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Hankook Extends Audi OE into Europe

Hankook sends word that in future the Audi A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Cabrio will roll off the assembly line fitted with Hankook tyres. The South Korean manufacturer’s Ventus S1 evo range have been selected as original equipment, and will be supplied for the A3 models is size 225/45 ZR 17.

This newly finalised original equipment agreement extends the partnership between Audi and Hankook Tire to the European market. Hankook has been equipping various Audi models for the Chinese market since 2008, however this is the first time Hankook’s tyres have been directly to the vehicle manufacturer’s main plant in Germany, the Audi works in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt.

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Marshal Launches Matrac MH11

Marshal has reported the introduction of its Matrac MH11 tyre, adding that the new line-up is already available nationwide. The directional tread MH11 is designed for top selling family saloons and hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra, and is available in a range of sizes from 155/65R13 to 236/60R16 and speed ratings H to V

The MH11 features four wide channels and optimally curved outer tread blocks, which Marshal notes are intended to increase resistance to aquaplaning, and a solid circumferential rib for strong straight line performance. Tyre design was carried out by the company’s European Technical Centre, which is based in Birmingham, UK, a facility it shares with parent company Kumho. Given its local design, Marshal comments that customers can be particularly confident of the tyre’s suitability to Britain’s road surfaces and climate.

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Higher and Higher

In last May’s feature on high and ultra high performance tyres, Tyres & Accessories noted the persistence of the rise in popularity for the market segment. In 2008, the trend continued apace, with some figures suggesting that the UK market share for UHP tyres was closing in on a fifth, rising from 16.9 per cent in 2007 to 19.5 per cent last year. It is fair to say that things are likely to be a little different following the financial crises experienced from the middle of 2008, though even if much of the market will be downgrading to lower performance vehicles with smaller rim sizes – as seems to be the general consensus – it is likely to be a couple of years before the market feels the changes. And while even perennially popular cars such as the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf tend towards higher performance tyres, with rims not uncommonly topping 16”, perhaps there is a decent chance that the market will remain relatively stable.

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Kumho Expands High Performance Range

Korea’s Kumho has added two new HP tyres under its Ecsta brand in Europe – the HM KH31, which competes for a slice of the lucrative medium car market, including such perennial top-sellers as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf; and the X3 KL17, which is targeting more luxurious vehicles. The manufacturer also says that it aims to continue to increase its OE business in Europe, an ambition exemplified by the recent agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply the Ecsta KU19 in size 245/45R18 for the newest model Viano X-Clusive. The company now does global OE business with Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Smart, Volkswagen and Daimler, to whom it has supplied tyres for the A-Class model since 2007.

Kumho’s new KH31 straddles the HP and UHP markets, replacing the company’s own much-vaunted KH11; a tyre that has proved successful in many rounds of European tyre tests. The company’s Birmingham-based European Technical Centre, known as the KETC was instrumental in the development of the new tyre, and the tread pattern, construction, compound and testing were all controlled from there. The key target for improvement was aquaplaning performance – lateral and longitudinal. The company believes that the KETC has been able to build on the abilities of the KH11 to yield further improvements in its wet weather performance.

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Volkswagen 1st European OEM Supplied by Hankook Hungary

Volkswagen has become the recipient of Hankook’s first-ever OE delivery to a European vehicle manufacturer from its Dunaujvaros factory. The supply of Hungarian produced tyres to Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge in Hanover, Germany is taking place under an agreement to fit the Hankook product as original equipment on Volkswagen’s Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California van models.

Europe’s largest automobile manufacturer is kitting out the fifth generation of its “T5” van family with the size 215/65 R16C version of Hankook’s new Radial RA 28. Hankook describes the tyre to be fitted as a “specially balanced tyre perfectly suited to the variety of uses of such vehicles”, and notes it is exclusively supplied to Volkswagen in Germany.

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ContiSportContact 3 Demonstrates 5-6% Improvements

Available in 17, 18 or 19” with V, W, Y and Z speed ratings, the ContiSportContact 3 range is the latest in Continental’s range of ultra high performance, sporty tyres. The German manufacturer places special emphasis on the technological developments built on the model of the ContiSportContact 2, measuring the improvements through stringent in-house performance testing. The truism that cars in general have increased the power available to the average driver can be applied especially to the UHP segment, so transferring that increased power to the road with the required levels of control requires of top UHP manufacturers commitment to equal technological advances.

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Hankook Tire Gets Volkswagen OE in North America

This month Hankook Tire began supplying Volkswagen’ Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and New Beetle cars manufactured at Volkswagen’s Puebla, Mexico plant and destined for North America with Optimo H725A tyres. Hankook already has fitments on Volkswagen cars in other global markets, but this development represents a significant increase in VW fitments on Volkswagens to be sold in Canada and the US, where the Jetta is the highest selling VW model vehicle.

“We are extremely excited to supply the Optimo for Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and New Beetle exports to the U.S. and Canadian markets. By leveraging our Kontrol Technology in the development of UHP products, Hankook Tire is able to tailor its products to current environmental sustainability standards, and this in turn allows Hankook Tire to deliver quality products to our consumers,” said Seung Hwa Suh, CEO, Hankook Tire, adding: “After working closely with Volkswagen as an OE supplier in other world markets, we have created excellent relationships, and we look forward to earning even more fitments on VW vehicles to be sold in the US and Canada.”

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Greater Latitude

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For Michelin’s 4×4 tyre segment, 2009 has got off to a flying start with the introduction of an all-new line-up. Named the Latitude Cross, the new tyre was officially unveiled on February 1 and is already available for UK customers. This latest addition to Michelin’s 4×4 range, a line-up that has been given a complete going over in the last two years, has been designed for the numerous 4×4 drivers who use their vehicle predominantly on the road, but nevertheless wish to take advantage – even if only occasionally – of the off-road capabilities offered by a 4×4.

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AutoRussia09 to Explore Russian Auto Outlook

The details of the AutoRussia09 conference for automotive industry executives have been announced. The event will take place on 16 and 17 June at the Astoria Hotel in St Petersburg, and is set to explore the latest developments and the effect of global economic downturn on the automotive industry in Russia.

The events organisers say that, “Despite the difficulties in the automotive industry globally, most OEM projects are continuing to build and grow their production in Russia. GM, Suzuki, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Ford as well as hundreds of T1 and T2 suppliers are moving to the city to set up production facilities and supply this growing market.” With many of the aforementioned OEMs in attendance, the conference promises to present networking opportunities, practical solutions and cutting edge strategies for surviving the economic downturn through a series of interactive seminars; roundtable discussions with key OEMs; a gala dinner; strategic presentations; and chamber of commerce, automotive market and OEM updates.

Interested parties are directed to the www.wbr.co.uk website, where booking details and early registration discounts are available.

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“Export Markets an Integral Part of Our Business” – Apollo’s Kanwar

In these froward economic times, it is difficult to make plans. Apollo Tyres, however, appears to be pressing ahead with its inroads into European markets. The company’s chairman and managing director Onkar Singh Kanwar recently spoke to India’s largest financial daily, The Economic Times, and explained why exports are so important for Apollo at present.

“The passenger car segment (in India) has been badly impacted,” related Kanwar. “As car sales have plummeted, tyre sales have also gone down proportionally. Apollo Tyres however has managed to maintain a growth of 22 per cent despite the overall scenario, as exports have helped in tiding over this period so far.” He added that, in this most recent financial quarter, exports grew by 37 per cent year-on-year.

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Volkswagen Group UK First Car Company to Join TyreSafe

Volkswagen Group UK Ltd has become the first vehicle manufacturer to join TyreSafe. The five brands which make up the Group – Audi, SEAT, Škoda, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – have become full members and will participate in a series of national campaigns highlighting the importance of tyres in road safety.

“The addition of a vehicle manufacturer to our organisation is an important step forward for TyreSafe,” comments Rob Beddis, chairman, TyreSafe. “As we continually expand and engage with the wider automotive industry, the Volkswagen Group’s extensive experience of dealing with motorists and fleets will be invaluable to future TyreSafe campaigns. We look forward to receiving a fresh perspective and input, helping to reduce the number of accidents caused by defective tyres.”

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European New Car Market Continues Slump

JATO Dynamics, a provider of automotive data and intelligence, reported the European new car market fell by 7.8% (1,227,941 units) during 2008, recording a steady decline since May. Though the market maintained a strong growth at the start of 2008, in May the global economic crisis began to take its toll. The picture is yet more bleak when comparing figures over the second half (July to December) of 2008 to the same period in 2007, as the market recorded a 14.5% drop.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in December alone, the European new car market fell by 17.8 per cent (196,337 units), when compared to the same month in 2007. However, whilst this signals the market performing poorly, it is less of a reduction in sales than the previous month. Total new car sales throughout Europe during 2008 stand at 14,459,714. (Tire Review/Akron)

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Top Vehicles at NAIAS Show Wearing Goodyear Dunlop Rubber

The vehicle selected by North American automotive journalists to be this year’s Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit is the Hyundai Genesis. More than 50 new vehicles were considered before the US and Canadian based journalists selected their three favourite cars and trucks. The Hyundai squeezed out the other finalists in the car category, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and the Ford Flex, to take out the top honour. And a win for the Hyundai is also a win for Dunlop, as the company provides its SP Sport 5000 tyre as OE on the Genesis, in sizes P225/55R17 and the P235/50R18.

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Bridgestone Europe to Launch Ecopia Range in 2009

Starting in April, an extensive range of Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 Ecopia tyres will be gradually introduced into the European market. The tyres, which use the ‘Ecopia’ name to denote their fuel saving characteristics, were first used on electric-powered cars in 1991, and in 1998 the B381 Ecopia low rolling resistance tyre was fitted as OE to the ‘3-litre’ version of the Volkswagen Lupo – a car dubbed “the most environmentally friendly car in the world” by some due to its consumption of only three litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Today, certain versions of the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia and Mercedes S-Class are being sold with Ecopia versions of existing patterns, and the Toyota IQ is fitted with an all-new Ecopia tyre.

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Customer Strikes it Lucky at Shaw Tyres

Shaw Tyres in Oldham, part of Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships, has given one lucky customer, John Rowley, a financial boost this new year as a result of a free prize draw held in store. Rowley who has been a loyal Shaw Tyres customer for the last 10 years, won £250 of Argos vouchers after he bought Bridgestone tyres for his Volkswagen Passat and was entered into the free draw. Steve Leach, managing director at Shaw Tyres which is celebrating 25 years of the family-run business, commented: “It’s fantastic that one of our regular customers won the prize. Over the last 25 years of successful trading, we have built up a regular customer base who return to Shaw for the service and expertise we can offer them. Congratulations and happy spending John!”

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