ERJ Top Five: Tire Supply News

ERJ staff report (TP)

Yokohama / Daimler ... Maxam ... Hankook / BMW ... Linglong / SGM ... Toyo / Ford ...

1. Yokohama Rubber announced that Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class compact SUV will come factory-equipped with its "C.drive2" tires for overseas markets. The GLA-Class will come equipped with one of two versions – standard and one based on its runflat technology. The size for both versions is 235/50R18 97V.

2. Czech company Propneu Sro was awarded the Maxam European dealer trophy for 2013 at the recent Expo Mokra, held near Brno in the Czech Republic (see photo above). Established in 2003, Propneu has been the exclusive distributor for Maxam tires in the Czech and Slovak Republics for six years. Expo Mokra is the industry fair for machinery and equipment for mining, processing and building industries. Set in a quarry, it has 70,000 sq. m of exhibition space, more than 140 exhibitors and attracts 10,000 visitors.

3. Hankook will be equipping the new 2014 MINI, which is now rolling off the assembly plants. The first generation of BMW's premium small car has already been outfitted with Hankook tires since 2011. Various treads will be factory-equipped in the MINI sizes of 15, 16 and 17 inches, said Hankook. All tires are supplied directly to the MINI production sites from the tire maker's factory in Hungary. In addition to the standard versions, Hankook also supplies the 16- and 17-inch versions with the its runflat system.

4. Chinese tire manufacturer Linglong received its first order from Shanghai General Motors (SGM), marking a "new breakthrough of the Linglong-SGM programme in the OE business". Linglong also said it is in discussions with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (a joint venture between General Motors and SAIC Motor) about future cooperation on new vehicles. 

5. Toyo Tire & Rubber said its Opat II SUV tire, produced by its US subsidiary Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing (TNA), has been adopted as an original equipment tire for the Ford F-250 & F-350 pickup trucks. This is the first time a TNA-produced tire has been adopted as OE by an American car maker. The Opat II was launched as a replacement tire in August 2012