Yeovil-based Ariel Motor Company is probably best-known for the hair-raising fun associated with its Ariel Atom and Nomad. However, last August the company entered supercar territory with the launch of the 1180 bhp electric-powered Hipercar.
Continental has announced a voluntary replacement programme for a total of 7,103 tyres worldwide. According to a statement detailing the news published on 7 December 2022, the exchange programme is being offered in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, France and Italy. In the German market, for example, a total of 745 tyres that were sold through the tyre replacement business or are still in the stocks of tyre dealers are eligible for exchange. A Continental Tyre Group spokesperson confirmed that the UK market is not affected by the voluntary exchange programme.
The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. is supplying its Advan V61 tyres as original equipment (OE) for the fifth-generation Lexus RX. Launched in Japan and overseas, including Europe, from this November, the new RX is specifically being fitted with 235/60R19 103V size Advan V61 tyres.
On 30 November 2022 Automobili Lamborghini launched its unconventionally rally-equipped Huracán Sterrato at Art Basel, Miami Beach. Compared with the Huracán EVO, the Sterrato comes with an updated version of the LDVI (Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics) system, with specific strada and sport calibrations, and bringing the rally mode for low-grip conditions to the Huracán line for the first time. It is also exclusively factory fitted with Bridgestone tyres.
Bridgestone reports that it has applied its electric mobility expertise to the development of bespoke tyres for the BMW iX, the company’s first all-electric vehicle since its pioneering BMW i3. According to the tyremaker, the ultra-low rolling resistance Bridgestone Alenza tyres feature a host of cutting-edge technologies.
Pirelli’s P Zero Elect has been chosen as original equipment (OE) for the limited-edition Polestar 2 BST Edition 270. The most powerful version of the Polestar 2 to date, the car will be fitted with 245/35 R21 UHP tyres developed to meet the specific characteristics of the electric car.
The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. is supplying Geolandar G91 tyres as original equipment (OE) for Subaru Corporation’s new Crosstrek (Japanese-market model), which was unveiled in September 2022. The SUV is being fitted with 225/60R17 99H size tyres. As well as the 225/60R17 Geolandar G91 tyre Yokohama is supplying, the Crosstrek will also be fitted with 225/55R18 tyres.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has begun supplying its Advan dB V552 tyres as original equipment (OE) to Honda Motor Co., Ltd., for use on its new SUV, the ZR-V. The new SUV will be sold in Japan and overseas is being fitted with 215/60R17 96H and 225/55R18 98H size tyres.
Ownership of Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Bentley and Porsche cars has increased 9.2 per cent in the UK in the past year, up from 221,124 in 2020 to 241,391 in 2021. Data from national accountancy group UHY Hacker Young shows that Porsche remains the most popular luxury brand with 173,523 vehicles on the road and the brand experiencing a 10 per cent increase on the total of 157,916 in 2020. Ownership of Maseratis is growing the quickest, with 10.3 per cent more on UK roads, from 10,078 in 2020, to 11,113 in 2021.
In the commercial vehicle (CV) sector, production rose 92.9 per cent to 6,132 units, according to the latest SMMT figures, marking the best August since 2012 and the eighth consecutive month of growth. Overseas demand was up 78.4 per cent, while production for UK operators more than doubled year-on-year, rising 119.3 per cent. Year-to-date CV output is up 50.3 per cent at 64,828 units in the best year-to-date since 2012.
ZC Rubber has named Martin Wells as the company’s new European managing director and president of ZC Technical Center and Global OE. Meanwhile, Jörn Tietjens has been appointed as senior key account manager/senior automotive engineer of the European ZC Technical Center.
Mercedes-AMG is fitting 18-inch Continental SportContact 7 tyres to its C43 model. Designed for speeds of up to 186 mph and bearing the XL marking for enhanced load capacity, the tyres also carry the M01 sidewall marking, which appears on all the tyres specially developed for AMG. Continental developed this UUHP (Ultra Ultra High Performance) tyre specifically for vehicles with sporty attributes as well as for super sports cars.
During the recent Tire Cologne event, Tyres & Accessories met with Hankook Europe’s top management including president and chief operating officer Sanghoon Lee; Dietmar Olbrich, vice president of marketing and sales at Hankook Germany; Byung Ryong Lee, vice president of marketing strategy in Europe; Guy Heywood, vice president sales, marketing and business strategy for truck and bus tyres in Europe; vice president of European Technical Centre, Klaus Krause; Massimo Cialone, chief specialist for compounding and materials.
Sailun Tire Americas is planning to open a US technical centre in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA that will develop tyres for passenger, light truck, SUV, CUV and medium truck tyres applications as well as tyres for electric vehicles. Tyre developed there will ultimately end up at both OE and replacement destinations.
Ariel
Continental
Yokohama
Lamborghini
Yokohama
Bridgestone; BMW
Pirelli
Yokohama
RedCharlie; Unsplash
SMMT
ZC Rubber
Continental
Tyre Industry Publications Ltd
Sailun Tire Americas