Tyre News

Pirelli claims a world first with its original equipment tyre supply to the new McLaren Artura hybrid supercar. The Italian firm isn’t shipping any old bespoke P Zero tyres, rather tyres that will ‘talk’ to the Artura via Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre system. Each of the 235/35Z R19 front and 295/35 R20 rear tyres contain a sensor that loquaciously provides vital data to the car’s onboard computer.

The days are growing longer and the chill in the air a little less biting. Summer is on its way, and this also means that tyre testers are emerging from hibernation. The first comparative evaluation we’ve seen for the warmer months of 2021 comes from German motoring magazine Gute Fahrt, which looked at the tyre size 245/40 R18 Y.

Recently, racer Leh Keen’s Porsche Taycan Turbo S was clocked by independent adjudicators at 102.6 mph inside the New Orleans Convention Center – a new indoor land speed record. Keen’s all-electric Taycan Turbo S has a maximum of 750 hp, with four-wheel drive to maximize grip, powerful carbon ceramic brakes and the ability to accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.6 seconds. And what’s more the record was set on the Taycan’s standard fitment original equipment (OE) tyres. But which tyres were used?

Pirelli launched its new Cinturato All-Season Snow Flake 2 during a virtual event broadcast from Milan on 2 February 2021. As far as performance improvements are concerned, the new Pirelli Cinturato All-Season Snow Flake 2 (or Cinturato AS SF2 for short) boasts a whopping 50 per cent increase in mileage performance compared with its predecessor.

Finnish manufacturer Nokian Tyres intends to develop and present a concept tyre entirely produced from renewable and recycled tyres by 2025. It hasn’t yet shared specific project details, but it appears this 100 per cent eco-friendly concept may well be a winter tyre. At least this is the impression that Nokian’s announcement creates.

The new Vredestein Ultrac summer car tyre has been launched today. The new varient improves wet and dry performance by 15 per cent, representing a big leap forward for the brand. The Ultrac will be available in range of sizes between 15 and 18 inches for compact-medium sized cars. It has also been developed with sustainability in mind. Rolling resistance has been reduced by 5 per cent in a boost for fuel efficiency. Vredestein has developed the tyre with a 50 per cent increase in traction-enhancing silica and resin compounds, which have helped to reduce braking distances by 10 per cent. It also uses materials more efficiently, making the tyre lighter. As a result, Vredestein calls the tyre’s performance “best-in-class”.