Truck Tyres
Hankook Tire has introduced a new generation of regional to long-distance truck tyres into its SmartFlex Series. It premiered the SmartFlex AH51 steer axle and SmartFlex DH51 drive axle tyres at the CV Show in Birmingham today, and reports that the first six dimensions will be available in selected European markets from November.
Next week the Commercial Vehicle Show returns to the NEC in Birmingham after a year’s absence, and Hankook Tire will be present as an exhibitor. The tyre maker will debut two new products for European markets during the show, the Hankook SmartFlex AH51 and DH51 steer and drive tyres.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has entered into a strategic collaboration with Plus (formerly Plus.ai), a global provider of self-driving truck technology, to provide optimised, autonomous trucking solutions. Goodyear brings a range of services to this collaboration, including connected tyres, and the partners will explore how Plus’s autonomous driving system can incorporate feedback from these tyres into Plus’s online, machine learning-based fuel optimisation, to further improve fuel economy.
Giti Tire has launched its first European off-road truck tyre for high mobility vehicles operating under the most extreme terrains – the Giti GAO897. Available in size 14.00R20, Giti says it designed the tyre to provide outstanding traction on unpaved surfaces, mud, sand, gravel and ice, as well as on the road.
A new commercial trailer tyre has joined the Nokian Hakka Truck range. With the launch of the Hakka Truck Trailer, Nokian Heavy Tyres now offers an all-weather fitment for every axle position.
Techking Tires is opening its first Techking Service Center (TSC) outside its home market of China this month. This inaugural international TSC is located in Pakistan, one of the largest markets for Techking truck tyres. Techking considers the launch of the TSC in Pakistan a “key breakthrough and milestone” in its global deployment, and the company intends to follow this by establishing some ten TSCs around the world in 2021.
Vaculug is introducing a new dealer network strategy from 1 August 2021 onwards. According to the company, the new strategy focuses on “developing new and innovative products and dealer initiatives that provide an advantage to the network in the sales process of Vaculug range of products.”
Reporting market trends for the month of June, Michelin notes that the current shortage of semiconductors strongly dampened recovery within the global automotive industry, which impacted upon sales of original equipment passenger vehicle and light truck tyres.
With an increasing number of countries and regional groupings implementing anti-dumping and countervailing policies against Chinese-produced, Chinese tyremakers are describing the situation as “not optimistic”. However, facing the harsh international trade environment head-on, Jinyu Tire reports that it has a number of solutions for the current market problems.
Following Halfords’ recent acquisitions of Universal Tyres and McConnechy’s before that, many have speculated regarding what the future holds for Lodge Tyres. Rumours aside, the short story is that Lodge Tyres had a good 2020 despite the obvious Covid-19-related adversity and is set for further growth in 2021. Tyres & Accessories met with Lodge Tyres managing director Andy Christmas and commercial director Martin O’Brien in order to get the latest details straight from Lodge Tyres’ management.
Prometeon Tyre Group UK has appointed Ricky Mitchell as Business Development Manager for the South East. He is responsible for new business and account management in the South East for Prometeon’s customer base of truck, bus and coach operators and tyre dealers.
Electric propulsion is becoming increasingly attractive for heavy vehicle operators, and Continental is thus working together with truck and bus manufacturers on tyre solutions that meet these vehicles’ specific requirements. It is currently conducting testing at its Contidrom facility in northern Germany with an electric truck made by electric commercial vehicle specialist Futuricum.
BKT has debuted a new on-/off-road tyre for trucks and mixed-use vehicles employed in agricultural applications, the Multimax MP 569. The tyre maker created the BKT Multimax MP 569 as a front axle fitment in size 445/65 R 22.5, to be employed in combination with the FL 633 Performa on the rear axle in size 600/50 R 22.5.
Goodyear has launched a new truck tyre range in Europe under its Sava sub-brand. It offers the new Sava Series 5 as the Avant 5 steer axle tyre, Orjak 5 for the drive axle and Cargo 5 for trailers and semi-trailers. With the range, the tyre maker is targeting transport companies who require robust, reliable tyres for year-round use in all weather conditions.
PJ Thory Ltd has installed a TyreWatch system to monitor and control tyre maintenance and safety across its extensive 8-wheeler HGV fleet. The firm’s diverse operation spans mixed haulage, aggregate supplies, waste management and demolition. Working with TyreWatch technicians and Prometeon Tyre Group, the agro and off-road tyre specialist, PJ Thory, undertook an analysis and short trial to assess their requirements and bed-in the new tyre pressure management system (TPMS), which is now fitted to 11 Scania vehicles with a number of new DAF 8 wheelers to follow.
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Jinyu Tire
Tyre Industry Publications Ltd
Prometeon Tyre Group