Wintrac 4 Xtreme from Vredestein
Black to the Future

Wintrac 4 Xtreme from Vredestein

In 2004 Vredestein launched the Wintrac Xtreme, an ultra-high performance winter tyre, jointly developed with Giugiaro Design. Now Vredestein has introduced a new SUV winter tyre, the Wintrac 4 Xtreme, which is claimed to offer unprecedented levels of safety, design and comfort.

The Wintrac 4 Xtreme leverages Giugaro's innovative design work, the aggressive, taut lines of which provide the W-shaped tread with a powerful appearance. The tyre reflects the very latest developments in the luxury SUV segment, where priority is given to safety, design and comfort.

Designed for SUVs Popular Sport Utility Vehicles such as the BMW X3 and X5, Mercedes ML, Volvo XC90, Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg 1 all have off-road qualities. Nonetheless, when it comes to the use of these cars, it is increasingly the on-road aspect that is emphasised. Not only does the Wintrac 4 Xtreme have excellent on-road properties, but it also features a number of important all-terrain characteristics. For instance, the tread has good self-cleaning properties, resulting in an excellent performance on wintry and unpaved roads. The structure of the tyre has been designed so that it can easily support the heavy weight of the SUV in the most extreme circumstances.

Handling is optimal thanks to the special belt construction, the carefully composed tread compound and the rigid sidewall. The Wintrac 4 Xtreme also offers precise steering, an increasingly sought after feature of SUVs. The grooves have been toughened to withstand damage caused by pebbles and stones. All sizes of the Wintrac 4 Xtreme come equipped with a rim protector, which helps prevent alloy damage.

Safety

Safety is the primary concern of Vredestein's designers. Research has shown that the capacity of SUVs is often overestimated. Despite the weight of the car, they are expected to safely negotiate wet or snowy roads in wintry conditions due to the four-wheel drive. This expectation is, however, only justified if winter tyres have been fitted: Even SUVs are subject to the constraint that tyres are the only contact area between the car and the wet, snowy or icy road.

The good winter qualities of the Wintrac 4 Xtreme are guaranteed by the addition of Optimum Silica Processing™ (OSP™) to the tread compound, a technology that first proved itself in Wintrac 4 Xtreme tyres. OSP™ uses a new binding agent that makes the connections between the silica and rubber within the compound stronger and more numerous. The result is both an increased resistance to slip on wet roads - a short braking distance - and an all-round improvement of winter qualities.

The directional tread of the Wintrac 4 Xtreme also benefits from earlier experiences. The sharp W-tread designed by Giugiaro, with the lateral grooves arranged in opposite directions on the tread shoulders, was created for maximum grip on snow and ice. The central groove ensures efficient water dispersal and reduces the chances of aquaplaning. The straight sipes in the central section are perpendicular to the driving direction for better grip on snow, and the special zigzag-shaped sipes in the tread shoulders contribute to the excellent handling properties.

Comfort

The high position behind the steering wheel and the feeling of freedom that SUVs provide have made these cars enormously popular in just a few years. Good all-terrain properties and the powerful traction of the engines make SUVs equipped with Wintrac 4 Xtreme winter tyres as suitable for towing a horse box as for going skiing.

The unique Giugiaro design and the qualities of the tyre stand out in all circumstances. The designers of the Wintrac 4 Xtreme paid a great deal of attention to comfort, achieving not only a relaxed driving performance at high speeds, but also low noise levels, due to the fact that the tread blocks are not arranged in a straight line in relation to the circumferential grooves. Indentations in the groves allow their width to vary, preventing peaks in the noise range.

Finally, an equal distribution of pressure in the tyre print contributes to a regular wear pattern, maintaining low noise levels throughout the lifespan of the tyre.

Vredestein's Wintrac 4 Xtreme is available in 14 H and V rated sizes.

Black to the Future

TMD Friction UK Ltd have launched a new C-tech high performance black brake disc for use on fast-road applications or the track. Initially developed to meet the demands of motorsport, the C-Tech range is formulated for fast, safe braking across a range of surfaces and applications. C-Tech brake pads and discs offer high performance, virtually fade-free braking, even at high temperatures. The new C-tech black disc retains TMD Friction's stylish, highly functional, dimpled and grooved design, which helps to sweep away debris and gases, allowing fast heat dispersion without the risk of thermal cracking.