The choice of light commercial tyres is vital to businesses dependent on smooth-running vans, and the transition to spring and the end of the financial year often prompts a review. UK tyre brand Davanti says its first dedicated on-road, all-season product, the Vantoura 4-Seasons can help to boost productivity and reduce downtime and costs too.
Building on its 2015 foundation, the UK-owned Davanti Tyres brand has developed a comprehensive range of products for the car and light truck segments while increasing its penetration via distribution partners in international markets. With its products produced in East Asia and its sister distribution company Oak Tyres handling UK distribution, the brand can offer an informed perspective on current car tyre market trends. Tyres & Accessories talked to Davanti Tyres sales director for UK and Ireland, Sean Maddocks about tyre imports, car parc evolution, and the latest Davanti products.
The Davanti Vantoura 4-Seasons is available in a range of light commercial vehicle fitments now, after the tyre received its public unveiling at the CV Show in 2021. The tyre is the UK tyre brand’s answer for transport operators looking for ways to ensure their fleets remain on the road and are as economical as possible. Davanti notes that the rising cost of living, and particularly fuel prices are making proper fleet maintenance even more important. One aspect that can help is checking tyres are fit for purpose. Selecting the right tyre, for the right van, for the right application, is one way to improve efficiency and reliability of commercial vehicles. With a vast range of options available to van fleets, Davanti says it is important to address the requirement of fit-for-purpose commercial tyres. Its Vantoura 4-Seasons represents the brand’s versatile solution for the segment.
Davanti Tyres has become back-of-shirt sponsor of JD Cymru Premier side Bala Town. Bala have enjoyed two decades of success to reach the pinnacle of Welsh football. It hopes the new partnership can help the club build on this summer’s foray into the UEFA European Conference League. Davanti said North Wales independent tyre retailers have “strongly supported the brand” since its 2015 launch, adding that the region has been “a cornerstone” as it expanded its network across the UK and into more than 70 countries. The sponsorship shows how Davanti is investing in raising its brand profile with Bala Town to actively support local retailers through its Make It Happen partnership programme. The brand, headquartered in the North-West of England is also the official tyre partner of Everton FC.
The handling, comfort and longevity when fully laden offered by Davanti’s DX440 van tyre helped the brand to become the original equipment specified tyre for London Electric Vehicle Company’s VN5 electric commercial van. The company said it developed the range with the driver at the centre. “It’s important to remember that, if a van is getting new tyres, that could be a sole trader losing money or a fleet unable to respond to as many calls in a day,” said Sean Maddocks, Davanti Tyres’ sales director for the UK and Ireland. “The DX440 is designed to last longer – reducing the number of times van drivers need to replace their tyres. The tread design and compound achieves that without losing sharpness or control – even under full load.”
With the pandemic situation continuing to place 2021 motorsport series in doubt, racers are preparing to get involved in Esports. While digital competition has been a growing trend for several years, interest in digital motorsport spiked in response to the suspension of series across Europe in 2020. A leading Mini Challenge competitor, Dan Zelos is looking forward to his return to the track on 16 January, as the championship’s official eSeries commences. Zelos is supported by Davanti Tyres; the UK tyre brand will also boast a presence in the competition as Zelos pilots his Davanti-branded Mini around virtual versions of every circuit on the 2021 calendar.
Davanti and Evergreen have joined premium brands in hailing 2020 as “a big year for electric vans.” The trend towards electric vehicles in the light commercial sector has gathered pace as van manufacturers announced new models. Meanwhile the Covid-19 pandemic served to underline the importance of delivery drivers to the economy. Delivery giant UPS placed an order for 10,000 electric vans over the next four years. Currently in the UK, there are 10,300 electric vans registered. Davanti, the Oak Group’s tyre brand, and Evergreen for which its wholesale arm serves as UK distributor both say they are prepared for the electrification of the van parc with their current products.
Landsail Tyres is the new Official Tyre Partner of Leicester City. The Sentury Tire brand has signed a multi-year deal with the Premier League football club, starting this season. The brand has excellent penetration in the UK tyre market, distributed by Grouptyre, and is present in more than 100 countries globally. It says the partnership with Leicester City is part of its strategic development plan. It will be “a core pillar of its marketing strategy.” The brand hopes to benefit from enhanced exposure across Leicester City’s digital channels as well as on matchdays at the King Power Stadium.
British auto designer Sterling Automotive says global demand has increased for unique car customisation. The custom car brand, which is partnered and supplied by UK-based Davanti Tyres, accentuates British design heritage, with leatherwork, metalwork and 3D-printed body panels created at its Blackburn headquarters. “As a new business, the pandemic did throw up some significant challenges for us to navigate,” said Carl Williamson, managing director of Sterling Automotive. “But fortunately we were able to launch our first vehicles – our reimagined Jeep Wrangler and our fresh Audi Q8 project – before it struck. Those vehicles really captured a lot of attention globally and we’re now seeing this translate into firm interest from both clients and the wider car community.”
Davanti marked its fifth anniversary with its first international dealer conference at the end of February. The tyre brand hosted more than 150 attendees by Everton Football Club’s Goodison Park, where it’s development director Gary Cross took the opportunity to announce its upcoming products, including range extensions and what might be called the second generation of Davanti tyres given the new naming conventions first introduced in the Wintoura winter tyre and Terratoura all-terrain 4×4 tyre ranges. Davanti sales director for UK and Ireland Sean Maddocks also presented observations on tyre markets, the development of the brand’s global dealer network over the past five years, and its commercial partnerships including the renewal of its official brand partnership with Everton FC.
Everton FC and Davanti Tyres will continue their official brand partnership for a further three years, following the extension of their commercial partnership. The new deal was unveiled at Davanti’s first ever International Dealer Conference at Everton’s Goodison Park stadium in Liverpool on Friday, 28 February. Davanti discussed the impact of its Official Tyre Partner status with the club on global growth since the arrangement formally began in 2017, in addition to presenting further details of its 2020 plans.
Vehicle customiser Sterling Automotive Design has signed a new partnership with Davanti Tyres. Blackburn-based Sterling is a new design house specialising in reimagining iconic vehicles with British style. Their work includes bespoke full-vehicle, premium customisations and lighter-touch enhancements to external bodywork or upholstery. Sterling brand director Doug Topott said fellow British brand Davanti shares “a similar ethos” to the company.
North West 4×4 Response has made Davanti its tyre partner. The crisis support charity will fit the brand’s all-terrain Terratoura as its official tyre. North West 4×4 Response volunteer drivers use their own 4×4 vehicles to provide access for midwives, firefighters, food and supplies to communities that are difficult to access.
Dan Zelos’ switch to the Mini Challenge series proved to be a masterstroke in 2019 as the Dereham Dynamo lifted the Rookie Cup. The rising star – in his sixth year as an Evergreen Tyres athlete – went into the final race at his home track at Snetterton with a mathematical shot at the overall title. And while the convoluted series of circumstances required to carry him to the overall championship for the MINI UK VIP team didn’t quite come to pass, the rookie title ensured the season ended as a hugely successful one for the series debutant.
The Autódromo do Algarve has agreed a three-year extension to its official tyre partnership with Davanti Tyres. The circuit, which plays host to the European LeMans Series, 24H Endurance Series, the FIM World Superbike Championship, and the Algarve Classic festival, is recognised for the technical challenge it poses to racers. The UK tyre brand, which launched its first tyre in 2015, describes the new deal as “a massive coup.”
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