Maxxis reports that its Maxxcross range is now complete following the addition of the MXMH rear tyre. The off-road motorbike tyre range includes the MXST+ (mid-soft terrain), the MXSM (sand and mud), and now the MXMH (hard and loose over hard).
Vipal will supply tyres directly for the production of Honda motorcycles in Brazil. The Honda CG 160 Fan will be the first model to come out with Vipal tyres as original equipment (OE). The motorbike will specifically be fitted with Street ST600 80/100-18 (front) and Street ST600 90/90-18 (rear) tyres. Both are tubeless designs.
Following Goodyear’s takeover of Cooper and the integration of the German Cooper sales organization in Goodyear Germany, the German wing of Gooodyear EMEA has added two more logos to its product portfolio, those of the Cooper and of Avon brands. However, the German introduction of the latter is bringing with it significant changes in the Avon brand’s positioning.
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.
Following the news that Goodyear is investing in converting its Montluçon into a two-wheel tyre production centre of excellence, company officials have confirmed that, subject to consultation with the relevant employee bodies, Goodyear expects the plans to be “substantially complete by the beginning of 2024”.
On 3 October, Cambrian Tyres announced that it has been appointed as the exclusive importer of Goodyear Bicycle Tires for the UK and Ireland. Already a top-three global tyre company, Goodyear has been establishing itself as a leading brand within the global bicycle tyre segment since 2018 via a licensing agreement with Rubber Kinetics. Rubber Kinetics produce all Goodyear bicycle tyres at their “bicycle tyre specific research, development, and production centre in Taiwan”.
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.
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.
Mitas has announced price increases for motorcycle, scooter, go-kart, trailer and aircraft tyres. As a result, prices will rise by up to 10 per cent effective from 1 September 2022.
At the start of May, in the USA, Continental issued a recall of 68,770 two-wheel tyres of which an estimated 10 per cent suffered from cracking in the tread groves during FMVSS 119 endurance testing.
Michelin has produced a new version of its motorcycle racing tyre with an even higher share of environmentally sustainable material ahead of the MotoE World Cup motorcycle racing series. This is the fourth season of the MotoE World Cup electric motorcycles racing series.
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Maxxis
Vipal
Yokohama TWS
Mitas
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Christian Marx/Profil Verlag
Cambrian Tyres
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DVSA
Michelin