Winter Tyres
During the recent IAA 2022 truck event in Germany, Chinese tyremaker Prinx Chengshan released its TH155 truck tyre pattern. The new trailer hybrid, OE oriented tyre is described as having “outstanding overall performance”, something that is attested by its “A” and “B” ratings for wet grip and fuel consumption on the European tyre label (in 385/65 R22.5). The tyre will be marketed under the Austone ATH155 and Fortune FTH155 brand names.
Hankook’s comprehensive range of winter and all-season car and van tyres have been scooping up plenty of awards and recommendations over the past few years. This has been reflected in commendations for both the Kinergy 4S and 4S2 all-season models by Tyres & Accessories’ sister independent tyre comparison website WhatTyre, which considers tyres’ performance in a range of quality tyre tests, original equipment fitments, and several other metrics. In addition to the Kinergy 4S2, the manufacturer’s core all-season range includes the Vantra ST AS 2 for vans, and the Kinergy 4S2 X for SUVs, while its winter collection, including the Winter i*cept evo 3, Winter i*cept evo 3 X, Winter i*cept LV, and Winter i*cept RS 2 has also received its share of plaudits.
Falken’s latest cold weather tyre offering is set to make its UK market debut this winter in September. Two specifications will be available: the Eurowinter HS02 and HS02 Pro. Both tyres represent the next generation of Falken’s cold-weather range. They offer significant improvements over their predecessor, the HS01, according to the manufacturer.
With the promise of shorter braking distances on snow-covered surfaces and improved handling on icy and wet roads, Hankook Tire has introduced the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3. It says this “enhanced successor to the multiple award-winning Winter i*cept RS2” uses the latest technologies to surpass its predecessor and “offer even greater levels of safety in everyday life.”
ZC Rubber has significantly expanded its Goodride Zuper Snow Z-507 range with the addition of 22 further dimensions. It says these newcomers offer “more options for drivers seeking exceptional traction and handling during the winter season.”
Norwegian tyre business Norgesdekk has bought 67 per cent of the shares of Valla Dack AB as part of a move into the Swedish market. The Swedish business, which turns 40 this year, had a turnover of more than SEK 190 million in 2021 (£15.444 million; 18.330 million euros).
For the forthcoming winter season in Europe, SD-International will present an extensive collection of Zeta branded winter and all-season tyres at what it calls “highly competitive prices”. The latest tyres in the range include the Zeta Active 4S, a high performance asymmetric pattern designed to deliver superior driving comfort on dry, wet and light snow road conditions.
Kumho has launched a new winter tyre for the medium to large car and SUV market, the Wintercraft WP52. The new tyre follows the introduction of a new all-season van tyre from the Korean manufacturer, the PorTran 4S CX11, which added features from the lauded Solus 4S HA32 all-season car tyre to its existing winter van range. Kumho has established itself as a tyre supplier to Europe’s biggest winter tyre markets in the Nordic and Central Europe regions with a comprehensive range of well-regarded products, and is strengthening its position in the region’s growing all-season market.
With the launch of its latest cold weather passenger car tyre for Central and Western Europe, Point S continues the ‘what it says on the tin’ naming format we saw at the launch of its summer range last year. Simply called Winter, the new line replaces the Winterstar 4.
Falken exhibited at Autopromotec 2022 from a major 194 square metre stand in Hall 20. The Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand showed several highlights from its wide range of products for passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks and truck tyres. Highlights include the new winter tyres from Falken: the Eurowinter HS02 and the Eurowinter HS02 Pro, both of which have the Advanced 4D Nano Design technology and convince with their conservation of resources and innovative technological attributes.
Safer, more comfortable, better performance. These three qualities are what Pirelli says motorists can now expect from its Scorpion range of SUV tyres following the range’s recent revamp, which the tyre maker undertook in response to forecasted global growth in SUV sales over the next few years.
Product testing at the Pirelli Sottozero Centre in Lapland, Sweden is now taking place in summer as well as winter. Pirelli says it switched the facility to year-round testing in response to increased demand for product development on both wet and dry roads, particularly for all-season and winter tyres. The team at the Sottozero Centre recently wrapped up its winter test programme for the season and is now beginning the summer programme.
Hankook Tire is unveiling three products at The Tire Cologne later this month, including its first tyre family designed for electric vehicles. Other newcomers include the latest winter tyre range as well as an airless concept tyre. The tyre maker invites visitors to the show to view these and other products at its booth in Hall 8.1, aisle C040/aisle D049.
Hot on the heels of its all-weather PorTran 4S CX11 van tyre comes Kumho’s new WP52 – a winter pattern for medium to large passenger cars and SUVs. The company’s cold weather range now comprises five models of car & SUV tyre and two van tyre lines.
Italy-based Magri Gomme has hosted 2021’s best performing Giti and GT Radial customers at a celebratory event at the ski resort of Livigno. Dealers were given the opportunity to try out the brands’ latest winter tyres at Livigno Ice Driving School, including the GT Radial IcePro3, GT Radial WinterPro2 Sport, and the new GitiWinterW2.
Prinx Chengshan
Hankook
Falken
Valla Däck AB; Norgesdekk
SD-International
Kumho
Giti