ERJ Tire Tracker: September/October

Latest news on fitments, testing and related innovations from the global tire industry:

In its latest earnings announcement, Nexen Tire said it had started supplying tires for seven new vehicle models during Q3/24. The fitments include the Kia EV3 and Renault Korea Grand Koleos, “bringing the global total to 118,” according to the company statement.

Nexen Tire has advanced its use of “virtual tire modelling and AI-based performance prediction systems through XAI (eXplainable AI).” The group has also recently introduced a ‘high dynamic driving simulator’ to “elevate” its virtual development capabilities and implemented AI-based automated product inspection systems to enhance precision in tire production and strengthen its quality competitiveness.

Continental is to equip the new Brabus Rocket GTS Supercar with its UHP SportContact 7 tires.  The tires are designed to transfer the power, lateral forces, and weight of the Rocket GTS, with “high-end hybrid drive, to the road in a sporty and safe manner during acceleration, handling, and braking.”  A total of 1,000hp “hits the asphalt with high grip, enabling the power transmission for the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds.”

Bridgestone has announced the Battlax Sport Touring T33, a new sport touring radial motorcycle tire, scheduled for launch in January 2025. The “next-generation” tire offers 47% more mileage than its predecessor, high-level wet performance and enhanced handling – helped by a newly designed compound employing a “high-strength, wear resistant polymer that helps to prevent the polymer chain scission.”

For drivers in the UK and Ireland, Continental is recommending its all-season tires for the colder months of the year, including the Uniroyal Rain AllSeasonExpert 2, which is designed to disperse water and has additional sipes to enhance traction in the snow. It also features tread grooves with a shark-skin structure to disperse water particularly quickly.

Pirelli is recalling over 3,000 motorbike tires in the US due to potential defect that could result in tread separation. The Pirelli and Metzeler-branded tires were produced between 30 Nov 2016 and 11 June 2024, said an NHTSA announcement 18 Oct. Read more

Michelin has been selected as the exclusive OE supplier of tires for the Ferrari F80. The French tire maker said it developed “an exclusive tire” marked "K1" inspired by its Pilot Sport Cup 2 R range for the supercar in 15 months, using “new technologies from motorsport and innovative processes.” Michelin said it used its “unique” tire modelling systems to simulate “the most extreme usage situations,” while the tires are manufactured using its C3M process.

Audi is fitting Azenis FK510A AO tires on its A3 allstreet crossover model, supplier Falken has announced. The tires have “excellent” wet-weather properties, due to application of Falken’s advanced 4D NANO design technology. The specially developed rubber compound delivers particularly strong grip iin wet conditions, while also being abrasion-resistant. Falken added that its ‘’adaptive constant pressure’ technology enhances pressure distribution on the surface of the road for optimal fuel efficiency. 

Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 has obtained “the highest score” in a comparative test conducted by Tyre Reviews on the main all-season products currently on the market. The test, the results of which was published in September, was carried out on six tires in 19-inch size (235/35 R19) on a Volkswagen Golf GTI in a variety of conditions, from dry asphalt to snow. According to Pirelli, the Cinturato All Season SF3, which was launched in April, stood out for its grip in wet braking as well as its performance in dry braking and axle grip.

Continental WinterContact TS 870 was named the test winner in the winter tire test published by the German car magazine Auto Bild. The tire received the rating of "exemplary" and an overall score of 1.2 for short braking distance and “very high mileage”. The test examined a total of 53 products in size 205/55 R16 from European, American, and Asian manufacturers on a Volkswagen Golf.

Auto Bild has awarded the Vredestein Quatrac first place in its all-season tire test in 225/50 R17 specification. The Quatrac was praised for its “balanced performance,” “short braking distances” and “sporty and safe handling” in wet, dry and snowy conditions. The test covered 15 all-season tires from ‘popular brands’ and was carried out on a BMW 3 Series.

Continental is fitting its EcoContact 6 Q tires as OE on the new smart #3 Brabus modified Mercedes-Benz SUV coupe. The low-noise energy-saving tires, supplied in 20-inch size, feature a special rubber compound which Continental said reduces energy absorption while driving, which in turn reduces friction as well as rolling resistance. The developers at Continental have additionally optimized the tread of the tire to minimise rolling noise.

Yokohama Rubber Co. is supplying its BluEarth-GT AE51 tires as OE to Toyota Motor for use on the new hybrid sedan, the Camry, which has been launched in EMEA, Asia and Australia. Delivered in size 215/55R17 94V, the tire is claimed to combine fuel efficiency and wet performance while contributing to a quiet ride.

Vipal has introduced a new tread made of a compound that it says provides strong performance on- and off-road. The DV-MM has high resistance to chipping and puncture, providing greater protection for the casing and enabling a longer-lasting retread. The new tread features a special groove and ejectors design that, with above-average capacity, prevents the retention of stones and other objects. This enables better evasion of water and mud, facilitating the tread self-cleaning, and preserving the tire casing.

Michelin has launched the new Michelin XDR 4 Speed Energy at the MINExpo International 2024, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in Sept. The tire is claimed to be the mining industry's “first fuel-efficient tire,” achieving up to 3.6% more fuel savings compared to the Michelin XDR 250 C tire. This, according to Michelin, translates into a saving of around 20,000 litres of fuel, equivalent to more than €21,000 per truck per year. For a fleet of 50 trucks, Michelin said the tire brings about €1 million of savings and a reduction of 2,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The new tire will be launched in 2025.

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 has been crowned the winner of ADAC’s latest winter tire test, earning the highest “good” rating among 16 competing winter tires tested in the compact SUV segment. The evaluation assessed the tires’ safety and performance in snow, wet, and dry conditions, as well as their environmental impact. Goodyear said its tire stood out for its “safe and precise driving characteristics”, delivering “very high predicted mileage, low abrasion, and excellent efficiency, with no notable weaknesses.” 

Yokohama Rubber Co. is supplying its BluEarth AE-01 tires as OE to Honda Motor for use on the N-Box Joy, the crossover model of its mini-vehicle N-Box. The BluEarth AE-01, according to YRC, is a fuel-efficient standard tire in the BluEarth tire brand, which is developed based on the concept of being “environmentally, human, and socially friendly”. YRC said it is “aggressively” developing tires employing its eco-friendly BluEarth tire technology, with many of the tires now coming factory-equipped on a variety of new car models.

Goodyear has integrated its DriverHub application into DAF Trucks’ online fleet management platform PACCAR Connect, which combines in-vehicle hardware and software in a detachable tablet in the cab. The platform allows fleet operators to monitor and manage the performance of individual DAF vehicles and entire fleets in real time. Goodyear DriverHub is a tire monitoring application that alerts drivers to real-time tire conditions. The application provides immediate notifications for tire pressure and temperature deviations, enabling predictive maintenance to lower the risk of breakdowns.

Michelin has launched Michelin X Line Energy 3 and Michelin X Multi Energy 2, claimed to be “ahead of the market” in terms of fuel efficiency and lateral grip without compromising other performances. The two new ranges are designed for long-distance and regional journeys, offering high mileage and robustness. Launched during the IAA Transportation expo, held 16-22 Sept in Hanover, Germany,
Michelin X Line Energy 3 can deliver fuel savings of 0.62 L/100 km compared to the average of premium brands, i.e. between €700 and €2,200 saved per truck per year. Michelin X Multi Energy 2 provides fuel savings of 0.16 L/100 km compared to the average of premium brands, representing between €100 and €380 saved per truck per year.

Goodyear debuted EQMAX and EQMAX Ultra tire ranges during the IAA Transportation expo. The tires, according to Goodyear, are designed with emphasis on sustainable material usage, fuel efficiency and versatility. Depending on the different sizes, tires from the tire ranges are made with up to 55% sustainable materials, including ingredients like rice husk ash (RHA)-based silica. A new tread compound that includes a higher content of silica enhances mileage of the tires by up to 20% and lowers rolling resistance by up to 6% compared to their predecessors. The high abrasion-resistant tread compound made with silica is engineered to help improve wear, reduce heat generation, and lower rolling resistance.

Apollo Tyres has extended its portfolio of regional transport tires with the launch of two new products for heavy-duty trucks and trailer units. The EnduRace RD HD drive tire and the EnduRace RT HD+ trailer tires are both claim to exceed the European regulatory standard for durability – by 150% for the EnduRace RD HD and 170% for the EnduRace RT HD+. The tires are B-rated for wet performance, helped by an ‘open-block’ tread pattern, and are optimised footprint to distribute pressure evenly. The new products were unveiled during the IAA Transportation expo and will be available on the market as of October.

Bridgestone’s fleet management operations Webfleet has debuted an AI assistant to help fleet managers interact with their data more easily. Launched at IAA Transportation 2024 in Hanover, the feature will enable fleet managers to access their increasing fleet data through asking questions from the assistant. With the technology, fleet customers "can take data-driven actions faster and with more clarity to improve their operations,” said Bridgestone.  Read more

Audi has selected Goodyear tires as OE fitments for the Q6 e-tron, its new fully electric premium SUV. The summer and winter tires - 18” to 21” -  are from the tire maker’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric and UltraGrip ranges for summer and winter applications, respectively. The new Q6 e-tron was required to meet specific exterior noise standards in-line with new regulations that mandated a reduction of 2 dB1. Goodyear said it supported Audi’s targets by tailoring the tread design and tuning the construction of the OE tires.

At the IAA in Hanover, Apollo Tyre launched two new products for heavy-duty trucks and trailer units. The EnduRace RD HD drive tire and the EnduRace RT HD+ trailer tire are designed to deliver superior durability to support extended mileages, as well as offer high levels of grip and traction. The products are said to exceed the European regulatory standard for durability – by 150% and 170% respectively.  

Falken Tyre Europe has begun supplying Falken ‘Azenis RS820’ tires to Audi S3. The tire has been designed for “accurate handling, stability and control under all driving conditions,” according to Falken. Featuring an asymmetric tread pattern with four circumferential tread grooves, the tire has an improved shoulder design for increased contact with the road which enhances lateral stability on dry roads. Falken has also used its motorsport technologies, such as hybrid aramid reinforcement material and an optimised belt ply in the tire.

Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) has begun the delivery of its "Advan Sport V107" tires as OE for the BMW M2, a high-performance compact sports car released in April. The “ultra-high performance” tire was jointly developed with BMW M, and features a special pattern design to achieve both acceleration noise performance and steering stability. YRC’s "mound profile" technology ensures a more uniform contact surface, enabling the tire to achieve high dry performance and wear resistance. The tire has also been rated A in European labelling system for its wet performance.

Linglong has presented a new winter tire, Grip Master Winter, for the high and ultra high performance segment for compact, medium and luxury class vehicles. Compared to its predecessor, Green-Max Winter UHP and Green-Max Winter HP, the tire offers improved “comfort, precise handling, short braking distances and good environmental properties.” For optimal functioning in rain and snow, the tire uses a directional tread pattern with special 3D sipes and a newly developed polymer-silica composite tire compound. The directional V-shaped tread pattern and interlocking tread blocks ensure “a high level of driving stability.”

Pirelli has obtained over 500 homologations for its ‘Elect’ tires – developed for electric and hybrid vehicles – since launching the product range in 2019. Elect tires include a package of technologies that enhance the specific characteristics of electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Pirelli said seven out of 10 “premium and prestige car manufacturers” had chosen its tires for use on their BEVs and PHEVs The tires are claimed to provide up to 50km of extra range compared to Pirelli’s conventional tires. Read more

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ERJ July/Aug Tire Tracker