Tyre News

The Churchill Tyres brand from UK wholesaler Bond International now includes many sizes offering top-class wet grip. The brand, which is manufactured by global top ten tyre-maker Sailun Group, offers the Churchill RCB-010 ultra-high performance car tyre in a broad range of 16-20” sizes, many certified with the top A rating on the European tyre label.

With the winter weather now in full swing, Kumho is adding its voice to calls for motorists to ensure their vehicles are equipped with tyres to handle the harsh conditions of the season. The colder months bring freezing temperatures, prolonged wet weather and the risk of snow, which make tyre safety even more crucial. Ensuring vehicles are fitted with tyres which are capable of providing optimal traction, excellent wet handling and superior durability can be the difference between a safe journey and a hazardous one.

Ford has selected Continental tyres as the factory fitment for its new Explorer and Capri electric SUVs. Under an exclusive, worldwide deal, it will deliver both models equipped with Continental EcoContact 6 Q summer tyres in 19-, 20- and 21-inch sizes. Ford has also approved the AllSeasonContact as an original equipment tyre for vehicles fitted with 19-inch rims.

Between November 2023 and February 2024, there were total of 90,852 breakdowns on British roads – an 11.3 per cent increase from the same period a year before (81,617 total). Of these, tyres have been reported as the most common cause of winter breakdowns (November to February) in the UK for three years running.

Hankook Tire is launching Optimo, a new car tyre brand in Europe in mid-2025. The brand offers a new second-line brand alongside the Korean manufacturer’s existing Laufenn brand. The Optimo product line-up will offer good market coverage with six essential products covering a broad range of summer, all-season and winter sizes. Hankook says the sub-premium market segment is “seeing increasing demand”.

The penalties for driving without sufficient tyre tread are steep, yet research conducted on behalf of the RAC and TyreSafe suggests that a majority of motorists have no idea how much tread is enough. Nor are they aware of the fines that await should their vehicle’s tyres be found wanting.