Vredestein sees renewed demand for Space Master spare

Enschede, Netherlands - Amtel Vredestein NV has shipped its millionth inflatable Space Master spare tyre, a decades-old Vredestein-specific product that is generating renewed interest from car makers for their latest generation small sport-utility vehicles and four-wheel-drive models.

The millionth Space Master was shipped to Audi AG for fitment on Audi´s A6 All Road, the company said.

The Space Master tyre is a folded design, occupying only about 40 percent of the space of a full-size spare while offering a weight reduction of up to 35 percent, Vredestein said. The tyre can be inflated in less than five minutes with a compressor powered by the car's electrical system, and it can be reused, the company said.

Rob Oudshoorn, chief executive of Vredestein and board member of the Amtel-Vredestein group, said the tyre is a cross-ply design, which allows it to inflate to the most appropriate diameter for the vehicle to which it is fitted. This contrasts with the alternative mini-spare, which is very often smaller in rolling diameter than the other three wheels.

Oudshoorn said the reason the Space Master is becoming more popular is that vehicle electronics have become so sophisticated, that they will detect the mismatch in the size of the mini-spare and will sometimes prevent the engine from starting in a condition the electronics judge to be unsafe.

He added that there are now five or more options for mobility. One is the conventional full-sized spare tyre. Another is a compressor and sealant kit that temporarily fixes a puncture and re-inflates the tyre. This is the cheapest option, he added. A third option is the mini-spare, next is the run-flat tyre and the Space Master adds a fifth option to the list. A sixth option is more popular than any: call out the roadside rescue organisation to bring a tyre and replace the damaged one.

The SpaceMaster is being used by Mercedes-Benz AG, Porsche AG, Maserati SpA and Audi on various models. The unit is available in various sizes from 165/80R15 up to 175/50R19. These can be used to replace tyres in the band from 175/60R15 up to 295/30ZR22.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)