Nova Motorsport has secured a multi-year agreement to become the Official Tyre Partner of the PartsForCars.ie Irish Rallycross Championship (IRX). The deal, struck with championship promoter Mondello Park, also brings in leading Irish motorsport supplier Euro M-Sport as a third partner. Under the arrangement, Nova Motorsport will serve as the exclusive tyre supplier to three headline classes from Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2026/27 season onward.

The affected categories are Supercar, Super Buggies and FIA Cross Car. Euro M-Sport will be present at every IRX event to supply and fit Nova Motorsport tyres for all competitors in these classes, ensuring consistent product availability and expert trackside assistance throughout the campaign. The collaboration links Ireland’s foremost rallycross promoter with a tyre brand whose lineage is deeply rooted in the discipline.

Nova Motorsport manufactures the former Avon Motorsport range under licence and owns the assets and intellectual property previously employed to produce Cooper Tires competition products. This gives the brand direct continuity with tyres that have long dominated rallycross, from national events to the FIA World Rallycross Championship. In the Supercar class, IRX competitors will use the Nova ACB11 in 225/640-17 fitment, with the Nova RALLYCROSS WET 210/635R17 available for wet conditions.

The ACB11 stands as the most successful rallycross tyre ever produced, with 10 FIA World Rallycross Championship titles, over 20 consecutive European crowns and numerous national honours. Relaunched in 2024, it is manufactured in Portugal using the original moulds, compound and construction, allowing IRX drivers to race on the same specification that has defined the sport’s elite level. Super Buggies and FIA Cross Car will run the all-new Nova ZZXC, revealed in August 2026 and developed specifically for Cross Car competition.

The ZZXC is Nova Motorsport’s first clean-sheet design. Its asymmetric rear tread fits either side of the car, reducing spare requirements, while a larger-block outer shoulder boosts durability and a more open inner pattern generates traction. Tyre pressure adjustments alter the rear profile for dry, wet or muddy conditions. Benchmark testing with three-time FIA European Cross Car Champion David Méat confirmed strong start-line traction, lateral grip and durability. The partnership also includes branding on every car in the exclusive categories, winner’s caps, Mondello Park signage, digital promotion and website features.

Roddy Greene, Managing Director, Mondello Park, said, “We are excited to have Nova Motorsport as our Tyre Partner as we enter a new era in the promotion of the Irish Rallycross Championship. Although Nova Motorsport is a relatively new company, it comes with a huge heritage, particularly in rallycross. Rallycross demands specialist tyres, so bringing on board a company as synonymous with rallycross as Nova Motorsport was an easy decision. We look forward to working with Nova as we continue to promote rallycross within Irish Motorsport.”

Matthew Vincent, Senior Product Category Manager, Nova Motorsport, said, “Nova Motorsport is proud to become Official Tyre Partner of the Irish Rallycross Championship. Irish rallycross has a long history and a passionate following, and under Mondello Park’s promotion, the IRX is a championship with real momentum. This agreement reinforces our commitment to rallycross at every level of the sport and gives us the ideal platform to bring both the ACB11 and the all-new ZZXC to a new group of competitors. The ACB11 needs little introduction. It is the most successful rallycross tyre ever made, and IRX Supercar drivers will race on exactly the construction and compound that has won world championships. The ZZXC is the first product we have created from a clean sheet, developed specifically for Cross Car, so it is fitting that the Super Buggies and FIA Cross Car classes will be among the first to compete on it. With Euro M-Sport delivering trackside supply and fitting at every round, competitors can be confident of consistent product and the highest level of support throughout the season.”

Mick McCullagh, Director, Euro M-Sport, said, “Rallycross, with the help of Mondello Park, has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most exciting spectacles in Irish Motorsport. Euro M-Sport has a growing professional track record across multi-discipline motorsports, such as BSB, WEC, Motorsport Ireland Stages Events and contractual work with OEM Manufacturers. We are now delighted to partner with Nova Motorsport and the IRX to provide a world-class tyre and fitting service and help continue the growth of Rallycross in Ireland.”

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Plaza Tire Service, a prominent tyre and automotive service provider in the Midwest and member of the Sun Auto Network, has expanded its footprint with a new store in Mattoon, Illinois. The addition strengthens the company's presence in the state and offers drivers throughout Central Illinois improved access to trusted tyre and vehicle maintenance services.

The Mattoon location provides motorists with a convenient destination for tyres, preventive maintenance and automotive repair. Customers can choose from an extensive inventory of leading tyre brands while accessing a full range of services, including oil changes, brake service, batteries, alignments, steering and suspension repair and other routine maintenance.

Plaza Tire Service emphasises selection, convenience and value through its Price Match Guarantee and signature 4 Tires in 1 Hour Guarantee, with broad in-stock inventory available for same-day installation. Founded in Missouri in 1963, the company has become one of the Midwest's largest tyre and automotive service providers, operating across five states while combining regional heritage with the resources of the more than 600-location Sun Auto Network.

Rob Kingery, Regional Vice President, Sun Auto Tire & Service, said, "We're excited to bring Plaza Tire Service to Mattoon and introduce more drivers to the convenience, value and trusted service that have defined our brand for more than 60 years. This location allows us to serve the community with the tyre expertise, same-day service and comprehensive automotive care that customers have come to expect from Plaza Tire Service."

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Bridgestone has unveiled the BATTLAX ADVENTURE A42, an adventure motorcycle tyre slated for sequential release across global markets beginning 1 January 2027. Conceptualised as the answer to road-going adventurers, the tyre targets riders who predominantly stay on pavement, aiming to blend peace of mind, economy and comfort. Whether navigating city streets, expressways or winding roads, it seeks to harmonise wet performance and wear life while curbing ride noise to support comfortable long-distance touring.

Adventure motorcycles are prized for their versatility, spanning urban commuting to extended travel. In Europe, demand for tyres in this segment has climbed 45 percent over the past decade. Bridgestone originally addressed this growing category with the BATTLAX ADVENTURE A41 in December 2017, responding to rider priorities such as wet-weather grip during sudden downpours, wear resistance and long-haul comfort.

The new A42 builds on that foundation with measurable gains in three areas. Under straight-line acceleration, tyre slip ratio drops 14 percent versus the prior model, aiding stability in rain. Wear life extends by 18 percent at the front and 25 percent at the rear. A larger contact patch enhances stability and comfort, and internal testing showed a 15 percent reduction in tyre noise.

These improvements stem from new tread compounds, an adventure-inspired tread pattern and optimised construction that carries forward core BATTLAX lineage details with materials tailored to road-oriented adventure bikes. The front compound employs a flexible polymer for road grip, while the rear uses a polymer boosting wear resistance and mileage – both feature tuned silica and carbon content. The aggressive yet refined pattern, inheriting the latest BATTLAX design language, incorporates Pulse Groove water drainage technology and a revised groove layout that raises pattern stiffness, balancing wet performance, wear life and quietness.

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Apollo Tyres Ltd's premium Vredestein brand has reinforced its all-season reputation after the Quatrac Pro 2 and Quatrac delivered strong results across three German group tests by Auto Bild, Auto Bild Allrad and Auto Motor und Sport, with the Quatrac Pro 2 earning Exemplary ratings in both Auto Bild evaluations and the Quatrac securing a Very good rating and a Price Performance recommendation from Auto Motor und Sport.

Auto Bild placed the Quatrac Pro 2 joint second in size 225/45 R 17. Thirty tyres entered wet and dry braking qualification, with 15 advancing to full testing in a Volkswagen Golf and Golf GTI. The tyre produced the best snow performance, with the shortest snow braking distance at 25 metres from 50 kmph, the fastest snow handling at 55.6 kmph and the highest snow slalom lateral acceleration at 2.51 m/s². It recorded the second shortest wet braking distance at 42.8 metres from 100 kmph and the lowest pass-by noise at 69.6 dB(A).

In Auto Bild Allrad's SUV test, the Quatrac Pro 2 finished joint second among 12 products in size 225/55 R 18 on a MINI Countryman, recording the shortest wet braking distance at 51.8 metres from 100 kmph and strong aquaplaning results, sharing second in the snow slalom at 4.70 m/s², recording joint third snow braking at 25.9 metres from 50 kmph, ranking fourth in dry braking at 39.4 metres from 100 kmph and achieving the lowest pass-by noise at 68.2 dB. Launched this year, the Quatrac Pro 2 covers 17- to 24-inch rims, with widths up to 355mm, speed ratings up to 300 kmph and high-load options, while its longitudinal and directional groove tread supports an A wet grip rating.

Auto Motor und Sport tested the Quatrac in size 195/55 R 16 on a Hyundai i20, where it stopped in 30.4 metres from 80 kmph on wet roads, recorded the second fastest wet handling at 88.5 kmph and ranked third in the wet circle at 7.71 m/s². On dry roads the Quatrac recorded the second fastest handling at 115.9 kmph, with testers noting agile steering and stability in avoidance manoeuvres, while it showed balanced snow handling at 88 kmph. Vredestein has been recognised for all-season tyres since the 1990s and now offers one of the market's most comprehensive portfolios.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President, Commercial EMEA at Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “Drivers choosing all-season tyres want confidence that they can cope with changing conditions throughout the year. These independent test results demonstrate the strength of our all-season range, from the Quatrac for mid-sized family cars and SUVs, to the Quatrac Pro 2 optimised for high-performance vehicles of all types. These products are the result of enduring commitment to the all-season category, as well as our focus on designing and developing tyres in Europe to meet the needs of European drivers.”

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TBC Corporation, one of North America’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tyres through wholesale and franchise operations, has expanded its Multi-Mile Tires lineup with the Multi-Mile Matrix 4S, an all-weather tyre designed to deliver dependable, durable traction across diverse terrains and weather conditions. The addition broadens a portfolio that now covers nearly 90 percent of the vehicle market, positioning dealers to address virtually any customer requirement.

The Matrix 4S incorporates an advanced all-weather tread compound paired with a distinctive asymmetric tread pattern for strong grip and stable handling. It holds 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe snow certification, while turned tread blocks help minimise road noise for a quieter, smoother ride. The tyre comes in 24 sizes spanning 15 to 20 inches, accommodating a broad range of passenger cars and CUVs.

Multi-Mile, a prominent name in the replacement tyre market, offers touring, high-performance and broad-line products for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. Every Multi-Mile tyre is supported by the Mile After Mile Protection Plan, encompassing three-year roadside assistance, three-year road hazard protection and a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.

Rachel Tibor, Chief Marketing Officer for TBC Wholesale, said, “The Matrix 4S adds to a Multi-Mile Tires portfolio that has produced durable, reliable and cost-effective tyres for more than 70 years. Multi-Mile Tires deliver the safety and performance drivers have come to expect and the product options dealers demand. We continue to expand our portfolio to provide the right tyres at the right time for any type of vehicle or application.”

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