MILAN, Italy (Oct. 24, 2001)—Pirelli S.p.A. is launching a run-flat tire line, called [email protected], which is Pirelli's first original equipment tire produced using the firm's automated MIRS tire manufacturing platform.
The new tire line will be an OE fitment on the new BMW Mini-Cooper; the car and special tire fitment were to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, Oct. 27-Nov. 7.
[email protected] is a name chosen by Pirelli Web site visitors earlier this year in a contest that attracted 21,000 entries.
Goodyear announced at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show that it had been chosen to supply an Eagle NCT 5 EMT run-flat tire for the same car. The BMW Mini is a modern version of the original British Leyland Mini, one of the first mass produced front-wheel-drive cars launched in the early 1960s.
The standard fitment for the entry-level Mini is a 175/65R15, while the more performance-oriented Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S versions have optional fitments of 16- and 17-inch sizes, according to BMW.