NOVA PRATA, Brazil — Brazilian retread materials producer Borrachas Vipal S/A has received the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Alpine Symbol certifications on two more treads, VM729 and VDE2, bringing to six the number of verified treads made by the Latin American retreader.
The other verified treads are VDA4, VT160, VT220 and VRT3.
Vipal said VM729 is designed for radial tires and drive axles and provides uniform wear, low noise levels and excellent drive on dry and wet surfaces. The company recommends it for long-distance services on paved surfaces.
VDE2, according to Vipal, has excellent drive power and tread direction, offering abrasion wear resistance. It is suitable for highway freight transportation.
Both the VM729 and VDE2 treads also are available in the ECO version.
"With constant work, Vipal Rubber has been following the increasingly specific requirements of the European market, mainly aiming to ensure more tread safety and in the products, which respect health and the environment," said Leandro Rigon, Vipal's director of international business.
Under new European regulations, all tires, including retreads, must have the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, with the Alpine Symbol seal identification, on the tread side. European regulations ECE R117 and ECE R109, which define testing methodology, list specifications for a tire to be approved and to receive the symbol, including a grip index on snowy surfaces, or a snow grip index (SGI) 25 percent higher than a standard tire.
Vipal said tests on the tires were conducted at the Test World laboratory in Finland, which performs analysis for vehicles, tires and other components.
Vipal operates three plants in Brazil and operates several distribution centers across the globe.