Bridgestone Corporation reports that recent research conducted by its Bridgestone Americas operations may indicate that the Russian Dandelion can become a commercially viable, renewable source of high-quality, tyre-grade rubber.
Apollo Tyres Ltd has released fourth quarter and full-year 2011 results that show revenues across operations in Asia, Africa and Europe, grew 37 per cent to 121.5 billion rupees (£1.409 billion; 1.81 billion euros; US$2.5 billion). According to the company, Indian operations grew fastest (up 49 per cent) while the firm’s Europe business saw a growth of 27 per cent. Apollo’s African operations witnessed 10 per cent growth.
Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 and Continental’s ContiWinterContact TS 830 P have won Auto Express’s best summer tyre and best winter tyre crowns in the magazine’s 2012 product awards.
Apollo Vredestein has announced its involvement in research into sources of natural rubber as a partner in the EU-PEARLS project. The objective of the project is to find a European alternative to Hevea brasiliensis-derived natural rubber. The tyre maker notes that replacing natural rubber with a synthetic variant is not always a practical consideration for tyre makers, and with demand for natural rubber continuing to rise, other sources are becoming increasingly attractive. The threat to rubber trees posed by diseases such as South American Leaf Blight provides additional incentive to find an alternative.
Just weeks after unveiling the Ultrac Vorti to the international press and specialist traders, Dutch tyre manufacturer Vredestein will present its new high performance tyre to visitors at Top Marques Monaco. During the show, which takes place between 19 and 22 April, the Ultrac Vorti will be showcased on the Concept_One electric supercar developed by Rimac Automobili.
Apollo Vredestein has introduced its new ultra high performance summer tyre in Budapest, the Ultrac Vorti. The tyre, like the simultaneously launched Sportrac 5, has been designed by Italian company Giugiaro for a sporty, distinctive appearance. Vredestein says the Y-indexed tyre excels in terms of grip, handling and braking on both dry and wet surfaces. The Ultrac Vorti name was also created by Giugiaro, inspired by the powerful vortex air flow that is generated, for example, when a helicopter takes off. The name reflects the speeds and forces that the Ultrac Vorti can handle, rated for up to 300kmh, while the tread is reminiscent of the tips of helicopter blades.
Apollo Vredestein is in Budapest this week, as it launches two new UHP tyres under the Vredestein brand. The Sportrac 5 is the successor to the successful Sportrac 3, which won the ADAC 2011 summer tyre test. The Sportrac 5 is marketed on its quietness, stability and sportiness, offering excellent handling on both wet and dry surfaces. Its size range is designed to provide fitments on upper medium cars. The company notes that the name Sportrac 4 has not been used in order to prevent confusion with Vredestein’s all-season tyres.
Following Apollo Vredestein’s launch of the Apollo Aspire 4G at Geneva, the tyre manufacturer is “taking over” Hungarian capital Budapest for another major launch between 25 March and 2 April. Vredestein is introducing two new summer tyres – the Ultrac Vorti and the Sportrac 5 – in a grand event that will see major sites in the city, including the five-star Four Seasons Hotel and the Museum of Applied Arts, embellished with Vredestein branding. On Sunday 25 March, the brand announced its arrival with a convoy of 35 vehicles with Vredestein branding, while several mega-billboards in the city centre draw attention to its week-long residence.
Less than three years ago, Apollo Tyres acquired Dutch tyre maker Vredestein and set about developing a company that draws upon both firms’ strengths. Now, at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, Apollo Vredestein showed the world what its Netherlands and India-based research and development departments are capable of jointly achieving; the very first tyre to come out of this international collaboration – the Apollo Aspire 4G – was given its official debut on 7 March.
Consumer advice magazine Which? has completed an extensive winter tyre test in the Alps, taking into account six sizes. Each tyre was given a percentage score and ranked accordingly in its size division. In addition, the magazine presented a star rating out of five in each category it tested, namely: dry braking, dry handling, wet braking, wet handling, braking on snow, traction on snow, cornering on snow, braking on ice, cornering on ice, fuel economy, noise and wear. The full list of Which? magazine’s “best buys” – and the winter tyres it suggests its readers to avoid – is presented below.
US-company HRE Performance Wheels is the latest rim manufacturer to team up with Vredestein’s Premium Styling label. The tyre maker says it and HRE decided to join forces as both companies “serve the same high end target group.” This new partnership will have its public debut at Vredestein’s stand during the Essen Motor Show.
At the Essen Motor Show in Germany, which gets underway on 25 November, Apollo Vredestein will present the Vredestein Wintrac Nextreme SUV, a tyre initially displayed at last year’s Reifen Essen show. Capacity restrictions prevented the tyre from being introduced in time for the winter of 2010/11; now the tyre maker is ready to bring its new 4×4 product to market. No mention has been made on a release date for the passenger car version of the Wintrac Nextreme, which was also shown at Reifen Essen.
Seven major tyre makers with individual distribution units in Hungary have joined together to form the Hungarian Tire Association. The association, which will be known by this English name (or by its abbreviation, HTA), boasts Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Pirelli and Vredestein as its founding members and has been set up to represent tyre manufacturers and distributors with a presence within the country. The HTA also states its purpose is to represent “the legitimate interests of the industry.”
The Russian Legal Information Agency reports a Russian court has ordered Amtel-Vredestein N.V. to pay TIRE Invest the 42.3 million euros sought in relation to an unpaid loan. In 2007 the former owner of the Vredestein brand entered into a loan agreement with Nomos-Bank, and this was set to mature in 2009. When Amtel-Vredestein failed to repay the loan in due time, the bank filed a lawsuit against the borrower and its guarantors.
Last year, Apollo Tyres introduced its range into Europe, including several winter tyres. As such, it is the first and to-date only Indian tyre maker to market winter tyres in our region. The brand recently received a boost when its winter tyres were favourably reviewed by VOX TV, a national television network in Germany, Europe’s most significant winter tyre market.
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