The EICMA motorcycle show returns to Milan this week, and amongst the products on display are two newcomers from Eurogrip, one of the fastest growing brands in the powered two-wheeler tyre segment. Eurogrip globally launched the Roadhound sport touring tyre and the Climber XC off-road tyre.
After entering India’s motorcycle tyre business a good two years earlier, at the end of 2018 Apollo Tyres announced plans to introduce motorcycle tyres in European markets. It even presented the first local products – Centauro ST, Centauro Road and (for Scooters) Staccata early in 2020, along with the promise of a two-wheel TPMS system. But after that, everything went quiet until Apollo Tyres confirmed suspending its European rollout due to “high demand for motorcycle tyres in the Indian market” and “limited production capacities.” Yves Pouliquen, head of sales and marketing at Apollo Tyres Europe, recently provided an update on the company’s two-wheeler plans.
Mitas has signed a partnership with KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH to fit its Enduro Trail+ tyres to the new 2023 KTM 890 Adventure R motorcycle. Following the Mitas Terra Force-R on the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S and Mitas E-07 on the 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R, this is the third Mitas original equipment fitment approved by KTM.
Following the news that it is consulting on the closure of the Cooper Melksham tyre factory, Goodyear has announced that it is set to invest 16.5 million euros into the “modernisation” of its Montluçon, France tyre production plant over the next 18 months. The news also marks the end of light truck tyre production at Montluçon. Prior to the announcement, the production of two-wheel tyres accounted for 50 per cent of the site’s activity and the site has also made motorsport tyres during its recent history.
Pirelli’s Diablo Superbike tyres feature in the latest video game based on the FIM Superbike World Championship. Developed by Milestone, the game allows players to choose the tyres to be fitted, modifying the behaviour of the motorbike based on the compound used. The realism of the game was boosted by the involvement of professional riders and experts, including Pirelli itself. The manufacturer supplied tyre data to help the game-maker simulate the performance of real Pirelli World Superbike tyres. Pirelli branding is also seen in-game in the realistically rendered circuits.
Strong demand for its two-wheeler tyres in India prompted Apollo Tyres to delay the rollout of its Vredestein motorcycle tyre range for Europe. But with a stated strategic focus upon the “premium motorcycling space” and market share for such products exceeding 20 per cent in India, it is highly feasible that Apollo will revisit its European plans at a later date. The company’s latest premium domestic products give us an idea of what we can expect.
Several additional sizes have joined the Dunlop Qualifier Core line-up, meaning that fitments are now available across multiple sports and naked segments. The new dimensions include a 120/60ZR17 front and three new rears: 190/50ZR17, 190/55ZR17 and 200/50ZR17. These join the launch rear sizes of 160/60ZR17 and 180/55ZR17, plus the 120/70ZR17 front fitment.
The fourth generation of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa is now completing its final stages of development and testing, and Pirelli says both versions of the motorcycle tyre that “symbolises sports riding” will be available to buy from the start of 2023. Their release will complete a renewal of the Diablo Sport range that began in 2021 with the Diablo Rosso IV and continued this year with the Diablo Rosso IV Corsa.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has updated the wording relating to its categorisation of motorcycle tyre defects. The associated document, published on 22 August 2022, governs how vehicle defects found during roadside inspections or vehicle tests are categorised and what action will be taken when they’re found. In short, treads near the limit are now subject to inspection notices. The updated wording takes effect on 1 September 2022.
Wholesaler Inter-Sprint has expanded the portfolio of brands it offers with the addition of Dunlop motorcycle and scooter tyres. The first Dunlop SKUs have arrived, and the wholesaler says their availability means that “Inter-Sprint is reinforcing its name as ‘The tyre supplier for Europe’.”
Bridgestone Corporation is investing to increase production capacity for motorcycle tyres at its Nasu plant in Japan, its sole motorcycle tyre production facility worldwide. The tyre maker will invest approximately 1.7 billion yen (£10.4 million) to gradually expand output potential from 2026, with capacity rising by approximately 90,000 units.
Milenco by Padgetts Honda rider Davey Todd recorded Supersport and the headline Race of Legends victories on Dunlop tyres at the Armoy Road Races in Northern Ireland. The British rider also set a new average speed record to round off a dominant event. Most Dunlop riders used the fully slick KR109 and KR106 front and KR108 rear tyres in the Race of Legends, while the treaded D213 Pro was used in other classes.
After a successful debut in MXGP last year that included in a victory in Lommel for Kawasaki factory rider Romain Febvre as well as the holeshot in three out of five sand races, Dunlop’s new Geomax MX14 motocross tyre is now available for all riders. Developed in collaboration with top riders in the FIM Motocross World Championship, this successor to the Geomax MX12 is tailored to the softest sand and mud surfaces in motocross.
Christian Marx/Profil-Verlag
Mitas
Christian Marx/Profil Verlag
Pirelli
DVSA
Dunlop