Tyre News

EcoContact 6 Q tyres have been factory-fitted on the BYD Seal since last year, and Continental is now delivering original equipment tyres for the BYD Seal U. The electric SUV is available with Continental PremiumContact C (the ‘C’ standing for ‘Comfort’) in size 235/50 R19 99V. Continental tells us that this supply arrangement applies in “numerous countries” where the Seal U is sold.

A shocking new study suggests UK motorists are putting lives at risk due to an alarming lack of tyre safety knowledge. As the only point of contact with the road, checking and maintaining tyres is essential in ensuring the roadworthiness of the vehicle and optimising the safety of all road users. Yet fewer than a fifth (19 per cent) of those surveyed check their tyre tread depth every month, which is the recommended frequency.

After conducting half a dozen all-season and winter tyre tests this year, Auto Bild is well positioned to identify and acknowledge the manufacturers who have consistently produced safe, well-performing tyres. It has now done so, naming Pirelli its star amongst the all-season tyre makers for 2024/25 and Michelin the leading manufacturer of winter tyres. Continental and Goodyear secure a podium place for both categories.

The Continental winter tyre portfolio has grown with the addition of the WinterContact 8 S. From launch, this new winter tyre for high-performance vehicles will be available in fitments for 19- to 22-inch rim diameters and rated up to W, for speeds as high as 168 mph (270 km/h). All dimensions are EU tyre label ‘B’ rated for rolling resistance.

BMW Group has announced that the second generation of its BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé will arrive in March 2025, promising that the car will set “a new standard in the premium compact segment.” Order books are now open in the UK, with prices starting at £34,915 on the road. BMW has approved a range of tyres for UK deliveries, including run-flat and winter tyres.

Earlier this year, when Sportauto tested examined five brands of size 215/40 R18 summer tyres, it included an all-season product in its testing. This premium all-season tyre struggled against the summer tyres at temperatures well above the 20-degree mark, prompting the motoring magazine to conclude that “the all-season tyre is just a compromise” in summer conditions, especially when paired with sportsters such as the Hyundai i20 N it used for testing. Sportauto still holds this opinion, but it has now tested six all-season tyres – again in size 215/40 R18 – to see if the compromise label applied in cooler conditions.