April 25, 2013: Apollo Tyres has introduced three new passenger car tyres for the Indian market. The company made the announcement at the Zaandvoort Circuit in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The company says these fourth-generation (4G) tyres -- Aspire 4G, Alnac 4G and Amazer 4G -- are the most advanced range of high- technology passenger vehicle tyres across segments for the new-age Indian motorist.
Speaking on the occasion, Neeraj Kanwar, vice-chairman and managing director, Apollo Tyres, said: “These tyres are a result of cross-geography collaboration between our R&D, manufacturing and sales & marketing teams in India and Europe. In line with Apollo’s commitment towards customer’s safety, the R&D team has given extra attention to the safety aspect of these tyres. To keep up with the introduction of newer and bigger cars in India, we would be adding 10-12 new products in the passenger vehicle category in the next two years.”
The past year has sen Apollo’s market share in the replacement segment for passenger vehicle tyres go up from 13.5 percent to 16 percent.
Satish Sharma, Chief, India Operations, Apollo Tyres, added: “We are the largest producers of passenger vehicle tyres in India with a capacity of approximately 35,000 tyres per day. With the addition of three new passenger vehicle tyres to our portfolio, which will cater to cars starting from an Alto to an Audi A4, we are working towards gaining the leadership position in this category as well.”
The 4G tyre range has a minimalistic design to cater to superior handling in wet and dry conditions; shorter braking distance and low noise. The wide outer shoulders with narrow intermediate grooves lead to better contact for dry handling. These tyres have reduced aquaplaning and enhanced grip in wet conditions. The centre rib which is optimised for stiffness, lends higher steering precision. Apollo says its 4G tyre range easily and precisely responds to any unexpected steering corrections, providing maximum driving safety. The unique mix of raw materials ensures maximum traction and shorter braking distances on wet and dry surfaces. These tyres have been extensively tested at IDIADA, Spain and ATP Papenburg, Germany, with some excellent results.
Aspire 4G
This ultra-high performance has been introduced with W and Y speed ratings. Available in 16- and 17-inch sizes, Aspire 4G is targeted towards the growing premium and luxury cars segment in India, like the Mercedes-Benz C and E-class, BMW 5-series, Audi A4, Honda Accord and Volkswagen Passat.
Apollo Alnac 4G
This new high performance tyre is specially designed for midsize and executive car segments in India, which will be available in V- and H-speed ratings. Available in 15- and 16-inch sizes, it is suited for cars like the Hyundai Verna and Elantra, Toyota Corolla, Skoda Superb, Chevrolet Cruze and Renault Fluence.
Amazer 4G
This is the third 4G tyre with a T-speed rating for standard performance and available in 12-14-inch sizes. This tyre is targeted at cars in the mini, compact and premium compact segments in India like the Maruti Alto, Hyundai Santro, Hyundai Accent, Tata Indica, Volkswagen Polo and Vento and Swift Dzire.