Continental Expands MTB Tyre Lineup With Three New Models

Continental Expands MTB Tyre Lineup With Three New Models

Continental has launched three all-new MTB tyres in order to give riders better performance, longevity and maximum grip on any terrain. Every rider, from XC racers to trail fans, will find the ideal tyre for their preferred terrain thanks to the addition of the new Dubnital, Trinotal and Magnotal tyres to the well-known Gravity line.

Dubnital is designed for dry to moist environments and is best suited for rocky, hardpack and medium-loose soils. It is designed to fulfil the demands of XC and downhill riders seeking maximum speed. Dubnital, a direct successor to the 'Race King', offers unrivalled efficiency, grip and control at high speeds thanks to its cutting-edge tread and innovative rubber compositions. Trinotal, which replaces the popular 'Cross King', is meant to be versatile and perform well in both dry and wet circumstances. The tyre is designed for XC and downhill riders and provides excellent grip and stability, helping them to easily tackle a range of terrains. The all-rounder Magnotal, which replaces the 'Mountain King', is designed for aggressive all-mountain and trail riders and strikes the ideal mix of performance and control. It thrives. Magnotal provides excellent grip for riders in dry to wet situations, tackling hard, loose and muddy soils with ease.

Alexander Haenke, Product Manager – MTB & Gravel, Continental Tires, said: “With the introduction of Dubnital, Trinotal and Magnotal, we are proud to complete the overhaul of our MTB lineup, finally replacing our iconic 'Kings’. The new models now seamlessly fit into the nomenclature and logic of our Gravity range tyres, and give riders the freedom to use our portfolio as a playground to create their perfect setup. We’ve tested these tyres with gold-medal-winning athletes to ensure they perform at the highest level – now it’s your turn to push their limits. While our technology has already been proven in the world of gravity, we’re excited to see how riders take them to new heights across other disciplines”.

Bridgestone India Opens New Select Store In Punjab

Bridgestone Select Plus

Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of the Bridgestone Group, has announced the opening of its latest Bridgestone Select Store, Arora Wheel and Car Accessories, in Firozpur, Punjab.

The store was inaugurated by Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director – Integrated Consumer Business, Bridgestone India.

The Bridgestone Select stores represent the company’s retail format that delivers a comprehensive ownership experience. These outlets provide guidance, diagnostics, and infrastructure, ensuring safety, performance and driving confidence.

Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director – Integrated Consumer Business, Bridgestone India, said, “Punjab is a key market for Bridgestone, and the opening of our new Select Store in Firozpur reflects our focus on being closer to customers, through modern, high-quality retail touchpoints. At Bridgestone, we are committed to providing not just superior products but also an enhanced customer experience that combines premium products & services along with Bridgestone’s promise of safety, and trust. The Select Store format allows us to deliver the best of Bridgestone’s global expertise with a local, customer-first approach”

Arora Wheels is making available Bridgestone’s latest offerings: Turanza 6i and Dueler All-Terrain A/T002. The Turanza 6i is engineered with ENLITEN technology and delivers a driving experience. Compatible with both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EVs), this tyre is EV-ready, offering efficiency, comfort and durability for mobility.

The Dueler All-terrain A/T002 is built for adventure and is a said to be a preferred choice among off-road enthusiasts. Its tread design and on- and off-road capabilities make it the choice for drivers seeking performance without compromising control or safety.

Michelin India Opens Three New Tyre Stores In Tamil Nadu

Michelin India

Michelin, a tyre technology company, has expanded its network in India with the inauguration of three new Michelin Tyres & Services (MTS) stores in Tamil Nadu.

Two stores were launched in Coimbatore: one with Covai Tyres in Sundarapuram, and another with Carzone in Goundermills. The third facility was inaugurated with Carworld Automotive in Tirupur.

Each new dealership offers Michelin’s complete range of products, along with advanced diagnostic tools and high precision equipment for alignment, balancing and car services. The new facilities were inaugurated by Prashant Sharma, National Sales Director at Michelin India.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said: “The opening of three new Michelin Tyres & Services Stores in Tamil Nadu reflects our continued investment in expanding our retail network and strengthening consumer access to our products and services. These new touchpoints align with our broader strategy as we prepare to introduce our Made-in-India passenger car tyre range, ensuring we are well positioned to serve the evolving needs of our consumers.”

Tamil Nadu is a key market for Michelin, supported by the company’s production facility in Chennai. Michelin stated it is focused on delivering mobility experiences that combine safety, durability, and performance through collaboration with partners like Covai Tyres, Carzone and Carworld Automotive.

Yokohama Supports Classic Himalayan Drive

Yokohama - Classic Himalayan

The Classic Himalayan Drive 2025, a 10-day motoring expedition, concluded recently, which was supported by Yokohama India and included over 60 classic and vintage cars from the UK, France, Kenya, Bhutan and India.

The drive celebrated heritage motoring by retracing rally routes and uniting enthusiasts, showcasing vehicles spanning decades of automotive engineering.

Participants navigated terrains and elevations through Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The route covered Noida, Corbett, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Theog and Manali, including high-altitude sections such as Jalori Pass (10,800 ft) and Rohtang Pass (13,095 ft) via the Atal Tunnel. The drive included highways, gravel stretches, hill climbs and cold-weather routes representative of Himalayan motoring conditions.

A dedicated Yokohama Club Network Pitstop was set up at Batra Tyres, Chandigarh. The facility supported the entire convoy with tyre checks, alignment and balancing services and inspections after the high-altitude sections. This stop ensured the vehicles were road-ready for the final stretch and served as a technical checkpoint.

Rajiv Batra, Batra Tyres, said, “Events like the Classic Himalayan Drive push vehicles to perform across varied and demanding conditions. We are proud that Yokohama tyres remain the preferred choice for drivers seeking reliability and control. Seeing enthusiasts place their confidence in Yokohama reinforces our commitment to delivering performance that is matched by long-term dependability on every drive.”

A participant from the drive expressed his take on Yokohama tyres and said, “I completed nearly 2,500 kilometres during the drive, and the Yokohama tyres delivered consistent grip and comfort across every surface we encountered. They are soft enough for classic cars yet stable and reliable on high-altitude sections and tight turns. I’ve been using Yokohama tyres on all my classics for over five years, and the performance on this drive reaffirmed why. For a car like my 1977 Peugeot 504, the fit, handling, and control were exactly what I needed for a long-distance run like this.”

Big Bus Tours Enhances Electric Fleet Performance With Michelin Tyres

Big Bus Tours Enhances Electric Fleet Performance With Michelin Tyres

Michelin’s engineering expertise and premium urban tyres have been instrumental in enhancing the performance and reducing downtime for Big Bus Tours’ newly converted electric bus fleet in London. As the world's largest open-top sightseeing company, Big Bus Tours faced a significant challenge after converting 20 Ankai double-decker buses from diesel to electric with drivetrain specialist Equipmake. While this conversion met London's emission rules, the new batteries added 800 kg, altering the weight distribution and creating concerns about tyre loading, especially on the steer axle.

Seeking a solution, service provider Tructyre brought in Michelin's specialists. Carl Williams, Manager of Customer Engineering Support at Michelin, along with Territory Business Manager Ian Roberts, performed a detailed weighing analysis. This study accounted for passenger numbers and axle loads to define the ideal tyre pressures. Their report confirmed that the original tyres were inadequate for the new demands, prompting Big Bus Tours to upgrade all wheels on its Ankai buses to MICHELIN X InCity EV Z tyres.

The results were so impressive that the company has now fitted most of its 56-bus London fleet with these tyres. The MICHELIN X InCity EV Z tyres are specifically designed for urban electric buses, providing key benefits including robust resistance to kerb damage, reliable all-weather grip and low rolling resistance for optimised energy efficiency and cost savings. This successful collaboration has supported Big Bus Tours, which has global operations across more than 25 cities.

Jon Reed, Head of Engineering – Europe, Big Bus Tours, said, "Michelin said to us that from a cost, as well as a duty cycle, perspective ‘the MICHELIN InCity EV Z is the best tyre for you’. And it has been. They are performing well, and we’ve had zero complaints of road noise. We seem to be getting less sidewall damage too. While we are paying more for them initially than our previous brand of tyres, the cost is worth it. We’re getting much longer life out of them.”