Tyre News

Today is a Blimpless day in the UK, but it returns on Saturday – and Goodyear is offering Blimp fans a chance to win a ride on board. Head over to Goodyear’s Facebook page, and you could be floating above London tomorrow.

The BMW Group has selected Vredestein Ultrac tyres as original equipment for the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. It will fit three sizes of Vredestein Ultrac: 205/65R16 95W, 205/60R17 97W XL and 225/50R18 99W XL. All factory-fitted tyres worn by the new BMW feature a star symbol on the sidewall to indicate that they are a bespoke product developed for this particular vehicle. The star-marked tyres will also be available for purchase as aftermarket fitments at BMW franchised dealers.

Continental has launched the SportContact 7, the latest in its ultra-high performance tyre line. It will initially be available in 42 sizes for rim diameters between 19 and 23 inches and will be joined by further sizes during 2022. Announcing the new-generation product, Continental states that the tyre is oriented towards handling and high mileage, with safety at its core.

After their transformation at the automotive tuner’s facility in Aachen, Germany, AC Schitzer BMW M3s are reputedly the most powerful examples of the model ever made. This oomph meets the road via the Continental SportContact 7. AC Schnitzer kits out the M3 with the tyre in size 285/30 R20 at the front and 295/30 R20 on the drive axle, each on its own lightweight forged rim.

In recent months almost 200 models and sizes of car and SUV tyre have been tested to see how they stop and handle, and how much efficiency and comfort they offer in the process. The results reflect the broad choice presently available to tyre buyers, with the test experts rating 41 of the products – including some affordably-priced models – as very good or even outstanding tyres. At the other end of the scale, they declined to recommend 16 tyres altogether.

Safe, efficient motoring shouldn’t be the preserve of the rich, and anyone looking for excellent value can find a small car that is both affordable and drives well. This rule also applies to the tyres that these cars wear. To help drivers find this balance between frugality and performance, European motoring associations ACE and ARBÖ, together with vehicle monitoring organisation GTÜ, looked at the popular small car tyre size 195/55 R16.