Directional or v-shaped treads offer several advantages on wet and snow-covered roads. Such patterns provide good levels of traction and also effectively remove water from the contact patch, thus offering stability and protection against aquaplaning. These characteristics make directional patterns an obvious choice for winter and all-season tyres, and it’s no surprise that the v-shaped tread is well-represented in these segments.
Pinpointing precisely where a winter tyre comes into contact with an icy road surface is surprisingly difficult. Yokohama Rubber partnered with Kanazawa University in Japan to identify this oft-allusive point of contact, and in a statement reports the development of an “evaluation technology that visualises rubber’s frictional state of contact on an icy surface.” Yokohama Rubber expects this evaluation technology to ultimately result in cold weather tyres with dramatically improved ice performance.
This year, Kraiburg Austria has launched a new in-house developed trailer pattern and also supplemented its existing patterns with additional sizes. The new trailer tread is now available as the K 800 in the K_Base range, as the KLT 1 in the K_plus line-up. The new tread is initially available in 287mm and 295mm widths and will be joined by 305mm and 320mm widths in the middle of the year. The retreading specialist says the K800/KLT1 is ideal for local and long-haul applications on semi-trailer, trailer and towed axles.
While much attention has been placed on road rage and its causes, one factor has been overlooked – until now. A newly-released report has found a remarkable correlation between road rage incidents and choice of tyre. Aggressive tread patterns do, it seems, make for aggressive drivers.
The evolution of Kenda’s original Bearclaw ATV tyre is now available, Kenda Tire reports. The tyre maker says the new Bearclaw Evo “has raised the bar in all areas of performance” and notes that reducing weight without sacrificing durability was a priority for the new tyre.
Nokian Heavy Tyres says it has met user demand with its new Nokian CT BAS tyre for heavy trailers. Noting the challenges posed by construction site use, a surface typically featuring sharp rocks, nails and pieces of steel lying about, it says the CT BAS brings the tyre maker’s top-end puncture resistance technology, first developed for forestry applications, to construction sites. Furthermore, the BAS technology developed by Nokian Heavy Tyres enables the use of higher pressure levels.
Michelin has launched a new ‘B’ version of its Pilot Road 3 sport touring tyre. Specifically, the tyre is designed for large touring bikes including the BMW K1600GT. Using the same siped tread pattern as the original tyre, the new version also features a redesigned casing to aid stability when these bikes are fully-laden with luggage and a pillion.
Yokohama Rubber has introduced a new tyre size for rigid dump trucks used in construction and mining applications. The size 27.00R49 fitment has been added to the RB42 range; the new tyre is TRA coded as ‘E-4’ by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association. Yokohama says the RB42 range now covers ‘regular’ specifications for ordinary off-the-road surfaces and ‘cut protected’ versions with increased resistance to cutting – making the line-up suitable for a wide range of surfaces, from soft or loose surfaces such as mud or sand through to rough surfaces such as gravel and rocks.
The GT Radial brand currently contains three tyres to cover the range of 4×4 applications – the Adventuro M/T, Adventuro A/T and Savero HT Plus. Manufactured by GiTi Tire, the brand says that the current range offers its best performance yet to the segment, with fitments available for the lower and middle ranges of the 4×4/SUV market.
Infinity Tyres says it will seek to extend its 4×4 range to provide 18-20” fitments in summer 2013. Currently the brand offers the versatile INF 200 all-terrain tread pattern, which features large shoulder blocks with optimised sipe positioning to increase wet handling. The tyre is currently available in 15-17” dimensions.
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.
Two new products, the Nordman Forest F and the Forest King F2, have been added to Nokian Heavy Tyres’ forestry range.
Marangoni is targeting on/off road users with the latest addition to its Ringtread portfolio, the MIX100. The new product is aimed at on/off segment users who require high mileage at sustained speeds, such as vehicle operators wishing to reduce travel time between quarry and site, while demanding maximum grip and traction on a range of surfaces. The Italian retreading specialist says the MIX100 line-up has been thus developed to minimise vehicle downtime and guarantee high mileage and excellent traction.
Marangoni has adopted a new naming system for its retreaded truck tyres marketed under the Marix brand. According to the company, the new codes used to identify these products give operators immediate information on the application and type of tyre. Company representatives report that this is not a new policy, but rather represents the completion of a process that has already been underway for some time.
Nokian has introduced a new truck tyre range that “withstands the challenges of rough surfaces.” The NTR 46 on/off road front tyre, it says, has been particularly designed for gravel, timber and milk trucks. The Finnish tyre maker adds that the NTR 46 “guarantees steady movement” thanks to its robust structure and tear and puncture resistant rubber compound, which it says was developed to endure hard use. The NTR 46 is M+S marked for year-round use.
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