German luxury car major BMW Group has selected a range of Vredestein summer, all-season and winter tyres as original equipment (OE) for the Cabrio, three and five-door variants of the all-new Mini Cooper in Europe. 

The Vredestein Ultrac in size 215/40 R 18 89Y XL will come as a standard summer tyre fitment for the selected Mini Cooper range, while variants of the car specified with an all-season tyre will now be fitted with the Quatrac Pro in size 215/45 R 17 91H XL. 

For markets requiring the option of a winter tyre, the Mini Cooper will be supplied with the Vredestein Wintrac Pro in size 195/50 R 17 89H XL. Apollo Tyres will supply the Europe-manufactured tyres to BMW Group’s dedicated Mini production facility in Oxford, UK. 

This update follows the latest agreement between the BMW Group and Apollo Tyres, following a deal commencing last year to supply the Vredestein Ultrac for the X1, X2 and 5 Series models (225/55 R18 102Y XL), which again builds on an extension of a previous agreement to supply variants of the X1 (205/65 R17 100Y XL). Ultrac is also being offered in three different sizes (205/65R16 95W, 205/60R17 97W XL and 225/50R18 99W XL) for the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. 

In addition, customers of the Mini will be able to find the Ultrac, Quatrac Pro and Wintrac Pro tyres in the replacement market as well via franchised dealers of the BMW Group. 

Benoit Rivallant, Chief Commercial Officer, Apollo Tyres said: “Our expanding relationship with BMW Group is a testament to our focus on creating tyres with a diverse range of capabilities, aligned with the auto maker’s strategic prioritisation of performance, driver satisfaction, safety and efficiency.”  

The Vredestein Ultrac summer tyre provides superior wet grip performance, certified by an ‘A’ EU tyre label rating. It comes with an optimised sidewall construction and an increased flex zone, that provides driving comfort and a quiet ride even at higher speeds.  

The Vredestein Wintrac Pro is a performance-focused winter tyre featuring the ‘Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake’ symbol, certifying it for use in harsh conditions. With an EU tyre label rating of ‘B’ for wet grip, the tyre minimises stopping distances on wet roads and is equipped with angled centre grooves and shoulder sipes that aid grip and traction on snowy surfaces. 

The Vredestein Quatrac Pro is an ultra-high-performance all-season tyre, which offers superior handling and short braking distances in a range of conditions. Developed specifically for high-performance vehicles, the tyre has secured multiple independent test awards in leading European publications, impressing testers with its best-in-class handling and performance in the wet. 

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.”