Yokohama has a wide range of 4×4 tyres in the aftermarket, with recent original equipment deals testament to the brand’s on and off-road credentials. The Advan ST ‘MO’ is an OE fitment for Mercedes-Benz and the 2013 Toyota Rav4 sports the new Geolandar G91AV pattern as original equipment.
Bridgestone’s Dueler 4×4 tyre range is designed to meet the various applications of drivers in the segment on and off-road. The Dueler A/T 694, a rugged all-terrain tyre delivering both on and off-road performance is described by Bridgestone as the frontrunner in responding to growing demand among urban drivers seeking robust all-surface tyres.
Micheldever’s 4×4 tyre specialist distributor Southam Tyres has announced that it will add the Falken WildPeak WP/AT01 all-terrain tyre to its range. Falken Tyres UK director, Matt Smith says: “Falken will be adding more size ranges for the UK replacement market in order to meet the demand for performance 4×4 and SUV tyres.”
Toyo has a range of SUV/4×4 tyres to cover on and off-road applications, with two tyres available for the high-powered, road-going SUV class. The Proxes T1 Sport SUV was created specifically for the high load and speed demands of the current crop of ultra-high performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Toyo says. The tyre extends the fitment coverage upwards of the longer-established Proxes S/T, whose “double V” tread pattern offers high speed stability and wet weather performance.
Shanghai based manufacturer SD-International provides three labels crossing the 4×4/SUV segment’s requirements: Pace, Zeta and Maxtrek ranges. The Maxtrek label offers four 4×4 patterns, the SMT-A8, Sierra S6, SU 800 and Mud Digger for more off-road applications.
The Continental Tire Group’s General Tire brand has launched the successor to its Grabber UHP, with a new SUV tyre in its wide range most equipped to offer on-road performance, at an event in Gran Canaria for around 100 dealers representing 25 European countries. The largest single group amongst these guests was from the brand’s UK distributor, Micheldever Tyre Services and its customers. Visiting the last SEMA show in Las Vegas – “the home of 4×4” according to MTS wholesale director, Alan Baldwin – the wholesaler reported that General has a 4×4 market share into double figures, proving its significance in Europe, despite lacking the original equipment fitments that have come with nearly 100 years of American activity. The availability of General tyres suitable for Land Rover models, which dominate the UK 4×4 market, and the specific market focus of tyres like the Grabber AT have given the brand some notable success in the UK according to MTS marketing manager Amelia Lion – the newly launched Grabber GT taps into a different sort of European market specificity, namely the long-term tendency towards greater on-road performance.
Following on from the technology agreement signed between Shandong Linglong Tyre and Chinese vehicle manufacturer Geely in June 2012, Linglong reports it has begun supplying original equipment tyres for the Geely Gleagle. The tyre maker is supplying its CrossWind HP010 high performance pattern in size 225/65R16 100H.
The recently-launched Yokohama Advan Sport V105 will enjoy its public debut at this year’s International Auto Salon in Geneva, Switzerland. The new tyre will be displayed at the Yokohama Rubber stand fitted to a Mercedes-Benz SL, a car the tyre maker describes as “just the kind of premium vehicle the new Advan Sport V105 was designed for.” An emphasis will placed on the tyre’s stability, which Yokohama says matches that of predecessor tyre the V103 in the super high speed range, plus its improved wet and dry surface and braking performance. In addition to the SL, the Advan Sport V105 MO is fitted as original equipment on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, SLK-Class, and CLS-Class.
Sailun has announced that its new light truck and sport utility vehicle all-season tyre, the Terramax CVR, is now available in Europe in 18 sizes. The manufacturer says it had crossover vehicles in mind with the Terramax CVR, and the tyre is designed to meet the stability, handling and comfort demands of the segment’s vehicles.
Avon Tyres has added two brand-new tyre lines – the Ranger HTT and the Ranger ATT – to its extensive off-road portfolio. Avon says that the Ranger high-performance 4×4 series boasts superb handling characteristics and excellent stability at high speeds, both on-road and off-road, delivering comfort and confidence in equal measure.
Bridgestone’s Blizzak LM-80 was the clear winner of German automobile club ADAC, TCS and ÖAMTC’s new SUV/CUV winter tyre tests (size 215/65 R16 on a Volkswagen Tiguan), while its Blizzak LM-32 received the association’s highest snow ranking. The passenger car tyre was awarded AutoBild’s highest winter rating, published in early October.
Pirelli’s original equipment supply to BMW already involves fitments for the 1 Series, 3 Series, 3 Series GT, 5 Series, 6 Series Gran Coupé and 7 Series, as well as the current X1 and X3 SUV. The Italian tyre maker has now added the X5 and X6 to this list following BMW’s decision to choose the P Zero as original equipment on its most powerful 4x4s, the X5 and X6 (E70).
German tuning specialist Gemballa has entered into a supply arrangement with Vredestein; the tyre maker refers to the result as the “ultimate winter tyre package.” Under the partnership with Gemballa, Vredestein will supply winter tyres that accommodate the levels of performance Gemballa vehicles are known for; first tyre to be provided to the tuner is the Wintrac Nextreme SUV, a tyre Vredestein says can “perform as a winter tyre on snow and ice, handles well on dry roads and is able to cope with speeds of up to 300 km/h.”
Online tyre retailer Delticom is seeking to expand its market leadership in complete wheels. Business and fleet customers as well as consumers can choose from a high number of combinations of steel and aluminium complete wheels and tyres.
These tyre and wheel combinations are produced on demand, with tyres freshly mounted and balanced for each order – even runflats.
Dutch tyre wholesaler Interstate Tire & Rubber Co. has added three new winter lines to its 2012 winter programme, which now covers van and SUV sizes, as well as including a fully studdable PCR-light truck line. The three new winter tyres join the popular the popular Winter IWT-2 EVO line, meaning that the company now offers over 120 unique sizes in its private brand winter line-up. The wholesaler says that the new additions mean that its own brand has 11 tyre lines and over 250 sizes in what it calls the “premium-budget segment”.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.