Tyre manufacturing company Maxxis has secured an exclusive contract with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to be the sole tyre supplier for the FIA Karting European and World Championships in the OK and OKJ categories, along with the OK-N World Cup and Academy Trophy, spanning 2024 to 2026.

The OK and OK-Junior categories are renowned as some of karting’s most prestigious and competitive direct-drive classes. OK, competitions on an international scale serve as a crucial stepping stone for budding talents, guiding them toward single-seater racing. Meanwhile, OK-Junior categories cater to young drivers aged between 12 to 14 years old.

A standout in this collaboration is the FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a distinctive competition designed to promote emerging talents globally, emphasizing fair play, safety, and overall development. Over a decade, the Academy Trophy has brought together around fifty junior drivers from diverse nationalities, with each federation invited to select a representative.

With over 30 years of involvement in karting, Maxxis has been at the forefront, crafting top-tier tyres known for their performance, durability, and consistency. Maxxis tyres have found application in numerous national and international karting events, establishing a presence across all continents in over 50 countries.

Maxxis expresses its pride in partnering with the FIA, pledging to supply its CIK-FIA homologated ‘Option’ and ‘Prime’ slicks for dry conditions and the ‘MW’ variant for wet conditions. The newly developed Option will be implemented in OKJ, OK-N, and the Academy Trophy, while the Prime will be utilized in OK. Both compounds promise optimal grip, stability, and wear resistance, displaying excellent adaptability to varying track surfaces and temperatures. Importantly, all Maxxis tyres adhere to sustainable development principles in environmental protection, energy consumption, talent cultivation, and philanthropic contributions to society. 

Maxxis President Dr Wally Chen said, “We are very excited to be chosen by the FIA as the exclusive tyre supplier for all the FIA Karting Championships for direct-drive karts. This is a great recognition of our commitment and expertise in karting, as well as our passion for motorsport. We look forward to working closely with the FIA, the teams and the drivers to provide them with the best possible tyres and service.”

 FIA Karting Commission President Akbar Ebrahim said, “We are delighted to open a new partnership with Maxxis, a global top 10 tyre manufacturer. Their products are known around the world and can be seen fitted on a wide range of vehicles, including bicycles, motorcycles, cars, SUVs, buses, trucks and industrial vehicles. They are now bringing their expertise and reputation with karting tyres to the FIA Karting competition. We are pleased that Maxxis shares our vision of promoting young talents and supporting their development in karting.”

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”