UK-based tyre test specialists Tread Ltd has taken delivery of a new Golf 8 test vehicle. Up till now Tread’s company-owned tyre test fleet has included models such as the: Audi 736 SUV Q7; Audi B9 UUHP S5; VW MQB V7 Golf GTI UHP; and a VW T6 LTR.
Davanti marked its fifth anniversary with its first international dealer conference at the end of February. The tyre brand hosted more than 150 attendees by Everton Football Club’s Goodison Park, where it’s development director Gary Cross took the opportunity to announce its upcoming products, including range extensions and what might be called the second generation of Davanti tyres given the new naming conventions first introduced in the Wintoura winter tyre and Terratoura all-terrain 4×4 tyre ranges. Davanti sales director for UK and Ireland Sean Maddocks also presented observations on tyre markets, the development of the brand’s global dealer network over the past five years, and its commercial partnerships including the renewal of its official brand partnership with Everton FC.
Global retreading supplier Vipal Rubber’s VT110 tread has been approved in Romania following trials conducted by fleet operator Senidav Trans SRL. The Eastern European fleet company carried out performance tests using retreaded tyres with the VT110, recording favourable results against a competitor brand. Measurements were recorded by Vipal’s Moldovan partner, Tehno Profil, after 260,000km on Romanian roads, which present adverse track conditions, with mountains, slopes, snow, and other problems.
Key products in Triangle Tyre’s new generation range for Europe came to market in the last quarter, and Triangle sees their introduction as something of a brand relaunch within the region. The arrival of these new tyre lines is accompanied by a rebooting of how Triangle presents its range as well as the promise of […]
After seven years of development Tread Ltd has published an updated website, reflecting “the expanding number of services the firm offers”.
“In addition to subjective and objective test driver support, our fleet of test vehicles has just been updated to reflect the current OEM and REM/Magazine trends for tyre development and fitments using the latest test cars,” the company explained in a statement, adding the following vehicles are now included in its test fleet:
Since launching with the mass-market focused DX390 and high performance DX640 in 2015, UK based Davanti Tyres has developed and tuned its range to target expansion into global markets. Last year the company produced its first winter tyres to increase its ability to access customers in the northern hemisphere, especially those countries with legislation requiring the fitment of cold weather tread. Now, in a press launch event at Millbrook, where development partner Tread has been testing for the brand, Davanti has brought to market another fitment designed to increase its reach into global markets, the all-terrain Terratoura, in 10 initial sizes between 15 and 17 inches.
Having launched at Autopromotec in May 2015, the Oak Group’s Davanti Tyres private brand has grown quickly, with the appointments of Sean Maddocks to UK and Ireland sales director, and Andrew Billingham and Andy Kent as regional sales managers. In addition to growing the management team, the brand has undergone a series of benchmarking tests for its current passenger car tyres at the large Applus+ Idiada proving ground near Barcelona, which has grown in stature since 1994 to become what is widely thought of as Europe’s premier independent facility – an opinion backed by the comparatively large number of tyre manufacturers currently testing on site.
Vipal Rubber has announced that it is launching a new pre-cured tread for use on drive axle fitment tyres in the “highway” segment. Known as the DV-RT4, the name means it is designed by Vipal – “DV” and is for use in the drive axle, highway segment – “RT”. According to the Brazilian based retreading manufacturer, The DV-RT4 is designed for “those looking for more efficiency and profitability in highway cargo transport operations”.
China-based Triangle Group Co. Ltd. may already be the world’s 15th largest tyre manufacturer, according to Tyres & Accessories’ latest global tyre manufacturer ranking, but it is clear that the company is intending to go far further than this. Rhetoric to this effect is not uncommon amongst Far Eastern businesses, but as is always the case, actions speak louder than words. With its latest appearance in Essen Triangle has begun fleshing out its plans to take the company from being a Chinese manufacturer with export sales to being a large international manufacturer with global reach.
Kumho Tire USA has extended its original equipment supply to Chrysler with the homologation of its Solus TA31 all-season tyre for the 2015 Chrysler 200 range. Beginning in March 2014, Kumho is supplying the TA31 in size 235/45R18 94V for select front wheel drive and all wheel drive models within the line-up. The Solus TA31 features a symmetric tread design, and Kumho says the tyre “meets consumer desire for excellent ride comfort while maintaining a very low noise threshold.”
TyreSafe is providing Scooter riders with free advice and tyre maintenance tips, designed to ensure that they remain safe on the road, whatever the conditions.
“Due to their low cost of ownership and their congestion-busting ability, scooters have become an increasingly popular method of transport in recent years,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.
ITMA technical partner, Tread Ltd, reports that it has invested in expanding the services available to members. The company’s permanent test fleet now includes a magazine standard VW Polo to sit alongside its existing VW Golf, meaning that test and development of all standard tyre sizes is even easier.
All of the new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar cars, which will be sold on four continents around the world from June 2014, will be fitted with 245/35 R 20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport ultra-high performance tyres as standard. Also, for winter driving, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 and X-Ice North 3 tyres are recommended fitments. The Polestar engineered cars are Volvo’s fastest production cars ever and with their 350hp six cylinder turbocharged engines are able to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
This year, Kraiburg Austria has launched a new in-house developed trailer pattern and also supplemented its existing patterns with additional sizes. The new trailer tread is now available as the K 800 in the K_Base range, as the KLT 1 in the K_plus line-up. The new tread is initially available in 287mm and 295mm widths and will be joined by 305mm and 320mm widths in the middle of the year. The retreading specialist says the K800/KLT1 is ideal for local and long-haul applications on semi-trailer, trailer and towed axles.
While much attention has been placed on road rage and its causes, one factor has been overlooked – until now. A newly-released report has found a remarkable correlation between road rage incidents and choice of tyre. Aggressive tread patterns do, it seems, make for aggressive drivers.
Tread Ltd