its way to almost doubling European passenger car tyre production capacity over the coming year and a half. Speaking with analysts and investors last week after the release of Apollo’s FY2018 financial results, chief financial officer Gaurav Kumar confirmed that the facility in Hungary is expected to reach a daily capacity of 16,000 car tyres by the second half of FY2019 – in other words, sometime between September next year and the end of March 2019. This will give Apollo Tyres a total daily capacity of up to 35,000 passenger car tyres at its two European plants – and more than a third of output in Gyöngyöshalász may be earmarked for OEM customers.
Automotive fashion house Kahn Design has designated the Cooper brand its first ‘Official Tyre’. Cooper will be the tyre of choice for Kahn’s Range Rover and Jeep model offerings, with Kahn outfitting vehicles with the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro POR, Discoverer S/TMaxx POR and Discoverer A/T3 Sport. In addition, select vehicles from Kahn subsidiary Chelsea Truck Company will also be fitted with Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Sport tyres.
The original fitment of Kumho tyres on Volkswagen Polo models in Europe continues into the car’s sixth generation. The New Polo will be available from the Volkswagen plant in Pamplona, Spain fitted with the Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 as standard equipment. Kumho is supplying the KH27 to Volkswagen in size 185/65 R15 88H.
More than 10 million original equipment Dunlop tyres have now been shipped to Harley-Davidson for factory-fitment on its bikes. The entry of the supply count into eight-digit territory is the latest milestone on a journey that began more than three decades ago.
In response to recently reported news about plans for its factory in the USA, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) states that the plant in Buffalo, New York will deliver original equipment Dunlop tyres to Japanese car manufacturers in the future. A representative of SRI stressed to Tyrepress.com that it is the make to order tyre production commissioned by Goodyear that will reduce and then stop entirely in 2018.
When the global joint venture between Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) ended in 2015, the Goodyear tyre plant in Buffalo, New York became a SRI asset. Production of Dunlop branded tyres destined for fitment as original equipment on new vehicles nevertheless continued, however it seems SRI intends to discontinue this arrangement next year.
A further original equipment homologation for the VW Arteon has been announced. Size 225/55R17 97W and 245/45R18 96W versions of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 featuring the company’s extended mobility SealTech technology have been approved for OE fitment on the new five-door fastback.
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