Nokian Tyres has launched a new all-season tyre family, Nokian Seasonproof, for passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and crossover models.

The Nokian Seasonproof meets the demand for safety and reliability in the snowy and slushy winter days, and top-notch performance and effortless driving feel in the summer.

As per the company survey, European drivers specially value safety in all weather conditions throughout the year. The Scandinavian premium tyre maker also added that the uncertainty caused by suddenly changing driving conditions and concern over erratic weather throughout the year is increasing the interest for all-season tyre segment.

The new Nokian Seasonproof product family offers safety and year-round convenience for Central European drivers. All the sizes come with the Snowflake symbol (3PMSF), which indicates that the tyre has been officially approved for winter use. The product range offers sizes for modern passenger cars, SUVs and CUV’s with a selection of 64 products from 14 to 19 inches, with speed ratings of T (190 km/h), H (210 km/h) V (240 km/h) W (270 km/h). Eleven selected sizes will be available in autumn 2020 and the rest of the selection will be brought to market in the beginning of 2021.

“Safety comes always first in our product development philosophy. The new Nokian Seasonproof is developed to meet the needs of Central European drivers and designed to be flexible and adaptable to both winter and summer weather conditions. We have a new tread design tailored for optimal year-round use and innovations to ensure maximum safety, excellent wear life and low rolling resistance, says Marko Rantonen, Development Manager at Nokian Tyres.

Nokian Seasonproof - Peace of mind beyond four seasons

• First-class safety all-year-round, especially for snowy roads and rainy days
• Excellent mileage and improved durability
• Low rolling resistance saves fuel and environment
• Aramid Sidewalls give unique protection against impacts and cuts for SUVs

Main innovations:

Season Sense concept: The multifunctional all-season siping and modernized directional tread pattern are tailored to offer versatile all-season performance and to secure ultimate safety on snow and dry. While the all-season water and slush channels maximize aquaplaning prevention, the new high silica rubber compound takes care of the excellent durability, wet grip and low rolling resistance.

Snow Claws: Powerful grip and stable driving feel. The snow claws effectively grip the surface when driving on soft snow, providing high-class grip when braking and accelerating.

Snow Grip Boosters: More winter grip. The snow grip boosters improve longitudinal grip needed for braking and accelerating.

Polished Grooves: Stylish and functional. The polished grooves accelerate the water and slush flow improving safety on wet surfaces.

Aramid Sidewall technology: Extreme durability. The extremely strong aramid fibers strengthen the tyre’s sidewalls providing more durability and protection for demanding driving situations. The fiber makes the tyre more resistant to impacts and cuts that could otherwise easily damage it.

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.”