For the first time in the model’s 59-year history, Porsche is specifying an off-road tyre as original equipment for the 911. It has turned to Pirelli, who is delivering the Scorpion All Terrain Plus, a tyre it claims to have “designed for the most challenging conditions.” The tyre will be standard equipment on the new Porsche 911 Dakar, a reinterpretation of the classic coupé with maximised off-road capabilities.
Hankook has continued the expansion of its original equipment portfolio for electric vehicles (EV). The manufacturer will supply the electric Škoda Enyaq iV with Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tyres specially developed for electric cars. The partnership follows Hankook’s existing OE deal with the Volkswagen Group to supply the same tyres to the Volkswagen ID.4. Depending on the model variant of Škoda’s first electric SUV, sizes 18 to 20 inches are available. Hankook joins Bridgestone in supplying the Enyaq iV, with the latter offering its Enliten Technology enabled Turanza Eco, Tyrepress sister site WhatTyre’s Eco Tyre of the Year 2022.
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 previous original equipment tyre deals with Volkswagen, Giti Tire has secured further OE fitment sizes on the award-winning VW Crafter. The manufacturer’s GitiVanHD1 is now specified in 235/65 R16 C115/113R and 205/75 R16 C113/111R for new Crafters coming off production lines. Giti’s first partnership on the VW van began in April 2020, with the 205/70R17 C115/113R. It was the Giti brand’s first European light commercial vehicle OE contract.
Trailer manufacturer Schwarzmüller has selected Apollo Tyres’ EnduRace RT, EnduRace RT2 and EnduTrax MAHD tyres as original equipment for its truck trailers. This is Apollo’s first original equipment deal in the European truck sector.
Smart Automobile has unveiled the #1, a full-electric five-seater with a range of up to 273 miles. Official launch photos suggest that smart will offer all four models in the #1 range – the Launch Edition, Pro+, Premium and Brabus – with Continental tyres as a standard fitment. Images issued by the media team at smart Europe GmbH depict various versions of #1 equipped with Continental EcoContact 6 Q tyres in 235/45 R19 V XL.
Nexen Tire has become an original equipment supplier for the third-generation BMW X1 and the all-electric iX1. The tyre maker’s plant in Žatec, Czech Republic will manufacture a version of the Nexen N’Fera Sport tailored to meet BMW’s requirements for the compact SUVs. Nexen has not specified the tyre sizes it is supplying to BMW.
Kumho Tyre (UK) supported the Max Adventure team as it beat its original time target on the Driven To Extremes Euro EV Marathon. The team covered its 3,174 mile-route from Oslo to Portugal in just 3.75 days in the fully electric Kia EV6 ‘Air’ fitted with Kumho’s Ecsta PS71 EV tyre. The team knocked 47 minutes off the time set by Sir Stirling Moss in 1952, adding an extra country to the list of those visited. The challenge was designed to show that a standard EV and current charging infrastructure can now allow drivers to cover vast distances in a short time. The Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV is an original fitment on the Kia EV6, with the 235/55R19 size used by the challenge car throughout the trial.
The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 will roll off factory lines on Nexen Tire’s all-season N’fera AU7 EV and the N’fera Sport EV. The latest electric car from Hyndai boasts a range potential of more than 500km per charge. It contains a range of lighting technologies that communicate with vehicles and people, including dual-colour ambient mood lamps, flexible and comfortable indoor spaces, and interactive pixel lights. It uses a 400V/800V multi-fast charging system and V2L functionality in addition to offering dynamic driving performance, cutting-edge safety and convenience specifications.
Buyers of the VW Multivan who want all-season tyres can have these factory fitted, with the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK website listing these as an option when selecting either 16-, 17- or 18-inch rims. Continental shares that it is supplying its AllSeasonContact as an original equipment tyre for the Multivan in two key dimensions, 215/65 R16 102H XL and 235/55 R17 103H XL.
Ford revealed its seventh-generation Mustang today, the first entirely new model since 2014. Sitting at the top of the range is the Mustang Dark Horse, a car Ford calls the “ultimate expression of track capability.” The 5.0-litre V8 wears Pirelli P Zero PZ4 in size 255/40 R19 at the front and 275/40 R19 at the rear.
This month, Mazda Motor UK is debuting its first plug-in hybrid, the “crafted in Japan” Mazda CX-60 crossover. UK customers will receive their CX-60 with Bridgestone or Yokohama tyres as standard. Depending on specification, Mazda will equip the SUV with either the Yokohama Advan V61 in size 235/60R18 103V or Bridgestone Alenza 001 in 235/50 R20 100W.
Recreating a historic motoring exploit, the 3,600-mile challenge will visit 15 countries in just 120 hours. Kumho’s Ecsta PS71 EV tyre is an original fit on the Kia EV6 and it is this specialist product in 235/55R19 size that the challenge car will be equipped with throughout the trial.
Hankook
Mitas
Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge
Kumho
Nexen