Toyo gains OE fitments with Audi
OSAKA, Japan—Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd.'s Proxes T1 Sport (R01) tires have been chosen by Audi A.G. as the exclusive original equipment standard fitment on the car maker's Audi TT RS model.
Toyo President and CEO Kenji Nakakura said the tire maker's new Proxes T1 Sport (R01), size 255/35 R 19 96Y, “is the ideal tire for the most powerful Audi TT RS. With outstanding handling and aerodynamics, coupled to a 340ps engine, the Audi TT RS requires an exceptional tire.”
Audi also picked the Proxes T1 Sport (AO) tire as an OE fitment for its TT and TTS models. The T1 Sport (AO), in size 255/35R19 96Y, will be one of a select few makes of tires fitted to Audi TT models specified with optional 19-inch wheels, Mr. Nakakura said.
The same tire will be the exclusive fitment to all Audi TTS models specified with 19-inch wheels, he added.
Uniroyal debuts tire, adds sizes
GREENVILLE, S.C.—Michelin North America Inc.'s Uniroyal brand launched the Tiger Paw Ice & Snow II tire Aug. 1 in 29 sizes.
“The tire is designed to perform in all weather conditions, but excels in cold, icy, wet and snowy weather,” said Andy Koury, winter category manager. “We used the latest technology to help the tire maintain adhesion and flexibility in low temperatures, thus improving its cold weather grip.”
Uniroyal said the tire is molded for studs to enhance ice traction and meets the Rubber Manufacturers Association severe snow traction performance requirements. It also has a highly siped tread surface, deep tread grooves and a winter adapted tread compound.
Uniroyal also is expanding its Tiger Paw Touring line to 19 T-rated sizes and five H- and V-rated sizes.
The T-rated sizes come with an 80,000-mile manufacturer's treadwear limited warranty and became available July 1, while the H- and V-rated sizes will be available Sept. 1.
The latter sizes come with a 70,000-mile manufacturer's treadwear limited warranty.
The Tiger Paw Touring tire has a solid shoulder tread block design and wide tread grooves.
The tire also features Uniroyal's signature DuraShield construction, which includes pyramidal steel belts, insulating belt edge strips and a heavy gauge inner liner.
Conti updates HSR2 steer tire
FORT MILL, S.C.—Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. has launched a more fuel-efficient version of its HSR2 medium-duty steer tire, the HSR2 Eco Plus.
The tire, designed to increase fuel savings for hybrid highway and regional road applications, offers a 15-percent improvement in rolling resistance over the original HSR2, boosting fuel economy by about 3 percent, Conti said.
The HSR2 Eco Plus incorporates several features found on the original HSR2 regional steer tire, including a protective curb rib for high-scrub applications, patented groove geometry to reduce cracking and tearing and Conti's proprietary VAI+ system of visual alignment indicators that also show the tire's tread depth.
The tire is also one of the few regional application tires to be verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership as a low rolling resistance truck tire, Conti said.
The tire maker added that regional tires often have difficulty qualifying for SmartWay because they include compounds that reduce chipping and chunking. Roger Stansbie, director of radial truck tire technology for Conti, said the HSR2 Eco Plus is a perfect match for handling highways and regional roads.
“If you run the combined application of some long-haul highway traffic and some regional on-road traffic, then the HSR2 Eco Plus has the ideal combination of tread compound and grooves,” Mr. Stansbie said. “It's going to be the answer these fleets have been searching for, as far as fuel efficiency goes.”
The HSR2 Eco Plus, which is produced at Continental's Mt. Vernon, Ill., tire plant, is available in size 275/80/R22.5.
Hankook to supply UHP tires in Canada
SEOUL, South Korea—Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. said it will begin supplying 20-inch ultra-high-performance tires as original equipment products to Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln MKT later this year for the Canadian market.
The tire maker said the contract is its first to supply 20-inch UHP tires to a North American car manufacturer.
Toyo Proxes T1R gets OE upgrade
RICHMOND, British Columbia—Toyo Tire Canada Inc. has secured an OE upgrade fitment for its Proxes T1R tire on the new 2011 Mazda2 Yozora, a special limited edition sub-compact exclusive to the Canadian market.
Yozora, which means “night sky” in Japanese, is based on the entry-level Mazda2 GX model. The vehicle comes standard with the Proxes T1R in size 195/45R16 80V.
“With its captivating design, exceptional value and fun-to-drive attributes, the Mazda2 Yozora will cater to our younger enthusiasts, who value individuality and expression,” said Mike Collinson, director of marketing and product strategy for Mazda Canada.
The Yozora's standard package includes a black exterior finish with a “2”-themed decal on the front driver's side bumper and fender, a raised spoiler, short stubby antenna, chrome tailpipe and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Toyo said the Proxes T1R was developed using its proprietary T-Mode simulation technology. The tire features a high-grip, silica tread compound and refined unidirectional tread design for enhanced wet and dry performance, rigid shoulder rib-bands to provide improved cornering capabilities and parallel shoulder slits to help reduce irregular wear.
Michelin updates XZL2 military tire
GREENVILLE, S.C.—Michelin North America Inc. (MNA) has introduced the next generation of the Michelin XZL2 tire for both military and off-road commercial applications.
The tire features a redesigned tread pattern that offers greater speed capabilities and improved tread life over a wide range of terrains.
“Whether you're driving a tactical military vehicle in Afghanistan or a snow plow in Minnesota, the XZL2 tire will exceed expectations in terms of speed capability and mileage,” said Jim Griese, director of military products for MNA.
Lower ground contact pressure in the XZL2 tire—available in size 395/85R20—offers improved performance without sacrificing the off-road capabilities and toughness for the world's most demanding applications, according to the tire maker.