ZC Rubber beefs up winter-tire offering for Europe

Zhejiang, China – ZC Rubber plans to add 68 new sizes of its Z-series winter tires for the European market in the coming 2020 sales season, the company announced 16 June.

On 1 July, it said, ZC will launch Westlake Generation II Premium commercial truck and light truck tires WSA2LT, WAS2, WDA2LT, WSM2 and WDM2, in the region.

The new sizes are already in production and expected to be available in the second half of 2020, according to ZC’s statement.

The products are “designed for the European fleets who seek for both tire performance and cost-saving, according to the Chinese tire maker.

European customers, noted the company, “are constantly confronted with the rain and snow weather and need to stay mobile in all weather and road conditions.”

The Westlake Generational II Premium truck tires are made in Thailand, a ZC spokeswoman said in a written reply to ERJ’s enquiry.

With regard to tire-label ratings, she stated: “Our products are still in the process of production and transportation to customers, so the specific product data and information is not convenient to disclose for the moment.” 

ZC Rubber launched three Z-series winter tyre products in Europe last year, the four-season tyre Z-401, the winter tyre Z-507, and the studded winter tyre Z-506, 

The product line will now include 142 sizes covering 13 to 19 inches in rim diameter, with “much improved wet grip and lower rolling resistance.” 

ZC cited a 9 March test report by Test World showing that the series had improved by at least 20% in terms of snow performance.