8 minute read
TPMS
from Modern Tire Dealer - January 2023
by EndeavorBusinessMedia-VehicleRepairGroup
New Continental UHP summer tire targets enthusiasts
By Mike Manges
Continental Tire the Americas LLC is expanding its ultrahigh performance (UHP) tire lineup with the addition of the all-new Continental ExtremeContact Sport02 summer UHP tire, which is “geared toward enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their vehicles,” says Brian Beierwaltes, the company’s senior marketing manager.
Continental demonstrated the performance capabilities of the ExtremeContact Sport02 during a recent ride-and-drive event in Palm Springs, Calif., that was attended by Continental tire dealers and distributors.
More than 90% of the tire’s sizes are available now. Twelve more sizes will be added — giving the product a total of 77 sizes.
The new tire features Continental’s SportPlus Technology, which provides enhanced handling, optimized grip and extended tread life.
It also comes with built-in tread wear indicators that provide pull-point recommendations for both wet and dry surface driving. And it is backed by a 30,000-mile warranty, as well as a 60-day customer satisfaction trial.
“We improved things from a performance perspective across the board — wet performance, dry performance and overall mileage,” says Beierwaltes.
“We’re constantly continuing to evolve and making sure we’re giving customers what they want.”
In designing the tire, “we made a specific, conscious effort to look at Audi, BMW and Porsche” models “to make sure we could fit almost the entire, broad spectrum.
“We built it based on what consumer needs are. We’ve always been a performancedriven company.”
In developing the new Continental ExtremeContact Sport02, “what we’ve tried to do is have a go-to product for dealers who can say, ‘I can rely on its performance. I will have that tire for 98% of everyone out there who wants it. And it’s packaged (in a way) I can be confident selling it,’” says Bjorn Glaser, project manager, performance tires, PLT, for Continental.
The new tire replaces the Continental ExtremeContact Sport.
“What we wanted to do is continue what we have in that tire and make it better in terms of incremental performance — the feel of the tire, increases in grip and response and overall dry and wet grip,” he adds.
The Continental ExtremeContact Sport02 tire is “technically not the most extreme” product in Continental’s United States ultra-high performance tire lineup, according to Glaser.
“There is the ExtremeContact Force, which is a streetable track tire. The ExtremeContact Sport02 is a trackable street tire.
“It’s focused on enthusiast street performance” but also daily driving, such as “commutes to work, taking your kids somewhere, your weekend fun-run. And you can also take it to the track.
“We offer a very holistic lineup — 91% (coverage) on Porsche sedans, excluding SUVs. For Audi, (it will fit) your higherend A3, S3 and S4 , RS3 and RS4, RS4 and RS5 — that type of vehicle.
“For BMW, essentially, everything that’s not an SUV” will be an appropriate fit for the new tire, says Glaser, who estimates that the UHP summer tire segment accounts for “about four to five million (units)” in the United States market.
Dealers who attended the launch of the Continental ExtremeContact Sport02were impressed by the tire’s performance.
The new Continental ExtremeContact Sport02 — which replaces the Continental ExtremeContact Sport — features Continental’s SportPlus Technology, which provides enhanced handling, optimized grip and extended tread life. It will be available in nearly 80 sizes.
Photo: MTD
“This is not a tire that’s normally in my personal wheelhouse because of where I live and the vehicle I drive,” said Christopher Pierce, chief financial officer of RHD Tire, a Grand Rapids. Mich.-based wholesaler. “But it was very impressive. I could drastically tell the difference” in performance.
When asked to comment on where the tire might fit within his company’s product screen, Pierce replied that “we don’t do a lot of summer performance tires, so I’m curious to see where we put it. I think it will fit well in our Chicago market.”
Keith Noble, who represented Whiteville, N.C.-based Black’s Tire & Auto Service at the event, is confident that the new tire will sell briskly, “especially in the metro markets, where you have more enthusiasts and higher socioeconomics. I think we’ll have a lot of success with it.
“Continental does a great job with the intangibles, too — outside of just the price of the tire. What comes with (the company’s products) is pretty impressive. It just gives us more selling points at the store level.”
Noble also likes the new tire’s size coverage.
“They’ve done a great job with the fitments.” SKUs “are so diverse now.”
New Pinza light truck tire hits market
Apollo Tyres Ltd. is expanding its Vredestein light truck tire line with the addition of the Vredestein Pinza HT, a highway all-season product. The Pinza HT sports an all-season tread compound, larger shoulder blocks for optimal cornering, large circumferential grooves for enhanced wet surface traction and other features. The tire comes with a 70,000-mile warranty – 50,000 miles for LT sizes – and is backed by a road hazard warranty.
APOLLO TYRES LLC www.vredestein.com Hankook brings Ion EV line to U.S.
Hankook Tire America Corp. has introduced its rst tires that are speci cally for electric vehicles to the U.S. market. Together, the ION evo AS and ION evo AS SUV are available in 26 sizes, for wheels ranging from 18 inches to 22 inches in diameter. The tires feature Hankook’s EVolution technology, which focuses on extended tread wear, noise reduction and enhanced grip. Both tires come with a 50,000-mile mileage warranty.
HANKOOK TIRE NORTH AMERICA www.hankooktire.com TBC rolls out Sumitomo HT2
The new Sumitomo Encounter HT2 from TBC Brands LLC is available in 52 metric and light truck tire sizes, tting wheels ranging from 16 inches to 22 inches in diameter. The tire features wide circumferential grooves and wave-shaped lateral sipes for hydroplane resistance, curved shoulder grooves to minimize noise, a reinforced bead apex for enhanced stability and more.
TBC BRANDS LLC www.sumitomotire.com
Vogue adds new whitewall
The new Classic White wide whitewall tire from Vogue Tyre & Rubber Co. is available in size 235/75R15 with a 1.5-inch whitewall design. The Classic White carries a T speed rating and features Vogue’s Miracle Tread compound, which contains extreme silica technology for enhanced traction and wet grip. The tire also offers an XL load range thanks to a robust belt and sidewall package.
VOGUE TYRE & RUBBER CO. www.voguetyre.com BendPak unveils AP Series lifts
BendPak Inc. has introduced its AP Series of two-post lifts with patent-pending features that are designed to make lifting electric cars and traditional internal combustion engine-powered vehicles safer. Lifts in the series come with a swing arm design that provides under-vehicle clearance and extension and retraction. They also feature BendPak’s Automatic Swing Arm Resistance System.
BENDPAK INC. www.bendpak.com Goodyear expands Wrangler line
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has added the Workhorse HT to its Wrangler light truck tire line. Backed by a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, the Workhorse HT features a long-wearing tread compound for enhanced tread life and traction in wet, dry and light snow conditions. The tire comes in 34 sizes and targets pickup trucks and SUVs.
GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. www.goodyear.com
Acura MDX – 2023
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) continuously monitors all four tire pressure sensors and the system function whenever the vehicle is turned to the ON mode. If the TPMS detects low pressure in a tire, it alerts the driver by turning on the low tire pressure/ TPMS indicator and the appropriate tire indicator. If it detects a problem in the system, it turns on the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator (starts blinking).
FILL ASSIST OVERVIEW
e ll assist function alerts the condition of the tire pressure when adjusting the tire pressure levels. The body control module monitors the variation of tire pressure with the tire pressure sensor signal and sends alerts about the condition of tire pressure by ashing the turn signal/hazard warning lights and emitting beeps from the keyless buzzer.
OPERATING CONDITION
e ll assist function operates when all the following conditions are met: • Vehicle ON mode; • Vehicle speed is zero mph; • Shi position is in P position/mode; and • Increase/decrease rate of pressure ≥15 kPa (0.15 kgf/cm 2, 2.2 psi).
However, the ll assist function may not operate under the following conditions: • When increase/decrease rate of pressure does not reach 15 kPa within one minute; • When using a portable handheld compressor.
This is the system diagram for the Acura MDX TPMS.
Photo: Mitchell 1
