Bridgestone has announced the launch of its new semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza Race tyre. 

The company said in a statement that the tyre would deliver lap times that beat all main competing tyres, along with the best braking performance in dry conditions. The tyre is homologated for public roads, but with performance focussed on track days. 

The Potenza Race is the latest addition to Bridgestone’s Potenza tyre range – itself born from Bridgestone’s long association with Formula One racing – empowering motorsports enthusiasts to remain in control at speed. Emilio Tiberio, COO & CTO, Bridgestone EMIA, said, “The Potenza Race adds an additional dimension to our iconic Potenza range. The existing Potenza Sport has been an incredible success since it launched, and now the Potenza Race takes things a step further by offering unrivalled performance to track day enthusiasts. Many have already seen and experienced what the Potenza Race original fitments can do on the Lamborghini Huracán STO and Seat Leon Cupra – we’re thrilled to be bringing it to the replacement market for more drivers.” 

Developed and manufactured in Europe, Bridgestone’s new Potenza Race will be available in 13 popular sizes between 17 and 20 inches from June 2022, supporting the hot hatchbacks and sportscars most commonly found attending track days.  

Benefitting from this heritage and the expertise gained during the development of Potenza Race OE fitments for the Lamborghini Huracán STO and SEAT Leon Cupra hot hatchback, along with the Huracán STO Tecnica supercar launched recently, the Potenza Race is Bridgestone’s first-ever dedicated replacement tyre for track days. 

The new Potenza Race completes Bridgestone’s ultra-high performance tyre line-up, providing a track-focussed tyre ideal for driving enthusiasts, the release said. 

According to tests carried out by independent TÜV SÜD, the Bridgestone Potenza Race posts the best lap times ahead of its main competitors on the track. The Bridgestone Potenza Race tyre also offers the shortest braking distance on a dry surface. 

The tread design applies an asymmetric pattern, with differentiation between the outside and inside of the tyre to maximise cornering power and braking potential while still guaranteeing suitable usage on wet roads, it said. 

Asymmetric wall angles on the Potenza Race tyre further increase lateral stiffness and reduce block deformation, and a special rear tread pattern with an increased shoulder rib provides maximum dry performance with optimised braking and block stiffness. 

The Potenza Race also incorporates a sporty profile shape, helping to increase the contact area and maximise braking potential. An optimised contact patch helps to improve steering feel and controllability, increasing driver confidence. 

It also benefits from a new compound, with innovative mixing to improve chemical reaction control, balancing the reinforcing mechanism and rolling resistance. The result is an optimised formula for enhanced dry performance, with high stiffness that boosts dry cornering and straight-line stability. 

The new Potenza Race has been developed using Bridgestone’s Virtual Tyre Development technology. This enables a digital version of an in-development tyre to be created and tested, helping Bridgestone to predict how a tyre will perform in different conditions before physically building prototypes. As a result, Bridgestone can test far more variants in a virtual world, which cuts tyre development time by up to 50 per cent and delivers a host of environmental benefits including a reduction in raw material consumption due to the need for fewer prototype tyres and tests, the release added. (TT)  

Bridgestone is supplying Custom-engineered Alenza A/S tyre with ENLITEN Technology to select models of the 2021 Nissan Rogue as an OE supplier.

The Nissan Rogue is the first vehicle in the U.S. and Canada to feature tyre with Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Technology.

Bridgestone is supplying the Alenza Sport A/S tire with ENLITEN Technology in sizes 235/65R17, 235/60R18 and 235/55R19 for the 2021 Nissan Rogue in North America.

ENLITEN Technology contributes to improved fuel efficiency by reducing tyre weight and delivering low rolling resistance. Tyres with ENLITEN Technology also require fewer raw materials to be produced, helping to deliver environmental benefits. In addition to its sustainable advantages, ENLITEN Technology is designed for enhanced vehicle handling.

“We are continuously working to advance our products, services and solutions to deliver new value for our customers and society,” said Shannon Quinn, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas. “Supplying the 2021 Nissan Rogue with our Alenza Sport A/S tyre with ENLITEN technology is a testament to our commitment to these efforts and our longstanding relationship with Nissan.”

Hankook Tire has launched the Dynapro HPX, a summer tyre designed for SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles. Compared to its predecessor, the Dynapro HP2, the Dynapro HPX boasts improved safety, comfort, and durability. 

The Dynapro HPX features a new material compound and an enlarged contact patch to deliver even wear and longer life. Thanks to new 3D GripControl sipes, the tyre also offers enhanced wet braking and handling. Hankook says the model brakes 15 percent faster and handles seven percent better in wet conditions than its predecessor.   

The tyremaker also focused on comfort, using knurling technology to reduce road noise. The Dynapro HPX is available in sizes ranging from 16 to 19 inches.

“With the Dynapro HPX, we are presenting the newest member of our tyre family, which is specifically designed for the different requirements of SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles,” says Sanghoon Lee, President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe. “We are proud to be able to offer our customers a tyre with very high mileage without any compromise on comfort and safety.”

Yokohama has started delivering tyres to the new Impreza as original equipment (OE) in North America. 
The new Impreza cars will have AVID S34 tyres (size P225/40R18 88V).

The AVID S34 belongs to the AVID series of all-season tyres for passenger cars sold in the North American market, and it features the “M+S” (mud & snow) marking on its sidewall.

The AVID S34 tyres’ wide tread ensures a larger contact area, providing stable driving performance not only on dry roads but also on snow. In addition, the tread pattern design features a large number of grooves that effectively grip the surface of snowy roads and improve the vehicle’s safety and performance in snowy conditions. The tyres’ structure also has been enhanced to reduce vehicle wobble during lane changes.

Frog Bikes, a UK-based manufacturer of premium children’s bicycles, has unveiled an innovative partnership with Norwegian tyre company reTyre. This pioneering collaboration will see Frog Bikes equipping its bikes with sustainable tyres from 2025, marking a significant step in the cycling industry's journey towards sustainability.

Jerry Lawson, Co-founder of Frog Bikes, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, “We are thrilled to collaborate with reTyre, a brand that shares our passion for innovation and sustainability. This partnership allows us to further our commitment to the environment while providing our young riders with the best possible cycling experience.”

The collaboration is a testament to Frog Bikes' unwavering commitment to sustainability. It focuses on transitioning Frog Bikes’ entire range to reTyre’s fully recyclable, bio-based pneumatic tyres, ensuring a greener future for the cycling industry.

reTyre, known for its groundbreaking approach to sustainable tyre production, utilizes recyclable bio-based materials and innovative manufacturing methods to achieve lower emissions. The company claims its tyres deliver exceptional performance while minimizing environmental impact.

Frog Bikes aims to complete the full transition to reTyre tyres across its entire product line by the end of 2025. This move aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products, particularly within the children’s goods market.

“Our tyres are made with renewable and bio-based materials that do not need to be vulcanized, meaning that we can easily reuse the material at end-of-life. Our verified Life Cycle Assessments show that we are then able to reduce emissions by 68-82 percent compared to conventional tyres”, says Ben Evans, Commercial Officer at reTyre. “It’s great to work with a brand like Frog Bikes, who embraces changes for the planet’s benefit.”

 Towards Net Zero Since embarking on their sustainability journey in 2019, Frog Bikes has cut emissions per bike by 25 percent. “We’ve achieved this by transitioning to renewable energy, redesigning our bikes to use less material, virtually eliminating plastic packaging, and moving away from air freight”, explains Anna Drew, Head of Sustainability at Frog Bikes.

 “Exploring sustainable materials, like post-consumer recycled aluminium for our frames and partnering with reTyre for lower-emitting tyres, are crucial to our commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.” “We are excited to present the Frog bike equipped with sustainable tyres alongside our full range of sustainable tyre products at this year’s event,” Evans concludes.