Tires

Continental's winter tires do not lag behind summer tires at all in terms of rolling resistance

News release from Continental Tire: Contrary to common misconceptions, winter tires have just as little rolling resistance as summer tires. This is due to the material used, their particularly low weight and their tread design. These structural measures reduce the deformation of the tire during motoring, thereby lowering rolling resistance. Therefore, it is a false economy for drivers to put off changing their tires – with the coldest part of the year now quickly drawing in, the braking capacity of winter tires is markedly better than that of summer tires. The fact that fuel consumption is higher in winter than in the summer is attributable solely to the fact that it takes the engine longer to warm up in low temperatures.

The reduction in rolling resistance has long since been one of the main objectives in the development of modern winter tires. The tire engineers at Continental have focused their attention on the products in the ContiEcoContact range. After all, the Hanover-based company has sold 160 million of them as original equipment and replacements over the past 15 years. They have managed to reduce rolling resistance successively from one model to the next, so that it is now some 20 per cent lower than in the tires prior to the launch of the Eco range. Development has now moved on to the third generation model, and the previous virtually irreconcilable development conflicts between "low rolling resistance" and "grip on a wet road surface" have been resolved to a much higher degree.

"As a result of our continued development work, there is no longer any difference between summer and winter tires in terms of rolling resistance," points out Dr. Burkhard Wies, Vice-President, Tire Line Development Worldwide at Continental. "In some of our models, the rolling resistance coefficient of around 1.0 cr in winter tires is even slightly lower than in their summer counterparts." Therefore, Dr. Wies has a simple explanation for the higher fuel consumption that many cars experience in winter; by necessity, it takes the engine longer to warm up in winter than in the summer. As a result, higher fuel consumption in unavoidable. His advice is that if you want to do something good for the environment, you should definitely have winter tires fitted and, if at all possible, walk occasionally, despite the poor weather.

Modern winter tires have fine tread structures in order to interlink well with the road surface on snow which has become compacted by cars or on icy surfaces. A huge number of grip edges form. This is thanks to the large number of fine, angled incisions, so-called lamellae, on their tread blocks. At the same time, the spacing between the profile blocks still has to be big enough to disperse water quickly when driving in the rain, but not so coarse as to compromise on flexibility. Treads designed in this way experience barely any more deformation in contact with the ground than modern summer tires.

For more information, click www.ca.pirelli.com.

News release from Continental Tire: It may still be just the beginning of Autumn, but it’s also prime time to start thinking ahead to Winter. Of course the first thing that comes to mind when prepping your car for winter is tires, because once the temperature drops below 7-degrees Celsius, so does an all-season tire’s ability to grip the road. Colder weather brings on a whole new set of driving challenges – slush, ice and hard packed snow. And even with all of the performance capabilities built into today’s vehicles, they will only perform as steadily and responsively as their tires allow. And in extreme winter weather, that can mean the difference between focused braking power and out-of-control handling.

"It’s a fact: as temperatures drop below 7-degrees Celsius, so does an all-season tire’s ability to grip the road. And that can lead to dangerous driving conditions," said Joerg Burfien, director of R&D, Continental Tire North America, Inc. "Since all-season and winter tires are about as similar as sandals and snowshoes, we’ve launched a program to encourage our customers to stay safer in winter by switching to Continental Winter Tires.

"Summer tires just aren’t built to hold the road in the same way that winter tires do," Burfien continued. "During winter, drivers experience a dramatic drop in grip, meaning longer stopping distances, less driving control and by far, less safety."

Winter tires are uniquely designed to deliver safety and control in snow, ice, and cold weather conditions, because they are specially engineered to deliver a substantial increase of traction over all-season radials – by as much as a 25 to 50 percent. That’s enough gripping traction and braking power to avoid a severe weather-related accident.

ContiWinterContact™ winter tires are engineered with pliable tread compounds and tread designs that remain soft and flexible in even the coldest temperatures, increasing the contact area and providing better grip on wet or icy roads. Tread design features include more supple compounds, deeper tread grooves and smaller shoulder grooves.

The Continental winter tire lineup includes:

The ContiWinterContact TS810 -- engineered to handle unpredictable snow and wet driving conditions.
The ContiWinterContact TS810 S – built for winter driving performance.
The ContiWinterContact TS790 -- a state-of-the-art winter tire featuring exceptional handling and braking at low temperatures.

Once your car is properly outfitted with the right tires for the season, there are a number of other steps drivers can take to make sure their car is ready for when the cold weather comes. Now is the time to give your car a thorough checkup. You can do most of these jobs yourself, but some work really must be done by a professional.

Radiator: Add a dose of antifreeze to the coolant
Shocks: Should be checked. Defective shock absorbers increase braking distance and shorten the lifetime of tires
Wiper fluid: Add a dose of frost protector
Battery: Check the acid level for optimum performance
Spark plugs: check for wear and replace if necessary
Lights: Check and align properly for maximum efficiency
Be sure to include the following equipment in your trunk: a set of jumper cables, a snow brush/ice scraper and a de-icing spray
Winter tires: Set the pressure 2.9 psi higher than what is recommended for summer tires

Once you’ve given your car a thorough checkup, the best protection against breakdowns and accidents in winter is driving with foresight. This includes taking extra care on bridges or at traffic lights, as well as keeping a greater following distance from the car in front.

News release from Continental Tire: At the international level, various bodies are currently discussing whether and how it would be possible and justifiable to mandate electronic tire pressure monitoring systems for all new cars and trucks. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has already stipulated such systems for cars by law. Continental welcomes the initiative of the US as well as the other international efforts.

"With a tire pressure monitoring system, you don't only drive more safely, you also save fuel," explains Andreas Wolf, head of the Body & Security Business Unit of the Continental Interior division, adding, "Based on our calculations, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by more than 10 million tonnes each year in Europe alone if tire pressure monitoring systems are used in all cars and trucks."

The Continental experts would therefore recommend that it be made mandatory to equip vehicles with systems that can detect a deviation in an individual tire's pressure of 0.2 bar (on cars) and 0.4 bar (on trucks). In this way, all drivers could be informed early on that tires need to be reinflated. After all, if the tire inflation pressure is 0.3 bar lower than that recommended by the car manufacturer, the vehicle consumes 1.5% more fuel. Continental already supplies various tire pressure monitoring systems for cars and is currently working on adapting the systems for use in trucks. Whereas systems that measure indirectly based on the information provided by the ABS sensors support safety requirements (shorter braking distances, improved vehicle handling, reduced likelihood of breakdown), today's tire pressure monitoring systems with tire sensors can detect pressure deviations of 0.2 bar and less. And it these systems – such as Continental's Tire Guard System – that help keep rolling resistance and thus fuel consumption low.

Since in three months time, every tire loses up to 0.2 bar air pressure at the interface between the tire and rim as a result of continuous diffusion processes in the tire, all motorists should check their tires on a regular basis. Only properly inflated tires can do their job optimally, ensuring top fuel efficiency with low rolling resistance. But most car drivers seldom check their air pressure. Each year, this increases fuel costs by €3 billion in Europe alone. Studies carried out by the European Union show that more than 64% of all cars have underinflated tires. More than 75% of the trucks on the roads in the European Union have tires which are, on the average, 12% underinflated, thus increasing costs by more than €4 billion each year in Europe. At a diesel price of €1.50 per liter, a continuous monitoring of tire pressure on heavy trucks would bring about an annual savings of some €1,000 per vehicle. That means that a fleet operator's initial investment costs would pay off within a very short time.

If the inflation pressure were checked continuously on all vehicles and the driver thus informed directly of underinflation, there would be three concrete advantages: The individual motorist reduces the car-related costs, which in part stems from greater fuel efficiency. Tires that run with the ideal inflation pressure also have a significantly longer service life. In the end, the economy and environment also profit from a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Vehicle safety also increases, especially with respect to cornering performance. Most tire blow-outs – in some cases with devastating effects on driving stability – can be traced back to a gradual loss of inflation pressure. The French Road Safety Council Sécurité Routière ascribes 9% of all serious motorway accidents to underinflated tires in 2003 in France alone.

In the scope of international efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the focus of development activities and various groups has shifted increasingly to the lowering of fuel consumption by reducing rolling resistance. "We view the engineering of tires and electronics with the one-sided goal of reducing CO2 emissions as much as possible with a critical eye. Continental passenger tires are always designed for top performance when it comes to the safety-related properties such as braking in the wet or traction in snow. The optimization of criteria such as rolling resistance or comfort is then of next highest priority," says Dr. Alan Hippe, deputy chairman of the Continental AG Executive Board and responsible for the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division, underscoring the underlying philosophy of tire engineering.

Continental started supplying electronic systems for automatic monitoring of tire pressure on cars already in 2000 and presently provides them to more than 20 carmakers worldwide. So far, the focus here was primarily on increasing traffic safety by driving on properly inflated tires. The systems that are best accepted by drivers are those that, should there be an underinflated tire, indicate which tire is low and how much air it needs in order to be properly inflated. The tire pressure monitoring systems based upon sensors in the tire can then be supplemented with an additional pressure calculation based on the ABS sensors. This can further improve the quality of the sensor data thanks to the additional plausibility check, thus providing an even greater level of safety.

It's easy to explain why driving with underinflated tires reduces fuel efficiency. Since the tire material itself moves more when the underinflated tire rolls, more energy is converted into heat in the tire when rolling. Experts refer to this as higher "flexing energy". This energy has to be supplied by the engine. With an underinflation of just 0.3 bar for all four tire, there is already a 1% increase in fuel consumption. Typically, underinflated tires have much lower pressures.

Continental is already at work on the next generation of tire information systems. The intelligent tire system gets its data in the car from a sensor connected directly to the tire material. In this way, tire pressure recommendations can be made based upon various load values. With the additional information, the braking and driver assistance systems can adjust their control strategies especially to the respective tires and their condition.

All-new Chrysler Town & Country will be fitted with Bridgestone Turanza EL40002

When the all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Limited rolls into U.S. and Canadian showrooms this fall, it will be fitted with tires from Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT).

BFNT will exclusively supply the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Limited with specially tuned Bridgestone-brand Turanza EL40002 tires in size P225165R17 l00T. The Bridgestone Turanza EL40002 in size P225165R17 l00T will also be optional equipment on the Chrysler Town & Country Touring and the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT.

The Bridgestone Turanza EL40002 is a T-speed rated, all-season, premium luxury touring original equipment tire engineered with the company's exclusive UNI-T^TM technology that delivers performance attributes drivers will appreciate, such as practical all-season traction capability, enhanced ride comfort and reduced noise levels.

The all-new 2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans offer customers a "family room on wheels" for just about every lifestyle and price point. The vehicles boast 35 new or improved features, including a 4.0L V6 engine mated to a minivan-first six-speed transaxle, more standard equipment including standard all-row side curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and an average U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of roughly $2,000 less than outgoing models.

Bridgestone-brand Turanza EL42 tires selected by Lexus as original equipment for the all-new LS 600h L luxury hybrid sedan.

Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tires in size P245/45R19 98V are one standard tire on the world’s first full V8, all-wheel-drive hybrid vehicle. The all-season original equipment tire combines sleek styling, premium comfort ride quality and quiet sound with outstanding performance in dry and wet conditions.

The 2008 Lexus LS 600h L powertrain combines a 5.0-liter V8 gas engine with two powerful electric motors, providing the vehicle with an unmatched balance of environmental efficiency and performance. With a Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) rating, the LS 600h L has nearly 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than vehicles with a conventional internal combustion engine.

"Bridgestone Firestone is proud to support vehicles that minimize fuel use and environmental impact," said Michael Martini, President, Consumer OE Tire Sales, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT).

Martini went on to explain that in July 2006, Bridgestone Firestone was the premier sponsor and sole tire supplier of the inaugural Hybridfest (Madison, Wis.), the nation's largest event dedicated to hybrid-electric vehicles. More than 100 hybrids many fitted with Bridgestone-brand tires were on display, including all 11 hybrid models then on the market.

"We salute Lexus for advancing hybrid technology to an exciting new level that proves you can have high performance with low emissions," he added. "Vehicles like the LS 600h L are critical to ultimately reducing North America’s dependence on oil."

The 2008 LS 600h L began arriving at Lexus dealerships in July.

Bridgestone Corporation is a tire supplier for Lexus vehicles and has been since 1989 when the first Lexus model sold in North America, the LS 400, was outfitted with tires from Bridgestone. Many current Lexus luxury vehicles including the LS, GS, ES, and IS sedans, SC coupe and GX utility vehicles and GS 450h hybrid feature Bridgestone-brand tires as original equipment.

Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) are looking ahead to the winter months with a number of new offerings to its highly acclaimed Bridgestone® Blizzak™ tire line-up

"The Bridgestone Blizzak has an impeccable reputation in the industry. From its introduction in the North American market in 1992, the Blizzak continues to offer an incredible array of sizes and options for drivers anywhere to maximize their vehicle’s winter capabilities," said Phil Pacsi, vice president, consumer tire marketing, BFNT.

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25™ 4x4 is a brand new entry into the Bridgestone Blizzak lineup and is designed specifically for high-performance, luxury sport utility and cross-over vehicles. The H-speed rated tire features a unidirectional tread design and three-dimensional sipes in a parallel pattern to increase the mobility of sport utility vehicles and crossover utility vehicles in harsh winter conditions.

235/65R17 108H XL Acura MDX; BMW X5; Cadillac SRX V6; Chrysler Pacifica; Mercedes-Benz ML350; Porsche Cayenne; Volvo XC90

255/60R17 110H XL Cadillac SRX V6; Mercedes-Benz ML320; Mercedes-Benz ML350; Volkswagen Touareg

255/55R18 109H XL Cadillac SRX V8 (F); Land Rover Range Rover; Mercedes-Benz ML500; Porsche Cayenne; Saab 9-7x; Volkswagen Touareg

Bridgestone is also welcoming several size additions to the Blizzak brand family of tires this year, including six new Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25™ sizes. The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25, with UNI-T technology, is a directional, studless H- and V-speed rated winter tire, which delivers excellent snow and ice traction for high-performance vehicles. The new sizes and their target vehicles are:

Using a patented Multicell compound, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3™ delivers winning performances in ice and snow conditions. The Multicell compound improves control on ice by cutting through thin layers of surface water while the tire’s three-dimensional sipes enhance dry performance. Eight new Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 sizes are now available:

P265/70R18 114Q Cadillac Escalade EXT; GMC Yukon XL; Infiniti QX56; Nissan Armada, Titan; Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado

265/60R18 110Q Dodge Durango; Ford F-150; Infiniti FX35; Toyota 4Runner; Lincoln Mark LT; Mercedes-Benz G500

The Bridgestone Blizzak is a studless snow tire originally developed in the 1980s for the Japanese market due to environmental concerns over studded snow tires.

Much of the Blizzak tire line uses a dual compound (cap and base) tire. The cap features the Multicell compound, and the base is comprised of a winter compound, allowing use as a basic winter tire. The Multicell compound is comprised of thousands of microscopic cells or pores, which resemble the consistency of Swiss cheese when examined through a microscope. The pores are uniformly distributed throughout the compound, so as the tire wears, new pores are constantly being exposed around the tire tread surface, creating thousands of biting edges that grip the road.

In addition to the biting action, the exposed pores remove the thin layer of surface water, which often develops on top of icy roads, allowing the biting edges to adhere to the surface with less interference. The result is enhanced resistance to hydroplaning and greater driving and braking force on ice- and snow- covered surfaces. When the Blizzak is 50 percent worn, a tread depth indicator on the tire tread lets the motorist know that only 10 percent of the remaining tread is the Multicell compound.

Pirelli introduces to the global market P Zero the Hero, the new ultra-high performance tire developed for supercars and directly derived from the experience the company has accumulated in a hundred years of competition.
P Zero the Hero represents the most technologically advanced product to come out of Pirelli’s research, a revolution for the tire industry, and offers the most demanding motorists unprecedented performance in all areas: sports handling, comfort and safety.
The latest addition to the P Zero collection, Pirelli’s high-end market leading range that is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007, benefits from numerous innovative features developed by Pirelli and protected by five exclusive patents.
The new P Zero has obtained 15 homologations for use as original equipment on the most recent and most prestigious supercars. It is already being fitted to the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, the Lamborghini Murcielago and Gallardo, the Audi R8 and S8, the Aston Martin DB9, the Maserati Quattroporte, the Jaguar XK, the Mercedes AMG, and will shortly appear on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and the hottest Porsche and BMW models.
The principal feature of P Zero the Hero is that it guarantees optimum performance in wet or dry conditions throughout the lifetime of the tire, while combining sports handling with comfort. In fact, the new P Zero boasts special nano-composites in the compounds of the tread and the bead (the element of the tire anchoring it to the well rim) that guarantee a comfortable ride together with sports performance.
The innovative tread pattern of the new Pirelli tire also permits the highest standards of grip in wet conditions and acoustic comfort to be enhanced, while the asymmetric DA.Co (Dynamic Asymmetric Contour) profile ensures even wear with a consistent footprint at all speeds.
Moreover, P Zero the Hero has been designed with the utmost respect for the environment: the compounds used in fact contain no aromatic oils. Pirelli’s decision anticipates by three full years the European directive regulating this issue, which only comes into effect in 2010, and goes beyond the most severe parameters in the highest performance (UHP) segment.
Thanks to the Hy.Co (Hybrid Cord) system, the carcass allows the deformation of the tire profile to be controlled through to the highest speeds (230mph), increasing the durability of the tire, not simply in terms of outright mileage, but above all, in the consistency of performance throughout its life.
Together with P Zero comes the Return of the Pirelli Wheel. Pirelli is aiming to respond to the demands of the most sophisticated motorists, interested in both performance and styling, by reintroducing the Pirelli Wheel. Manufactured in ultra-lightweight aluminum alloy, the Pirelli 5P wheel features five spokes reproducing the company’s elongated P logo. The new Pirelli Wheel, produced in collaboration with Antera, a market leader in its sector, will also be available fitted with P Zero.

Mazda’s all-new seven-passenger CX-9 sport utility vehicle (SUV) will ride on Bridgestone-brand Dueler™ H/L 400™ tires from Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) and Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA).

The 2007 Mazda CX-9, available in three models Sport, Touring and Grand Touring will be fitted exclusively with Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires in sizes P245/60R18 104H and P245/50R20 102V.

The Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 is a luxury, touring, original equipment tire that gives CX-9 owners command of the road with easy-going comfort. It features an all-season tread pattern for wet and dry traction.

"The Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tire was designed for SUVs but delivers the ride and handling qualities of a passenger car tire," said Michael Martini, President, Original Equipment Consumer Tire, BFNT. "It is a perfect match to the Mazda CX-9, which offers the seating and cargo space of an SUV, but drives like a sedan."

Pirelli Scorpion line of tires, all catered to different demands of SUV owners

Many SUV owners are more interested in hauling kids and groceries and having a commanding view of the road than attacking the Rubicon Trail. For drivers of small SUV’s in particular like RAV4’s, X-trails, CRV’s and Sportages, how their vehicles ride and handle on the highway is as important as having super traction in sand, mud, or snow.

Pirelli’s Scorpion line delivers the style, performance and versatility that people expect from Pirelli street tires while maintaining exceptional all-road, all-weather capabilities.

Designed and built specifically for light trucks and SUV’s, the new all-terrain Scorpion ATR has an advanced compound and tread design that give it the performance and comfort of a street tire, without sacrificing its ability to negotiate back country trails in all weather conditions. A perfect tire for summer cottage or camping trips, it handles freeways as easily as country roads. Scorpion ATR’s are original equipment on Ford pick-ups and the Lincoln LT.

For SUV owners who prefer to stay on the road, the Scorpion STR is the ideal choice for both city and long distance driving, offering outstanding wet and dry grip as well as dependable performance in light terrain and snow. Some sizes are also offered in a more aggressive tread design for heavy hauling pick-ups. The Scorpion STR is standard equipment on a number of vehicles such as the BMW X3, several Ford SUV’s and the Volvo XC70/90.

For aficionados, the Scorpion Zero, with its distinctive "Z" tread design, is the ultimate in high speed on-road performance and the reference point in the SUV/Truck tuning market. The Scorpion Zero is featured as standard equipment on Porsche Cayennes, Volkswagen Touaregs, Land Rovers and is the ideal tire for plus fitment conversions on any SUV or pick-up.

Pirelli also offers the Scorpion Ice & Snow, representing the best in Pirelli’s winter tire know-how and is designed specifically for SUV’s in Canadian winter conditions.

No matter how long or difficult the journey, there is a tire in the Pirelli Scorpion line-up that’s perfect for the trip. Available in a variety of rim sizes from 15" to 30", the Scorpion line-up is styled to add much to the personality of the vehicle on which it is mounted.

Bridgestone Develops New Multi Air Chamber Tire

Bridgestone Corporation recently announced the development of a multi air chamber tire which has three separate chambers acting as pressure vessels.

The all-new type of tire contour was born from extensive R&D efforts with a view to the future of tires. The inside of the tire consists of a main chamber in the center and sub-chambers on both sides. The air pressure in each of the chambers can be controlled independently, making it possible to adjust the stiffness balance between the tread area and the left and right sidewalls. This ensures ideal contact in any condition, and thus, a more stable and comfortable drive. It also means performance can be adjusted in line with customer needs such as comfort or maneuverability.

Also, as the tire is divided into three parts, even if the air pressure in one of the chambers drops to 0kPa caused by a nail puncture for instance, the remaining chambers will be able to support the weight of the tire, so it will be able to continue to operate for a specified
distance. Bridgestone will continue developing the multi air chamber tire for more practical use.

Hercules Terra Trac SUV and Terra Trac A/T added to Hercules Tire Canada's product portfolio

Hercules Tire Canada recently announced the official launch of two entirely new light truck tires under the Hercules banner – the Terra Trac A/T and Terra Trac SUV, specifically designed for the broad SUV vehicle market. Hercules Terra Trac A/T

"Following a year of research & development, these new tires give us an opportunity to provide consumers with safe products and great value - plus offer an alternative to the major brands in the Canadian marketplace," said Rob Keller, vice-president of Hercules Tire Canada.

"We’re introducing 47 new Terra Trac SKUs or part numbers covering the original equipment sizes for North American and Japanese vehicles. There are 29 new sizes of the Hercules Terra Trac A/T and Terra Trac SUV spans 18 sizes. These new products are scheduled to roll into Hercules Tire dealers across the country beginning first week of January 2005," Keller said.

According to Keller, "in conjunction with the Terra Trac and Ultra Touring launches, our field representatives will be setting up high-impact, consumer-friendly product displays throughout our dealer network showrooms across Canada to promote the tires."

"We’re excited about the new Terra Trac tires. It certainly fills a void in our SUV line-up and we believe our dealers are really going to get behind these great new products."

Hercules Tire Canada offers a wide selection of top quality commercial tires, consumer tires and wheels for all applications through its network of 350 dealers located in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Hercules-brand tires are available in Western Canada through Remington Tire, based in Edmonton.

Hercules Tire Canada today announced the introduction of 20 new tire sizes and a total of 49 SKUs (stock keeping units) to further enhance popularity of its own brand, the Ultra Touring consumer tire. New sizes are expected to roll into Hercules Tire dealers across Canada during January, 2005.

“We’re adding tire sizes to include all applicable speed ratings and additional sizes within each speed-rated category,” said Rob Keller, vice-president of Hercules Tire Canada. “If an Original Equipment (OE) tire is introduced by a new vehicle manufacturer from North America, Japan, or Europe, we want to be ready to offer consumers an alternative to a national brand. Our plan is to remain current with fitments offered by vehicle manufacturers.”

“Hercules Tire is positioned to be a viable option for consumers looking to replace their OE tires. Plenty of tire testing and evaluation is being conducted to support this strategy. In fact, during a recent Ride and Drive event at a test track in San Antonio, Texas, a group of 18 Hercules Tire dealers were given first-hand experience. Two driving groups were created and using two Ford Mustangs, each vehicle was fitted with Hercules 55-series tires. The groups tested both ‘T’-rated and ‘V’-rated tires.” According to Keller, ‘V’-rated tire performance was tested to be 8-10 percent faster on a consistent basis.

According to Keller, Hercules Tire Canada experienced strong growth in 2004, which ended its fiscal year, October 31. “We are very pleased with our overall 15 percent growth rate compared to 2003. Our driving force is product development in the consumer market category. We also witnessed steady gains in commercial markets,” Keller said.

“Several new products are already in development and we expect to launch these new tires in the first-half of 2005. In the winter tire categories, sales of passenger, light truck and SUVs across the board have dramatically increased 10-15 percent versus last year,” said Keller. “When customers are shopping for a set of four winter tires, we recommend they make sure Transport Canada’s stamp – the snowflake symbol – is on every tire sidewall purchased. Consumers view winter tires as a pure automotive expense. However, smart consumers realize they’re investing in eight tires and will have optimum tire performance for 12 months,” Keller said. “These consumers also tend to purchase an extra set of wheels to simplify the installation process. This means a quick changeover at the dealer outlet. This especially applies if you have an expensive wheel on the vehicle, typically alloy or chrome, which do not ‘winter well’ primarily because of the salt on our roads.”

“From a recommendation standpoint, a professional dealer/service provider will insist on putting on four winter tires. It’s a must for front-wheel-drive vehicles and it’s recommended for rear-wheel-drive vehicles as well. It’s purely a safety and handling issue,” Keller added. “We stock 55 different sizes in our winter tire line-up under the Signet Winter Trax and Polar Trax brands. In terms of coverage, this number equates to 95 percent of all vehicles on Canadian roads including passenger vehicles, light trucks and SUVs,” said Keller.

“In fact, approximately 4 million tires are sold annually in Canada’s winter tire market compared with 3.2 million tires in the U.S. market. We have experienced consistent growth in this market for the past 5 years,” Keller said.

Hercules Tire Canada offers consumers a wide selection of top quality tires and wheels for all applications through its network of 350 dealers located in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Full distribution for Hercules-brand tires in Western Canada i.e. Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg and Vancouver is through Remington Tire, based in Edmonton. For more information, contact: www.herculestireca.com.

BFGoodrich^® Tires expands its g-Force™ family with the introduction of the g-Force™ Sport, an entry-level, ultra-high-performance tire developed for the sport-compact vehicle owner looking for maximum performance at an affordable price. The new tire features a cutting-edge tread design in line with the mindset of the younger sport-compact consumer. BFGoodrich will launch 20 sizes of the g-Force Sport on May 1, 2004.

"The ever popular g-Force traits like performance and technology are now offered to a younger clientele that still values image but equally values a good deal," says Michaela Yasin, BFGoodrich Tires Brand Manager in Canada. "We are thrilled because even if the g-Force Sport is available at a lower price point, the qualities and characteristics that have made the g-Force such a successful line of ultra-high performance tires have not changed."

The g-Force Sport blends BFGoodrich’s technology and authentic performance with an accessible price point. The result is the brand’s first product designed for young ultra-high-performance fans and a tire that out-styles and outperforms the competition.

Featuring BFGoodrich’s ETEC System™ (Equal TEnsion Containment System), the g-Force Sport provides excellent strength, a smooth ride and a consistent footprint. This helps maintain maximized tread contact under high-speed conditions, giving drivers the confidence they need to reach new heights safely.

The new Yokohama Avid H4s/V4s line of all-season high performance tires combines best-in-class handling, ride and all-weather confidence for the owners of premium cars in Canada, Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. has announced.

The new line of H- rated and V-rated tires is aimed squarely at the centre of the expanding market for performance all-season tires and represents the latest marriage of sophisticated compounds created for ultra high performance tires (UHPT) with optimized tire contact patch and a unique tread design.

"The Avid H4s/V4s was developed with the goal of achieving better traction, mileage and performance without sacrificing ride comfort," said Sean Nakano, director of marketing for Yokohama Canada. "We have taken the best features of the original Avid H4/V4 and improved all-season traction and extended the tire’s usable mileage."

"There is no contradiction in the term ‘all-season performance tire’ when we refer to the Avid H4s/V4s," added Nakano.

The Avid H4s/V4s comes in 31 sizes, to fit 14-inch to 18-inch rims, and in 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 aspect ratios.

The tread compound is derived from UHPT technology developed from the extensive Yokohama racing experience, creating exceptional grip in wet and dry conditions. But the compound also has excellent wear characteristics for extended mileage.

The tread design itself features four large circumferential grooves, a staggered back design, a continuous centre rib, large shoulder blocks and multiple cross grooves. The circumferential grooves help evacuate water and contribute to lateral traction, and work with the staggered back design to improve lateral stability and wet traction. The centre rib enhances on-centre-steering ‘feel’ and high speed stability, while the large shoulder blocks help improve the contact patch and add cornering grip (including in snowy conditions). The multiple cross grooves aid wet weather traction.

The new Avid H4s/V4s tires will be included in the popular Yokohama "Totally Loonie" rebate program that rewards consumers with up to $100, direct from the retailer, on the purchase of a complete set of one of the company’s six high performance tire lines. In addition to the Avid H4s/V4s, the AVS Sport, AVS S/T, Parada Spec II, AVS dB S2 and AVS ES100 are also eligible for the program.

The market for all-season performance tires has grown steadily, in keeping with the growth in the premium car segment. Respected brands like Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and other premium automobiles offer their cars with all-season performance tires as original equipment. With three product lines designed to meet the needs of these car owners (AVS dB S2, Avid H4s/V4s and Avid T4), Yokohama has become a leader in the market for all-season performance tires.

The Avid H4s/V4s line comes with a UTQG rating of 500/AA/A and 4-year/100,000 kilometre limited tread warranty. In addition, buyers also qualify for the Road Hazard Protection Plus program and the Yokohama 30-Day Satisfaction Guaranteed Trial Offer.

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. markets and distributes full lines of tires for high performance, passenger car, light truck, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. It maintains distribution centres across Canada to serve more than 1,000 independent tire outlets.

To respond to the evolving demands of passenger car and mini-van owners, Uniroyal^® Canada introduces the new Tiger Paw^® Touring line of tires.

"We’ve put the new Touring tire to the test. This next-generation of Uniroyal tire delivers exceptional treadlife, excellent dependability on wet and dry pavement and the added peace of mind of a great mileage warranty," says Marie-France Lechasseur, Brand Manager, Uniroyal Canada. "Customers looking for a dependable tire from a respected brand at a fair price will find the perfect answer in the Tiger Paw Touring tire."

When designing the new Tiger Paw Touring line, engineers achieved technology advancement with an optimized tread/mold material and architecture design that allows the new tire to provide excellent wet performance without compromising tread life. Previous technology resulted in this wet-wear compromise. In testing at the company’s tire proving grounds, the new Tiger Paw Touring demonstrated outstanding wear, dry braking and handling, wet braking and handling, resistance to hydroplaning and overall improved noise.

The Tiger Paw Touring tire is now available at tire dealers across Canada in 36 sizes including 22 T-speed rated sizes (up to 190 km/h) and 14 H-rated sizes (up to 210 km/h); V-rated sizes (up to 240 km/h) will be introduced in 2005.

The new T-rated sizes will feature a 130,000 kilometre manufacturer’s treadwear warranty and expanded touring fitments while replacing the existing Tiger Paw^® Touring TR line. Both H- and V-rated sizes will feature a 90,000 kilometre treadwear warranty.

Uniroyal continues to be a leader in the touring and mass market categories.
The three major passenger car and mini-van categories: Touring H/V, Progressive Mass Market and Traditional Mass Market, accounted for nearly half of the entire 18.5 million tires sold in the Canadian replacement market in 2002.

The new Tiger Paw Touring tire is aimed directly at this large and very important market and is positioned perfectly to capitalize upon the original equipment trend toward higher speed-rated fitments.

The new Tiger Paw Touring tire will fit a broad range of today's most popular cars and mini-vans including the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord and the Dodge Caravan.

Michelin's newest versatile all-season tire, the HydroEdge, now offers Canadian drivers additional protection against a common hazard on Canadian roadways- hydroplaning. As tires are the only part of the car that comes in contact with the road, drivers want to ensure that this contact is maintained during all driving conditions. With this in mind, Michelin has developed a tire that gives drivers an edge both in dry and wet conditions. HydroEdge offers exceptional hydroplaning resistance by featuring dual centre grooves that are non-interrupted, meaning that it can evacuate water away from its contact point very quickly and efficiently.

Michelin's latest ultra-premium all-season tire HydroEdge features full-depth sipes- narrow slits in the tread blocks used for adding traction on slippery surfaces. The tire is made with a silica compound in the tread for optimal wet traction and braking. The HydroEdge tire also features specially-angled grooves- HydroChutes that further reduce water flow turbulence for excellent overall wet weather performance.

Coupled with its distinctive look, Michelin HydroEdge will appeal to those customers who seek optimal performance and safety while also seeking the best "look" for their vehicle. Drivers of T-rated sedans and minivans will find an edge in Michelin HydroEdge. HydroEdge offers a 140,000 km tread wear limited warranty, one of the longest in the industry. More info can be obtained from www.michelin.ca.

This fall, Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. introduces the new Ice Guard IG10 with state-of-the-art winter tire technology that changes the way tires handle winter roads by changing the way winter tires are designed.

"Ice Guard raises the standard for winter traction and, by default, handling, stopping and confidence in winter driving conditions" says Stéphane Morel, National Manager, Marketing and Communications, Consumer Products. "Yokohama’s new and unique compound technology maximizes traction by combining Shelled Micro-Bubble Technology and Silica Compound with ZERUMA Agent."

In addition to the IG10 (left-hand illustration), the IG721 (right-hand photo) – a unidirectional, performance tire designed for premium automobiles – will also be released this fall in Canada.

Yokohama’s new IG10 compound uses shelled micro-bubble technology to enhance the water absorbing power, helping the tread surface to stay solidly in contact with icy and snowy roads. It absorbs water and breaks the microscopic water film between the tread and ice and snow surfaces

The shelled micro-bubble maintains the rigidity of the tread blocks to create sharp biting edges to deliver confident snow and ice traction. The silica in the compound with a ZERUMA agent secures high grip and softness at a wider range of temperatures.

The tread pattern on the Ice Guard IG10 consists of five circumferential grooves with finer tread blocks that provide excellent uniform contact pressure and increase the void ratio to improve snow traction and braking performance. The new pattern uses micro diagonal grooves and newly developed three-dimensional Pyramid Sipes, which have been specially designed for the Ice Guard products to optimize ice and snow performance.

Morel says the new three-dimensional Pyramid Sipes create strong tread blocks that resist deformation and maximize traction under snowy, wet and dry conditions. Reduced block deformation promotes "edge effects" and increases the surface contact patch.

At the very beginning of the tire life, the micro diagonal grooves add additional biting edges to enhance grip on ice, snow and water. They also help improve water evacuation on a microscopic level.

"The enemy of traction is the thin film of water between the tire tread and the ice," Morel explains. "The water is actually causing the slippage. Eliminating much of the water between the ice and snow surfaces and the tread increases its friction with the road itself and hence improves traction."

The IG10 is available in 26 sizes ranging from 12 to 17 inches in 60, 65, 70 and 80 series aspect ratios. The IG721 is available in three sizes from 16, 17 and 18 inches in 45, 50 and 55 aspect ratios. Both Ice Guard IG10 and IG721 are Severe-Snow Rated and Q-Speed Rated.

Ice Guard owners are protected by Yokohama’s worry-free Consumer Assurance Program, which includes Yokohama’s unique 30-Day Satisfaction Guaranteed Trial Offer (until December 31, 2003), Yokohama’s Road Hazard Protection and Yokohama’s Limited Warranty coverage.