ITMA technical partner, Tread Ltd, reports that it has invested in expanding the services available to members. The company’s permanent test fleet now includes a magazine standard VW Polo to sit alongside its existing VW Golf, meaning that test and development of all standard tyre sizes is even easier.
All of the new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar cars, which will be sold on four continents around the world from June 2014, will be fitted with 245/35 R 20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport ultra-high performance tyres as standard. Also, for winter driving, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 and X-Ice North 3 tyres are recommended fitments. The Polestar engineered cars are Volvo’s fastest production cars ever and with their 350hp six cylinder turbocharged engines are able to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
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.
Although only launched into the European replacement market at the start of the year, Michelin says its Latitude Sport 3 range for SUVs crossovers is earning the company rave reviews. And in addition to a positive response in the aftermarket, the Latitude Sport 3 has been approved for original equipment fitment on a number of vehicles, including the new Porsche Macan, BMW X5 and Volvo XC90.
The Proxes T1 Sport SUV is designed to balance motorway stability with handling on both wet and dry surfaces and is a tyre that has been created specifically for the high load and speed demands of the current crop of ultra-high performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Featuring a tread pattern and compound that offers exceptional road-holding characteristics and highly effective water dispersal, the T1 Sport SUV is truly a tyre for those in a hurry.
Dunlop says the latest rear touring tyre its motorcycle portfolio, the D407T, will be fitted as original equipment on all 2014 Harley-Davidson Touring models that feature black sidewall tyres; the tyre, which was designed in cooperation with Harley-Davidson, will be supplied for the Road King Classic, Street Glide, Electra Glide Ultra Classic and the Ultra Limited. The D407T also fits all 2009-2013 Harley-Davidson Touring models.
Infinity has announced the addition of the Enviro – a new line designed especially for high-performance SUV applications. Enviro model tyres join the INF200 all-terrain in Infinity’s wider 4×4 range.
Turkish tyre manufacturer Petlas expanded its winter offering with the introduction of an SUV-orientated range in December. Petlas’s newest addition to the winter line up is the Explero W671, designed to fit a wide selection of 4x4s and SUVs.
The fact that Shanghai-based SD-International has three brands making up its 4×4 offering is really helping the business compete. According to the company, SD International continues to increase its profile in the 4×4/SUV market sector in the UK and Europe with Zeta, Pace and Maxtrek which cover all applications.
TyreSafe has circulated an image that highlights the lack of attention some drivers pay to their tyres. The safety organisation received a photo of a highly illegal and dangerous tyre from an independent tyre dealer, who removed it from a customer’s high BMW 3-Series, and has used it as a reminder of the importance of checking tread depth and tyre condition. As can be seen from the accompanying photo, the tyre was so worn that none of its tread pattern remained, making it virtually useless in the wet. Furthermore, the wear was so great on one shoulder of the tyre that the integrity of the tyre’s carcass had been compromised, with potentially fatal high speed consequences.
Maintaining its position as a winter tyre innovation leader in its 80th year, Nokian has built a concept tyre that allows drivers to use studs at the touch of a button. The Finnish manufacturer says the “world’s first non-studded winter tyre with studs” would allow drivers to make the switch when conditions clearly change – […]
Styron has added two new Sprintan-branded rubber grades for use in tyre manufacturing. According to the company, Styron’s Sprintanrubber portfolio offers “high performance solutions” to answer specific tyre industry needs. The range includes rubber grades with enhanced wet grip and wear performance, as well as grades that provide a good balance between traction and rolling resistance.
UK and European wholesaler Treadsetters offers two exclusive passenger car tyre brands in a range of patterns up to ultra-high performance sizes. The distributor says its high performance Hifly HF805 tyre incorporates a tread pattern designed to provide improved steering response, road handling and aquaplaning resistance. The range also offer low noise ratio and rolling […]
The Imported Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ITMA) has welcomed TREAD Ltd into associate membership as its preferred technical partner. According to the association, Tyre Reifen Engineering and Development (TREAD Ltd) offers specialist technical services to many of the world’s tyre makers.
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