Audi has approved three Nexen tyres for fitment on the new A3. The Korean tyre-maker will supply the N’Fera Sport UHP tyre, the N’Blue S summer eco tyre and the Winguard Sport 2 winter tyre for fitment on the premium compact Audi. The fourth-generation Audi A3, the marque’s premium compact car, was launched in Spring 2020, and is available in Sportback, built on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, and Saloon variants.
The first tyre produced by Giti Tire to attain A grade wet grip and fuel economy on the EU label tyre has secured its second VW Group fitment in as many months. This time, the Skoda Karoq will roll off factory lines on the GitiSynergyH2 in size 225/55R17 97V. The mid-sized SUV joins the light commercial Volkswagen Caddy 5 in selecting the version of the new tyre, specially developed in cooperation with the VW Group. The tyre is due to receive its aftermarket launch in March 2021, and will replace the GitiSynergyE1 and GitiPremiumH1, with which Giti launched its brand in Europe in 2016.
Volkswagen has added Goodyear to its list of approved tyre suppliers for the ID.3. The new electric car will wear Goodyear summer and winter tyres in a range of dimensions: The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance in sizes 215/55 R18, 215/50 R19 and 215/45 R20, as well as Goodyear UltraGrip Performance and UltraGrip Performance+ winter tyres in sizes 215/55 R18 and 215/50 R19.
The Maxxis Mecotra ME3+ has been selected as the original equipment tyre on the 2021 Volkswagen Caddy 5. The Mecotra ME3+ tyre is a new version of the economy focused Mecotra ME3 replacement market product. The tyre was developed by the manufacturer specially for the new VW Caddy in size 205/60 R16 96H XL.
All four Giti Tire Motorsport cars achieved top three finishes in their classes at the Nürburgring 24-Hour. Terrible overnight weather at the Eifel circuit saw the race suspended for nine hours, and only 70 of the 97-car grid make it to the finish. Giti said that tyre management proved decisive in helping teams overcome challenging conditions. The Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 finished first in the SP8 class, while the Volkswagen Golf VII GTI Clubsport came in third in the VT2 class. In the SP3T class the trailblazing #gitiracing all-female racing team finished third in their Volkswagen Golf VII GTI TCR, overcoming a race crash and garage repairs to finish.
About a year ago Continental announced its selection as a tyre supplier to the ID.3, and under this arrangement is providing original equipment EcoContact 6 summer tyres, WinterContact TS 850P winter tyres and AllSeasonContact all-season tyres. But tyres are only one of a host of Continental products and technologies going into the new all-electric range. The company is also supplying computer equipment, brake technology, hose lines, heat pumps and driver assistance systems.
Hankook is supporting Volkswagen’s 20,000km tour of Germany to test the national fast-loading network. Starting in Germany winter sports town Oberstdorf, the VW ID.3 will visit more than 600 VW dealers and charging stations on the 65-day ID.3 Germany Tour, running on Hankook’s new Winter i*cept evo 3 UHP winter tyres. The tour concludes on the northern island of Sylt. The campaign vehicle fits 215/55 R18 99V XL tyres, and will be driven by Rainer Zietlow from CHALLENGE4 agency, a driver with significant experience in long-distance rides and holder of world records on all continents. He is accompanied by co-driver Dominic Brüner. VW’s tour includes visits to Hankook’s European headquarters in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main and to the company’s European research and development centre in Hanover.
Bridgestone Turanza Eco tyres have become an original equipment for Volkswagen’s eighth generation Golf. The new model includes a number of cutting-edge technologies, such as a semi-autonomous mode and a new suspension technology improving its handling and driving dynamics. The custom-designed Turanza Eco tyres add to this technological focus. They are designed to enhance the Golf 8’s upgraded driving dynamics, with the tyre manufacturer’s Enliten Technology reducing rolling resistance, weight, and materials consumption. VW has also approved Nexen’s N’blue S and Winguard Sport 2, and Vredestein’s Sportrac 5 and Wintrac Pro tyres as OE for different iterations of the Golf 8.
Click here to learn more about Bridgestone’s Enliten Technology
Volkswagen has called the launch of its ID.3 electric car the most significant since the Golf. But the launch is also a milestone for one of its tyre partners. Following the news that Bridgestone would supply its Enliten-enhanced Turanza Eco tyres to the ID.3, the world’s largest tyre manufacturer has outlined the benefits of its low rolling resistance, reduced materials technology, available on the road for the first time on the ID.3. Bridgestone says Enliten Technology “sets a new lowered standard in material use and rolling resistance to deliver significant environmental benefits,” making it ideally suited to a car launch characterised as a milestone in sustainability.
Bridgestone has confirmed that it will supply its Turanza Eco as original equipment on the VW ID.3 electric car. In doing so, the tyre manufacturer joins Continental and Goodyear in supplying rubber for the model. The Turanza Eco is equipped with Bridgestone’s Enliten technology, which reduces weight. This is a popular characteristic among auto manufacturers, especially in the electric car segment, as they seek to reduce both weight and rolling resistance from the tyres.
Kumho’s Ecowing ES31 has been selected as the standard tyre for the latest version of the Ibiza, Seat’s bestselling model. The compact hatchback will run on size 185/65R15 88H tyres. The new deal continues the South Korean tyre manufacturer’s 14-year relationship with the VW Group. Kumho began supplying OE fitments for the Volkswagen Polo in 2006.
Giti Tire’s GitiVanHD1 tyre has been selected as original equipment for the award-winning VW Crafter. Named Parkers’ 2020 Best Large Van of the Year, the Crafter will roll off the Wreszenia, Poland production line on the size 205/70R17 C115/113R tyre on the front and rear axles. The rear axle is a twin fitment, distributing the load across four tyres. The deal marks Giti Tire’s first European light commercial vehicle OE fitment.
Volkswagen’s (VW) main Wolfsburg plant in Germany has restarted vehicle production after a period of shutdown due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. David Leggett, automotive analyst at GlobalData, said the move is a “welcome sign of a corner being turned in Germany,” but that the low level of production is indicative of the difficulties facing the sector in emerging from shutdowns.
Three Vredestein models have gained approval as original equipment tyres for the latest generation of Volkswagen’s perennially popular Golf. The Golf 8 will be available with the Vredestein Sportrac 5 in size 195/65R15. Buyers opting for winter tyres can receive their Golf equipped with the Vredestein Wintrac Pro in the same dimension or the Snowtrac 5 in size 205/55R16.
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