Apollo Tyres has expanded its commercial vehicle tyre range with the launch of the new Altrust Winter.
The dedicated cold-weather tyre is designed to offer strong wet-weather performance without sacrificing durability.
The Altrust range will be available across Europe this month, sitting alongside the existing Altrust+ summer tyre and Altrust All-Season.
The new tyre has achieved an ‘A’ rating for wet grip and a ‘B’ rating for external noise (72dB), with Apollo placing a strong emphasis on safety for van operators who spend much of the winter driving in cold, wet conditions. That makes it sound ideal for the UK, then.
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Developed in Europe, the Altrust Winter will initially be offered in 15 sizes for 15- to 17-inch wheels. That will make it suitable for many of the UK’s most popular large vans, including the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Iveco Daily.
To improve traction in snow, ice and heavy rain, Apollo has equipped the tyre with a multi-pitch tread pattern and three-dimensional sipes that increase the tyre’s ability to grip slippery surfaces. Wider centre and shoulder grooves are designed to clear standing water more effectively, helping reduce the risk of aquaplaning.
To cope with high annual mileages for light commercial vehicles, the tyres have been engineered with longevity in mind, getting an optimised tread compound which combines abrasion-resistant materials to reduce wear. There's also reinforced shoulder tie-bars to help maintain a consistent contact patch across the tyre tread.
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The aim is to deliver more even wear throughout the tyre’s life while maintaining performance as the miles build up.
Apollo says it has also fine-tuned the tread pitch lengths, sequencing and shoulder block design, to reduce external road noise.
Udyan Ghai, group head of marketing at Apollo Tyres, said: “Our research and development team spent over two years exploring the needs of van owners and users, creating a winter van tyre that delivers an optimal balance of performance and value."
"They focused on those attributes that matter most to fleet operators and van drivers: safety, durability and low operating costs. We know that wet-weather performance is becoming increasingly important for operators across Europe, so we are particularly pleased to see the tyre secure an A rating for wet grip.”
The Apollo Altrust Winter is available to order now in a wide range of tyre sizes.
