Michelin has announced the world premiere of its Power Pure, which the French manufacturer says is the lightest sports motorcycle tyre in its category. As a result of the decreased weight, Michelin says the Power Pure tyres offer “unmatched handling with greater responsiveness and enhanced riding pleasure.” They are available now.
Toyo Tires have developed a specific fitment tailored to the needs of the Nissan R35 GTR. The 285/35 ZR 20 (100Y) front and 315/30 ZR 20 (101Y) rear sizes have been added to the Proxes R888 range. At the Autosport Show in January 2010, the tyres were fitted to the Sumo Power 660bhp Nissan R35 GTR demonstration car on the Time Attack stand. The Time Attack series has chosen the R888 as its control tyre. The series includes cars that have in excess of 700bhp, giving the R888s have a track record (so to speak) of handling the type of power output expected from such highly powered sports cars.
Goodyear has announced a significant increase in the number of sizes in its Optitrac DT800 range of narrow row crop tyres. The newly introduced OPTITRAC DT800 sizes cover 34 to 54-inch rim dimensions and are specifically developed for tractors working on row crop applications, on spraying equipment and in any other application where narrow tyres are required. The Optitrac DT800 also has a premium tread depth to allow excellent traction and a high number of working hours. In addition the range is rated to carry the same load at 40 & 50 Km/h.
Toyo’s new Proxes R1R has been released into the UK market. Designed for trackday enthusiasts, the tyre met its market on the Time Attack stand at the Autosport Show. Japanese car giant Mitsubishi chose to have the Toyo Proxes R1R as original equipment for its latest Evo, the Evo 10 FQ-400 which has over 400bhp (hence the name). It is available in sizes from 15” to 18” and in profiles from 55 series to 35 series.
Pirelli has announced its latest motorcycle trackday and race slick tyre, the ‘Diablo Superbike PRO'. The company says the tyre has been released now to coincide with the start of the new World Superbike season tests at Portimão, Portugal. The new tyre is aimed at club racers and track day riders, with technology directly devised from Pirelli's development programme in World Superbikes. The ‘PRO' has been created with racers and track day enthusiasts in mind – it is designed to wear consistently and last for more than one racing event. It is easily recognized by a red stripe which is printed on the tyre and for its red "PRO" marking on the sidewall.
A year after the Obama administration issued a Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government (21 January 2009), the White House has begun publishing complete datasets from a range of government departments including its Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) database.
According to the data.gov website, “NHTSA has rated more than 4,200 lines of tyres, including most used on passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and light pickup trucks…UTQGS allows consumers to compare tyre tread wear, traction performance and temperature resistance.”
At the start of 2008 it was stated that the upcoming launch of two new Citroën models, scheduled for release in the second half of 2009, would end more than seven decades of exclusive Michelin supply to the French manufacturer in Europe. This day has finally arrived – Bridgestone has announced OE supply on the 2010 C3 compact and the DS3, the first model in Citroën’s new premium DS line.
Les Smith Haulage Limited’s decision to switch to Continental from another premium brand is said to be delivering 25 per cent longer life on its front steer tyres. According to the company these tyres are achieving over 100,000 kilometres before being changed. Those on the rear axle are reportedly giving up to 400,000 kilometres of life.
The 18 vehicle fleet is made up entirely of Mercedes-Benz Axor two-axle 18 tonners. These typically cover between 80,000 and 100,000 kilometres a year on work throughout the UK which includes both motorway and A road running. A policy of only ever fitting new tyres, correct tyre selection and careful monitoring of tyre condition lie behind the good performance of the Continentals.
Starting on December 16, 2009, Volkswagen’s sports-oriented ‘R-Line’ version of its Passat CC is leaving the factory fitted with tyres featuring Continental’s ‘ContiSeal’ technology. The size 235/45 R 17 and 235/40 R 18 self-sealing ContiSportContact 3 tyres featured on the Passat R-Line are capable of closing off punctures up to five millimetres in diameter, and thus Conti believes around 85 per cent of all tyre failures can be resolved through this technology.
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One in three motorists admits they will drive this winter without being able to see out of their windscreen properly, according to research by Continental Tyres. This will mean 6 million close calls on our roads this winter, as nearly two million drivers were close to crashing at least three times in the last year because their windscreen wasn’t clear before setting off. Researchers found most motorists think they are 'in too much of a rush' to fully defrost their windows and mirrors before heading off to work. It also emerged men are far worse than women at pulling off the driveway while peering through a tiny spot of clear glass at the road ahead.
Old Man Winter’s seasonal visit is upon us, and arriving with him are the year’s most loathsome driving conditions. With snow predicted in the coming days, Protyre has delivered a couple of timely tips to help keep control in difficult driving conditions:
A further addition to the Continental Tyre 2009/2010 Winter Tyre Guide has been made to cover new Swedish regulations affecting foreign registered vehicles entering the country from December 2009 onwards. The new rules stipulate that foreign cars and light commercial vehicles entering the country must be equipped with winter tyres with a tread depth of at least three millimetres between December 1 and March 31, whilst wintry road conditions prevail.
In 1997, Vredestein introduced the first four dimensions in its Traxion+ tractor radial line-up, and the company notes these tyres were an instant success. More than a decade on and Vredestein says the Traxion+ tyres are still gaining market share in almost all European countries. A new tyre based upon the Traxion+ design has now been produced. Vredestein calls it the TraxionXXL.
Yokohama Tire is releasing a new all-season line-up in North America. Known as the AVID ENVigor, the tyre is described by Yokohama as a ‘Grand Performance’ tyre that is “quite possibly the most complete tyre ever created.” Upon its launch in March 2010 the new range will be available in 69 sizes for saloons, coupes and SUVs – making it one of the largest tyre launches in the company’s history. The ENVigor will replace Yokohama’s AVID H4s/V4s and W4 ranges.
Winter is almost upon us and – presumably to the unending relief of Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson – the majority of the nation’s caravans are off the road and ‘hibernating’ for the winter. Yet, as Protyre points out, care should be taken when laying-up a caravan for the winter months. To minimise the risk of problems when heading back on the road when the weather warms, the independent tyre dealer network offers the following advice.
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