Firestone Gets Severe at Cereals 2004
Avon Revamps Road Hazard Policy

Firestone Gets Severe at Cereals 2004

Firestone has launched a new agricultural tyre designed specifically for harsh soil conditions at Cereals 2004. Part of the popular R8000 radial series, the 'R8000 Severe Service' tyre was initially designed for stony and dry conditions in hot countries like Greece and Spain. Resistance to cuts and tears is greatly enhanced due to a new dense compound. In addition, wear life is extended and will provide tangible operational and financial benefits to farmers and contractors working in areas with a high proportion of flint and stone such as the Yorkshire Wolds or the South Downs.

Despite the cut-resistant properties of the tyre, there is no compromise in other important attributes. The tyre has a large footprint that allows for better flotation and improved traction and features a reduced bar height for improved performance on harsh terrain. As well as being suitable for normal agricultural tractors, the Severe Service tyres can also be used on light construction equipment.

Avon Revamps Road Hazard Policy

Cooper-Avon Tyres has simplified its road hazard warranty policy, making it a better deal than before. The free warranty has been available from Avon since 1998 and provides a replacement tyre in the event of a puncture or irreparable damage being sustained by one of its Azaro tyres. Until now the warranty was valid up to the first millimetre of depth expended, but recent steps to simplify the conditions have resulted in some tyres in the range being covered for up to 1.4mm of wear.

Pete McNally, Cooper-Avon's Product Manager, explained, "Original tread depths vary across a range of tyres, depending on design criteria. Whereas we have previously applied a strict limit of 1millimetre to each individual tyre, we felt that a single minimum remaining tread depth figure, across a range, would make the warranty simpler for the motorcycle trade to administer. This has resulted in an even better deal for the consumer, who could find his tyre covered by the warranty for 40% longer than before."

Unique within the British motorcycle industry, and available across the entire Azaro range, the Road Hazard warranty was introduced in response to the introduction in 1997 of British Standard BSAU159f, which advises against the repair of any Z-rated motorcycle tyre. All a purchaser has to do is to ensure that he or she gets a certificate of fitment completed. Then, if the tyre does suffer an accidental puncture or damage due to a road hazard, the completed certificate is handed over to any Avon stockist who will check the remaining g tread depth and, if the tyre qualifies, arrange a free replacement. All the customer has to pay for is the fitting and balancing of the new Azaro.

Uniroyal Launch Rallye 4x4 Street

Uniroyal is launching a new tyre for the rapidly growing SUV/4x4 sector - the Rallye 4x4 Street. The range will be available in sixteen sizes with 15" to 18" rim diameters, in T, H and V speed ratings, in widths ranging from 205 to 275mm and in 75 to 55 aspect ratios. All sizes will have a 90% on-road, 10% off-road application.

The Uniroyal Rallye 4x4 street was developed mainly for road use and is similar in appearance to the Uniroyal RainSport 1 high performance tyre. The tread pattern looks familiar, but here the similarity ends as there are more tread blocks; the addition of a second casing layer makes the tyre design more sturdy and the higher load index takes account of the greater vehicle weight in the SUV class.

The tread pattern of the Rallye 4x4 Street has also been modified in the shoulder section to enhance traction in off-road use. To allow for the wider range of applications versus the Rainsport 1, the tread on the Rallye 4x4 Street has been made more resistant to damage, for occasional off-road use. Sturdy tread blocks in the tyre shoulder and a greater number of sipes ensure good traction.

Uniroyal's new 4x4 tyre is nevertheless a rain tyre. Thanks to a specially designed tyre contour and an innovative double arrow tread pattern, the water is dispersed rapidly from the contact patch, thereby ensuring excellent resistance to aquaplaning. The new contour means the Rallye 4x4 Street provides a rounder contact patch, which offers benefits in terms of aquaplaning. Last but not least, the high-filled silica compound specifically developed for SUV tyres ensures short braking distances on wet and dry roads.

Maxxis MA-Z1 and MA-P1: High Performance Radials

Cheng Shin Rubber, the Taiwanese tyre manufacturer, who produces tyres under the Maxxis brand name has launched two new tyres for the high performance passenger tyre sector. MA-Z1 is an ultra high-performance radial featuring an aggressive unidirectional tread design. The tyre incorporates a solid centre rib with stiff shoulder blocks for directional stability and handling as well as an advanced silica tread compound for improving wet traction and rolling resistance. Also included is a specially designed rim protector.

Overall, the MA-Z1 is claimed to offer excellent cornering and handling ability, superior wet and dry traction, swift response and minimum noise levels at high speed. The MA-Z1 is available in thirteen W rated sizes in 35, 40 and 45 series aspect ratios.

Also new from Maxxis is the MA-P1 high performance radial, which is being launched in 34 H and V rated sizes from 55 to 70 series. The MA-P1 has been designed to offer superior water dispersion and wet traction combined with excellent steering response and handling stability together with a high degree of ride comfort and low noise. The MA-P1 is a non-directional tyre featuring an aggressive tread design with four circumferential grooves to aid water dispersal.

New Passenger Radials from GT Radial

Two new passenger radials were launched by Indonesian tyre manufacturer Gajah Tunggal (GT Radial) during the Reifen 2004 exhibition in Essen. The Champiro BAX (pictured right)is a V rated high performance tyre featuring an asymmetric tread pattern. The tyre is initially available in fifteen 50, 55 and 60 series sizes. The second tyre launched was the Champiro BXT, a non-directional H rated tyre available in 60 and 65 series fitments. The Champiro BXT is initially available in 16 sizes.

Dunlop SP 30: Wet Performance , Good Braking and Comfort

According to Dunlop, over 70% of consumers want tyres that perform particularly well in the wet and experience very short braking distances. Furthermore, over 50% of drivers won't compromise on comfort to get the driving experience they expect. Dunlop's new SP 30 tyre has been designed to meet this challenge. The SP 30 is a tyre with the performance to ensure superior braking on wet and dry, reassuring aquaplaning resistance and a ride which Dunlop say is so devoid of tyre noise it's almost completely silent.

The key to the new tyre is the SP 30's Asymmetric.Tri-area tread featuring a Hydro-Paddle tread pattern and longitudinal grooves. The tyre's full depth lateral grooves and the unbroken longitudinal grooves quickly drain and eject water from both sides of the tread, offering excellent wet grip and high aquaplaning resistance. Meanwhile, the tyre's longitudinal rail system (a combination of a continuous circumferential rib and lateral slots) leads to a high degree of longitudinal stiffness, offering superior braking in the wet and dry and minimal noise. Last but not least the SP 30's parallelogram block design improves comfort.

New Impetus Sport from Lassa

Lassa Tyres have launched the Impetus Sport, a new, W rated ultra high performance tyre, which is being introduced in a range of fourteen 16", 17" and 18" fitments during the course of the year. The new tyre features a unidirectional tread pattern with wide circumferential grooves and numerous connected slant grooves on the tread and shoulder, which have been designed to provide high resistance to aquaplaning. Meanwhile, a high wet grip compound has been incorporated to provide unique wet grip handling. The Impetus Sport also features a reinforced body ply and reinforced belt edges to allow for greater stability at high speeds, whilst steel bead inserts assure greater ride comfort from reduced body roll and improved steering.