Apollo Tyres’ Vredestein Ultrac summer tire has been chosen by BMW as the original equipment for the company’s new BMW X1 sports utility vehicle.
The Ultrac tires are manufactured at Apollo’s Gyöngyöshalász plant in Hungary and will be supplied to BMW in size 205/65 R17 100Y XL. A star symbol on the sidewall denotes that the tire is a bespoke version for the German OEM. The duo worked collaboratively to ensure the product delivers the necessary attributes.
Apollo’s latest Ultrac tire portfolio performs 15% better in dry and wet handling than its predecessor, made possible due to an enhanced tire cavity with a squarer footprint, a stiffer tread pattern and a center rib with parabolic lateral grooves. Combined, these improve steering response and precision for safer driving characteristics. The tire’s rolling resistance has also been improved by 5% for additional fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
Additionally, the Ultrac features 50% more traction-enhancing silica and resin compounds than its previous iteration to deliver 10% better braking on dry and wet surfaces. A reduced apex height, optimized sidewall and increased flex zone combine to enhance shock absorption and noise mitigation.
The Ultrac tires will be delivered directly to BMW’s production facility in Regensburg, Germany, and will also be made available on the replacement market.
“Product quality, technical collaboration and the assurance of consistent supply are all critical for this kind of OE agreement,” commented Benoit Rivallant, president and CEO at Apollo Tyres Europe. “Our highly capable European R&D team is helping us secure a growing number of new OE agreements, showcasing how the premium-quality attributes of Vredestein products can be further developed for specific applications.
“One of the reasons we are so proud to secure our second OE deal with the BMW Group is because it underlines how Vredestein products are chosen by those who appreciate rewarding driving dynamics as well as great efficiency.”
