Falken has announced that its AZENIS FK510 received an “exemplary” rating from German sportscar magazine AUTOBILD in its summer tyre test, after placing third in the overall rankings. The company said its AZENIS FK510s were found to have performed particularly well in the most important area for high-performance tyres: safety, finishing high up the order in both the wet and dry braking tests. 

In the April issue, a total of eleven summer tyres, (the majority with a Y speed index) were examined by the testers. The 225/45R18 tyres were fitted to a BMW 3 series sports car and put to the test on a variety of surfaces, the release pointed out. 

On wet asphalt, the braking distance achieved was approximately 48 metres (47.9 m) in an emergency stop at 100 km/h, around two metres behind the best-placed car in the category. The tyres from Falken proved effective on the wet circular track too, the tyre finishing less than a second off the winner in the category. 

When it comes to safety, aquaplaning is always a key factor. This is an area in which the Falken tyres demonstrated their strengths: with a float speed of 98 km/h when measured on the rain-soaked surface, the FK510 was more than a match for several competitors, it said. The same goes for the aquaplaning around corners: with a lateral acceleration of 3.54 m/s2, the Falken AZENIS FK510 finished fourth. In addition to these results, the FK510 also made it into the first half of the table in the category for handling in dry conditions. 

Overall, the independent testers drew a positive balance and considered the Falken premium tyre to have “a good performance potential, very good safety reserves when aquaplaning, stable driving behaviour on wet roads, sporty and dynamic handling in dry conditions, short braking distances on wet and dry surfaces, and good driving comfort”. They awarded it third place overall with a rating of “exemplary”. 

Velizara Lilova, Team Leader Product Planning at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “We can be very proud of our third place. To do so well here, especially in such a hard-fought environment, proves that our premium tyres don’t shy away from the competition and that by focusing on driving enjoyment and safety, we are getting a lot of things right.” (TT)

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Continental said it is supplying a range of summer and winter tyres for Porsche’s all-electric Macan, with the SUV offered with the SportContact 6 for high-performance driving, the CrossContact RX for comfort and all-season use, and the WinterContact TS 860 S for winter conditions.

All tyres feature the XL marking, indicating increased load capacity. The models approved for the Macan carry Porsche’s “NE0” sidewall designation.

The SportContact 6, part of Continental’s ultra-ultra-high-performance segment, is designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h. The company said engineers optimised the compound, tread and construction to deliver “exceptional grip and outstanding safety at high speeds”. The tyre features a newly developed reinforcement structure and a tread designed to maximise force transmission.

The CrossContact RX, aimed at drivers prioritising comfort and reduced road noise, combines a specialised tread and siping design with groove geometry intended to improve water clearance and reduce aquaplaning risk. Depending on specification, it is approved for speeds up to 270 km/h, with Macan-specific versions rated V (up to 240 km/h).

For winter use, Porsche recommends the WinterContact TS 860 S, which Continental said provides “maximum control, stability and driving enjoyment” for sports-oriented vehicles. The tyre is engineered to manage instant torque from electric powertrains and features low rolling resistance to help extend driving range.

Continental supplies original-equipment tyres to most of Porsche’s line-up, including the Taycan, Cayenne and Panamera.

Approved tyre sizes for the Macan include:

• SportContact 6 NE0: 295/40 R21 111Y XL; 255/45 R21 106Y XL
• CrossContact RX NE0: 295/35 R22 108V XL; 255/40 R22 103V XL; 295/40 R21 111V XL; 255/45 R21 106V XL; 285/45 R20 112V XL; 235/55 R20 105V XL
• WinterContact TS 860 S NE0: 295/35 R22 108V XL; 255/40 R22 103V XL; 285/40 R21 109V XL; 255/45 R21 106V XL

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Japan’s Yokohama Rubber is supplying its ADVAN Sport V107 tyres as original equipment for the BMW i3 battery electric vehicle (BEV), which is sold in China and other international markets.

The company said it is providing two tyre configurations for the BMW i3 – a 19-inch set (225/45R19 96Y front and 245/40R19 98Y rear) and an 18-inch set (225/50R18 99Y front and 245/45R18 100Y rear). The model is not sold in Japan.

Part of Yokohama’s global flagship ADVAN range, the Sport V107 is an ultra-high-performance tyre jointly developed with the BMW Group. The tyres feature a specially formulated compound and a revised tread pattern designed to improve dry performance and wear resistance, while achieving the EU’s highest “A” grade for rolling resistance.

Yokohama said it used its proprietary mound profile technology, which evenly distributes surface contact pressure to enhance handling and durability. The tyres’ rigid skeleton structure is aimed at delivering precise steering response suited for high-powered premium vehicles.

As with all tyres approved by BMW, the sidewall of the ADVAN Sport V107 carries the automaker’s star mark, signifying compliance with BMW’s standards for technology, quality and reliability.

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Continental Tire the Americas, LLC has formed a strategic partnership with fleet management platform Fleetio, enabling direct access to Continental and General Tire brands through the digital platform.

The tie-up allows fleet managers using Fleetio’s system to purchase tyres, track usage, and monitor performance data across their operations, with the aim of reducing overall ownership costs.

"Continental is committed to delivering innovative solutions that help fleets operate more efficiently," said Dan Gould, Sr. Commercial Sales Manager, Continental Tire. "By partnering with Fleetio, we're making it easier than ever for fleet operators to access our trusted tire brands and make data-driven decisions that support safety, uptime, and cost savings."

Fleetio's platform handles maintenance scheduling, inspections, fuel tracking and parts management for commercial fleets. The company supports more than one million vehicles across 100-plus countries and processes over 13 million repair orders annually through a network of 110,000 repair shops.

The platform counts AAA, Stanley Steemer and Subaru of America amongst its customer base. Fleetio recently expanded its maintenance shop network into Canada as part of its push into enterprise-level fleet operations.

"We're proud to welcome Continental Tire and General Tire into Fleetio's Maintenance Shop Network," said Kendee Vaughn, Director of Vendor Partnerships at Fleetio. "Together, we're making it easier for fleets to access trusted tire brands through a single, comprehensive platform built for speed, scale, and reliability."

The partnership represents Continental's latest move to integrate digital solutions into its commercial tyre business as fleet operators increasingly seek centralised platforms to manage vehicle operations.

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Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels has signed on as the official tyre and wheel sponsor of Jeep Jamboree USA and Jeep Adventure Academy, the off-road tyre brand.

The partnership will see Mickey Thompson products, including its Baja Boss and Baja Legend lines, featured at Jeep Jamboree events aimed at both novice and experienced off-road enthusiasts.

"We're thrilled to welcome Mickey Thompson as the official tire and wheel of Jeep Jamboree USA & Jeep Adventure Academy," said Pearse Umlauf, President of Jeep Jamboree USA. "Mickey Thompson's legacy in off-road performance and commitment to the enthusiast community makes them a perfect fit for our events, which are all about education, exploration and building lifelong connections through off-roading adventures."

The Stow, Ohio-based company offers tyres ranging from 37 to 44 inches designed for off-road use. Event participants will have opportunities to test the products across various terrains and vehicle configurations.

"Jeepers are at the heart of Mickey Thompson," said Matt Arko, general manager, Marketing & Product at Mickey Thompson. "Whether they've just purchased their first Jeep or have been wheeling for years, we want to help them push their limits and discover what their vehicles are capable of. This partnership is about empowering off-roaders to do amazing things – and make lasting memories – with their Jeeps, and we couldn't be more excited to be part of this community."

Founded in 1963 by Mickey Thompson and Gene McMannis, the company markets performance, racing and off-road tyres globally.

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