The UK is still one of the largest and fastest growing 4×4/SUV tyre markets in Europe. In fact, according to the latest data compiled by market research specialists GfK Automotive, the UK is the second largest in Europe with sales of 1.157 million 4×4 tyres in 2015. Speaking with GfK Automotive account director Kevin Glynn, Tyres & Accessories learnt that only Italy’s annual sales of 1.4 million 4×4 tyres last year was bigger.
Leading wholesaler offers multiple SUV/4×4 options Stapleton’s is offering to help retailers get up to speed for what the wholesaler believes will be an “SUV/4×4 tyres bonanza”. Their optimism is based on the fact that, after the turn of the New Year, the British motor industry announced that it is accelerating towards an all-time record […]
Cooper Tire Europe launched its latest high performance SUV tyre, the Cooper Zeon 4XS Sport, at the Red Bull Ring in Austria last October with brand ambassador, David Coulthard in attendance.
Designed for medium and large SUV fitments, the 4XS Sport offers European label ‘A’ grade wet grip performance as one of its strongest points.
The growing popularity of 100 per cent road-going SUVs and CUVs is a recurring theme for Tyres & Accessories, and the latest report from Glass’s suggests that the used car market is increasingly amenable to some of the less lauded names in this field. Budget “soft-roaders”, as they are categorised in the survey, from less […]
Hankook is planning to extend its Ultra high- S1 evo2 SUV performance tyre for premium sports utility vehicles with a run-flat equipped line. The company hasn’t set out a firm timeframe of when we can expect this, but a spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that the the Ventus S1 Evo2 is “one of our most popular 4×4 SUV tyres with an ever expanding tyre size range and shall eventually incorporate run-flat requirements.”
It looks like the SUV game as we know it is going to change considerably. Pirelli’s latest homologation is for Tesla’s new SUV, the Model X. And with publications such as the Daily Telegraph describing Tesla’s previous launch – the Model S – as the “most significant new car of the last 20 years”, it’s clear that the latest product could be just as revolutionary. Especially when you look at the performance figures.
Micheldever Tyre Services has launched 4site4x4tyres.co.uk – a new website designed to help the firm’s customers sell more 4×4 tyres as well as provide expert advice and guidance to 4×4 and SUV owners. The site follows in the footsteps of Micheldever’s successful TyreClick venture, which in many ways is the passenger car orientated equivalent. However, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the 4×4/SUV tyre sector demanded a greater emphasis on quality impartial technical advice.
Singapore-based tyre brand Firenza offers three patterns for the growing SUV/4×4 sector in the UK and Europe.
The Firenza AT-186 pattern includes a combination of large drainage slots complete with fine sipes to ensure a comfortable drive performance plus a high standard of off-road handling capabilities whilst special centre blocks and shoulder lugs significantly reduce noise frequency levels.
Enjoy Tyre reports that it offers UK and European customers a growing range of quality SUV/4×4 tyres from its two private brands – Routeway and Rotalla.
The Routeway Suretrek RY88 SUV H/T pattern incorporates four directional grooves along with “solid steel sheet” construction, which is designed to improve handling in both wet and dry weather conditions. Also, Enjoy claims “ultra-low noise levels” and improved ride comfort have been achieved, while a large shoulder pattern design is said to “significantly increase braking levels and drainage capabilities”. The RY88 SUV H/T pattern is currently available in 25 sizes in 85, 80, 75, 70 and 65 series in T, H and V speed ratings in 15 up to 18 inch wheel diameters.
International contract tyre producer SD International is aiming to develop into being a leading supplier of SUV tyres within the UK and European market sectors through the firm’s private brands Pace and Zeta.
Ford is aiming to saving US$200 million a year by reducing the number of sales marketing and administration jobs its supports in Europe. To achieve this Ford will offer a voluntary redundancy scheme to the 10,300 salaried workers it employs in Europe, according to Reuters. The deal is likely to include severance pay and early […]
We’ve heard that European new car registrations went up by 9.3 per cent in 2015 and we’ve heard that the UK delivered record figures. But what has been less widely reported is the fact that the strong European increase has been driven by what analysts have called “an SUV boom”. A boom that the British market played a key part in.
For the first time in the history of European car sales, SUVs led the way, outselling the traditional subcompact and compact segments, posting an increase of 24 per cent at 3.2 million units. Their market share grew from 19.8 per cent in 2014 to 22.5 per cent in 2015, leaving the subcompacts in second position with 22 per cent share, and the compacts segment third with 20.6 per cent. These vehicles along with the mid-size saloons and sports cars were the only segments to gain market share in 2015.
Finland’s Nokian Tyres reports it is increasing the use of its Aramid Sidewall Technology in Nokian SUV tyres. From the beginning of this year, nearly all such products – including ranges already on the market – will feature sidewalls containing aramid fibres.
My Car Check Trade added its analysis of the light commercial vehicle market to its car market forecast. Gavin Amos said: “As the country gets back to work after the festive period, LCV sales are expected to pick up sharply over the next few weeks. The weather will play a part but it shouldn’t be long before sales are back to where they were at the start of November. In terms of values, we have eased most back by around 2 per cent this month.
The traditional winter surge in values for 4x4s has failed to materialise again this year and may no longer be a feature of the market, reports Glass’s. The last few relatively mild winters has meant that there has been no spike in retail demand, explained Rupert Pontin, head of valuations.
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