All C Series jets produced by Bombardier are to be exclusively fitted with Michelin Air X aircraft tyres as standard, and the first of new this series, the CS100, took to the air on its maiden commercial flight this week. The flight from Zurich to Paris was made with launch operator Swiss on 15 July.
Two tyres from the Yokohama Geolandar range have been selected as original equipment fitments for Mazda SUVs sold in certain global markets. The Geolandar H/T G056 will be available as an original equipment tyre on the CX-9 crossover when it goes on sale in North America this spring, and buyers will be able to receive the Geolandar in size P255/60R18 107H or 255/60R18 108H. In China, Yokohama Rubber will ship its Geolandar G91 to Mazda for fitment on the new CX-4. The crossover SUV will receive the Yokohama tyre in size 225/55R19 99V.
At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Renault lifted the wraps on the fourth generation of its Scénic multi-purpose vehicle. The new model is equipped across the range with 20-inch rims as standard, a bold choice for a mass market car yet a size exterior designer Jérémie Sommer pushed, claiming the larger diameter rims form a “fundamental part” of the Scénic’s “perfectly-balanced silhouette and pleasing proportions.” The tyre size of choice for the new Renault is 195/55 R20, and Goodyear will act as exclusive all-season tyre supplier. The tyre maker will also deliver summer tyres for certain models.
Maxxis exhibited at Reifen from a prominent Hall 3 stand commensurate with the brand’s global positioning, and increasingly with its focus on Europe. Robert Lo, chairman of Maxxis manufacturer Cheng Shin Rubber Ind Co and Derek McMartin, managing director of Maxxis International UK explained to Tyres & Accessories that the stand included a portfolio containing the brand’s first “dedicated European products”. The new M36+, launched at Reifen, is perhaps the most prominent example of this.
Falken Tyre Europe has been made the original equipment tyre supplier to Seat’s first SUV, the Ateca. The Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand will roll off the production line fitted with the Falken Azenis FK453CC and Ziex ZE914A tyres. Falken will deliver FK453CC tyres in size 215/50R18 92W and the ZE914A tyre in size 225/55R17 97V.
Bridgestone reports that its Ecopia H/L 422 Plus has been approved as an original equipment tyre for the 2016 Dodge Durango. The full-size SUV, which is built on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, will receive the Bridgestone tyre as standard equipment in size 265/50R20 for the All-Wheel Drive, R/T Rear-Wheel Drive and Citadel All-Wheel Drive models, and the Ecopia H/L 422 Plus is available as an option in this size for the Durango SXT and Limited.
Pirelli has been homologated for the Jaguar F-Pace in a variety of sizes across P Zero and Scorpion Verde All Season. The P Zero has been homologated in sizes 265/40R22 106Y XL, 255/50R20 109W XL and 255/55R19 111W XL while the Scorpion Verde All Season has been homologated in size 235/65R18 110H XL.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries reports that its all-season Falken Ziex CT50 has been approved as an original equipment tyre on the latest model Mazda CX-9 crossover, which goes on sale this spring. The Ziex CT50 will be supplied in sizes P255/50R20 104V and 255/50R20 105V.
Pirelli’s new Diablo Rosso III motorcycle tyre is original equipment on the latest motorcycle from its compatriot company MV Agusta. The link between the companies is also celebrated in a special edition bike, the Diablo Brutale. The two brands collaborated on the special edition model, designed as a “tribute” to Pirelli’s latest supersport tyre. The bike is the latest landmark in a decades old relationship between the companies, coming five years after the historic Italian motorcycle manufacturer decided to equip all its models with Pirelli tyres.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, has begun supplying high-performance Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S SUV tyres to Nissan for factory fitment on Rogue models (X-Trail in the UK and elsewhere) sold in North America. The Ziex all-season, asymmetrical tread ZE001 A/S will be fitted to the Rogue in size 25/60R18 100H.
About 70 per cent of all Porsche models ever built are still in a roadworthy condition today. Owners seeking to keep their car looking as original as possible want a tyre that looks the part, and Pirelli has worked with Porsche to develop a number of approved fitments that match the tyres available when the cars were new. While these tyres feature a period look and tread design, modern compounds and construction are used, and Pirelli comments that this pairing of classic looks and modern technology allows for better-balanced driving characteristics than can be gained from older, original tyres or non-approved matching-size tyres.
Models of the Nissan Frontier – the Navara to you and I – sold in North America and Mexico will be exclusively equipped across the main sizes with Hankook tyres as original equipment. Hankook Tire reports it will ship its highway all-season Dynapro HT in sizes P265/70R16T and P265/60R18T and the all-terrain Dynapro AT-M in size P265/75R16T for fitment on the 2016 Nissan Frontier.
The choice of Hungary, home of its European manufacturing base, as the location for this month’s ‘Ventus Experience’ media event underlines Hankook Tire’s growing focus on original equipment supply within the region. In addition to introducing the Ventus Prime³ comfort tyre, during the event Hankook Tire showed the fruits of recent investment in its factory in Rácalmás, and shared how the facility is helping it meet the requirements of European vehicle manufacturers.
Bridgestone tyres are being fitted as standard equipment on Honda’s new fuel cell vehicle, the Clarity Fuel Cell. The hydrogen-powered vehicle was introduced at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show and launched in Japan last month, and wears the Bridgestone Ecopia EP160 in size 235/45R18 94W. Honda intends to introduce the Clarity Fuel Cell into selected European markets this year.
Bridgestone has been made an official project partner for the Aston Martin DB11, slated to be launched later in 2016. The tyre manufacturer will support Aston Martin with a series of technical developments, durability testing and global media launches, including the use of its European Proving Ground in Aprilia, Italy. Tyres & Accessories first reported Bridgestone and Aston Martin’s partnership from the Geneva Motorshow 2016 in February.
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