Radar Tyres, a brand owned by Singapore-headquartered Omni United, held a landmark dealer event last month in Krugersdorp, South Africa, titled ‘Mission: African Terrain’ to unveil its latest product and initiatives and announce some of the upcoming ranges. The event was graced by over 150 attendees including key dealers from South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Radar’s latest launch, the Renegade A/T Sport, is a next-generation all-terrain tyre and part of its Premium Collection. The tyre has been extensively tested and engineered to offer drivers exceptional off-road performance as well as smooth on-road ride. It is currently available in 14 sizes and comes with several safety and performance-related features that are listed below:

Ultra-Shield System: It is a combination of stone ejectors, serrations on the bottom tread and strong tie bars designed to enhance durability, increase puncture resistance and casing protection.

Gravel-Trac Technology: This features an optimised interlocking tread block design in combination with reverse radius on shoulder blocks to provide good all-terrain performance on gravel roads and exceptional traction on sand and mud.

Enduramax Compound: This is a special silica-based compound for improved cut and chip resistance and maximum grip in all conditions.

Snake-Bite Tread Block Design: This unique tread block design creates torsional strength in all directions, protecting the aggressive shoulder block, and works in tandem with the wide circumferential centre block design to provide increased stability and handling performance.

Project Safedrive

Radar Tyres also announced its Project Safedrive initiative at the event in line with its commitment to prioritising driver and vehicle safety through advanced yet affordable tyre technology.

Under this initiative, Radar announced run-flat technology in seven key sizes under its Dimax Sport and Dimax Sprint ranges for CUV drivers in South Africa. These seven key sizes will be available at subsidised rates to its dealers and are expected to be available in South Africa by the end of 2024.

The second offering under this initiative is the bulletproof tyre range, branded as Renegade Ultra, which is currently under development and undergoing ballistics testing. The range will be introduced under the Renegade series of light truck and 4x4 tyres. It will be available by Q1 of 2025.

"South Africa represents a key market for Radar Tyres, and we are proud to showcase our Radar Premium Collection – a range of tyres that rivals the performance of leading brands but comes at a much more accessible price point. The objective of Mission African Terrain is not just about showcasing products; it’s about forging strong connections with retailers and demonstrating the essence of our brand, which has always been rooted in giving back to the community. Project SafeDrive is a prime example of this commitment. We recognise the unique challenges faced by everyday drivers in South Africa, especially women, who prioritise safety and reliability on the road. By subsidising key run-flat tyre sizes, we are ensuring that safety isn't a luxury but a standard – one that is affordable and within reach for all drivers. This initiative isn't just about tyres; it’s about empowering the community, providing peace of mind, and reinforcing our dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of South African drivers," said GS Sareen, President and CEO of Omni United.

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.”