Vredestein unveils first all-season UHP tire for North America

ATLANTA — Apollo Tyre Ltd.'s 111-year-old Vredestein brand is rolling out its first all-season ultra high performance tire, the Hypertrac, tailored to the North American driver and the U.S. environment.

Hypertrac is the first in a series of new Vredestein tire lines designed specifically for the U.S. market that the Indian tire maker plans to roll out in 2020. The tire completes Vredestein's UHP line of more than 300 sizes, which includes the summer (Ultrac Vorti), winter (Wintrac Pro), all-weather (Quatrac Pro) and all-season (Hypertrac) UHP segments.

"Today's vehicle owners place a higher premium on versatile performance than ever before and are looking for supreme confidence across a wide range of road surfaces, conditions and climates," Abhishek Bisht, global head of new markets and channels for Apollo Tyres, said.

Vredestein sent a team of engineers and developers to the U.S., visiting every state, to produce a tire specific to the needs of the market. The tire they developed accommodates 95 percent of the market.

The Hypertrac, which fits luxury passenger cars and crossovers, is available in 38 sizes fitting 16- to 20-inch rim diameters, and includes a 100-day trial period and a 50,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.

"Hypertrac is a successful validation of Vredestein's research, testing and high-tech manufacturing capabilities," Daniele Lorenzetti, chief technology officer at Apollo, said. "Our global expertise, combined with a local focus on the North American market, has delivered a tire that we believe sets new standards for the all-season UHP category."

Apollo said the tire performs especially well in wet conditions, which affects every part of the North American market. Other attributes include:

• A contour is designed for dynamic pressure distribution and optimized footprint;
• High-void tread pattern and optimized groove positions that allow faster water evacuation from the contact patch.
• A polymer-blend construction ratio tuned for superior wet grip;
• Dry-road agility and precision;
• A highly engineered tire structure, molded into a dynamic tread pack that provides excellent balance for precise driving in demanding wet and dry conditions;
• Advanced tread pattern with wider outer shoulders helps deliver superior cornering response; and
• A compound that employs unique resins to deliver optimal performance.

The tire is manufactured at Apollo's plant in 3-year-old plant in Gyöngyöshalász, Hungary.