The long-awaited Vredestein motorcycle tyres for European riders are now here. Visitors to the EICMA show in Italy this week are amongst the first to see the new range, which includes the Centauro ST and Centauro Road. A Vredestein tyre for the scooter segment, the Staccata, is now also available throughout Europe. Details regarding UK distribution for the Vredestein motorcycle tyre range will be announced shortly.
Riders in the UK and Europe will encounter a new brand of motorcycle tyre later this year, a brand with its sights set on the big players. Entering a hotly-contested market poses a sizable challenge, but the newcomer has several aces up its sleeve. Not only is it produced by a major tyre maker that is already established in Europe, anyone who’s ever shopped for car tyres will find the brand reassuringly familiar.
Apollo Tyres will present its new radial motorcycle tyre at the EICMA show in Milan, which opens to the public tomorrow. Although the Apollo Alpha-H1 is currently only available in India, it is nevertheless of interest to us as Apollo Tyres confirms that “preparations are now underway to further develop and tune the technology for Europe.” Furthermore, the introduction of two-wheeler tyres in Europe will be facilitated by new development and test facilities within the region.
On 3 April, former Pirelli marketing director Alberto Viganò began a new role at Apollo Tyres. As general manager for the company’s two-wheel division he answers directly to Neeraj Kanwar, vice-chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres, and is tasked with introducing motorcycle tyre lines in numerous markets – including Europe.
A total of 47.7 million truck tyres are retreaded around the world each year. Pre-cure retreading accounts for 77 per cent of this figure.
Pirelli has heavily invested in the commercial vehicle tyre segment for a number of years now. This investment has covered the development of technologically-advanced tyres and the company’s outstanding fleet segment service portfolio. The overall aim is to minimise vehicle operating costs, which today represents the central criterion for companies needing to mimimise cost per mile in order to remain competitive within their respective markets. Following this logic, retreading naturally plays an increasingly strategic role.