The all-new Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, an ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season tyre scheduled for launch this summer, will come armed with a next-generation tread compound technology and a highly innovative structure to deliver an unrivalled combination of year-round safety, performance and efficiency across dry, wet and winter conditions. This model represents a major advancement for the Vredestein brand, which has been a pioneer in the all-season sector since the early 1990s.

Developed from a clean sheet by Apollo Tyres at its Global R&D Centre in the Netherlands, the Quatrac Pro 2 was not an evolution of an existing design. Instead, engineers completely reimagined the tread, materials and structure to overcome the typical performance compromises found in this category. The tyre will be manufactured at Apollo’s advanced facility in Hungary.

The core of its capability is a new directional tread pattern. Longitudinal grooves work with a V-shaped design to maximise resistance to aquaplaning by efficiently evacuating water. Lateral grooves are sculpted to harmonise wet-road performance with winter traction, while a stable centre rib ensures precise dry handling and braking stability on both wet and dry surfaces. For snow-covered roads, advanced 3D interlocking sipes in the shoulder blocks provide grip without compromising tread stability in other conditions. A multi-pitch tread block sequence also refines the acoustic signature, which is particularly advantageous for electric and hybrid vehicles. The entire Quatrac Pro 2 range achieves an A-rated exterior noise label.

A revolutionary next-generation traction compound is central to the tyre’s versatile performance. This advanced material combines a unique mixture of resins and polymers with complex multi-filler technology. The result is a tyre that maintains a broad operational range across varying temperatures, with a strong emphasis on wet braking. It balances low-temperature flexibility for reliable grip on cold, wet and snowy surfaces with high-temperature stability for consistent handling and abrasion resistance on hot, dry roads, enhancing durability year-round. The tyre bears the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, confirming its winter capability.

This new compound and tread design are also optimised for electric and hybrid vehicles, managing the challenges of high battery mass and instant electric motor torque by ensuring consistent grip and tread stability. The engineering goal was to provide high levels of cornering stability and precision without sacrificing ride comfort, a balance that sets the tyre apart.

Complementing the compound, the tyre's structure has been entirely re-engineered. A stiffer bead area with a double taper design ensures secure bead seating even at high speeds while distributing forces more evenly for improved comfort and stability. A dedicated belt design optimises the tyre's footprint for enhanced mileage. In mixed fitments, this improves steering precision at the front axle and stability at the rear.

The Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2 will be available in an extensive range of sizes for 17- to 24-inch rims, including section widths up to 355 for high-performance vehicles. With speed ratings up to Y (300 kmph), it firmly positions itself at the pinnacle of the UHP all-season category, with high load rating options on select sizes.

Daniele Lorenzetti, Chief Technology Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The Quatrac Pro 2 has exceeded the very demanding performance target we set during development while delivering superior wet grip, great snow handling, low rolling resistance and high mileage. By focusing on the fundamentals of tyre behaviour and rethinking tread design, materials and structure, we have created a performance-focused all-season tyre that delivers stability, mileage, all-season grip with best wet performance in category.”

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Pirelli's medium and soft compounds shaped the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen took victory for Red Bull and Kimi Antonelli secured the Formula 1 World Championship with a third-place finish. Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in second for Ferrari at the circuit named after the Rodríguez brothers.

Verstappen triumphed through a two-stop strategy, beginning on mediums before switching to softs on lap 27. After 18 laps on the C5 compound, a red flag stopped the race, and the Dutchman used the pause to fit another set of softs, then resisted Hamilton's challenge to the finish. Hamilton had started on softs, moved to mediums and took another set of softs during the Safety Car that preceded the red flag, later choosing a previously run soft set at the restart while setting fastest laps on both compounds.

Antonelli, at 20, becomes Formula 1's youngest World Champion, breaking Sebastian Vettel's record of 23. The Italian started on softs, switched to mediums on lap 43 and used the red flag to fit another used set of softs, a strategy that delivered third place and the title. The podium contained only World Champions, with Verstappen on four titles, Hamilton on seven and Antonelli on his first.

Antonelli is the third Italian driver to claim the championship. His predecessors also won exclusively on Pirelli tyres, with Giuseppe Farina taking the inaugural 1950 title across six races and Alberto Ascari securing his second consecutive crown in 1953 by winning all eight Grands Prix he entered.

Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director, said, “Congratulations to Kimi Antonelli on winning the World Championship. It is a thoroughly deserved success, built on the consistency he has demonstrated throughout the season and sealed today with another outstanding performance, culminating in a podium finish in a race packed with drama alongside two World Champions. Without the neutralisations, a one-stop strategy would have been the most competitive option for this Grand Prix. Both the Soft and Medium compounds proved capable of covering around half the race distance, making it possible to complete the event with a single tyre change. The C5 once again confirmed itself as the benchmark compound in terms of grip and driver confidence, although the performance gap to the C4 was very small, with both compounds showing similar levels of degradation. It was therefore no surprise that every driver chose the Soft for the final stint after the Safety Car, despite also having the Hard compound available.

“From a technical perspective, tyre behaviour was very positive. We recorded no significant graining, and degradation remained within expected levels, proving lower than what had been observed on Friday. A lock-up by Leclerc at the restart following the red flag also provided further evidence of the robustness of Formula 1 tyres. The tyre sliding across the asphalt caused particularly severe localised wear on the front-left tyre, bringing it very close to the internal structural layers. This is certainly not a routine occurrence, but it is one that is consistently taken into account throughout Pirelli’s development and validation processes, including through rigorous indoor testing programmes. The ultimate objective is to ensure that the tyre maintains an appropriate level of integrity even under extreme conditions, allowing drivers to continue racing in complete safety.

“The performance of the Soft compound was particularly interesting, as demonstrated by Antonelli’s lengthy stint. He completed 43 laps while maintaining very limited degradation and a competitive pace right through to the closing stages of the race. The C3, meanwhile, was not considered by the teams because, under race conditions, it did not offer any performance advantage over the two softer compounds. Overall, the data collected confirmed a very clear picture, fully consistent with the simulations carried out before the event, both in terms of degradation and the competitiveness of the various strategic options.”

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Goodyear has expanded its presence in Norwood with a new Goodyear Auto Service store at 981 Boston Providence Hwy., situated in the Automile area just off Route 1. The store marked its arrival with a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on 30 September, giving local drivers fresh access to professional tyre and automotive care.

Motorists visiting the location can choose from Goodyear and Cooper tyre lines, which cater to a range of vehicles, budgets and driving preferences. Among the Goodyear offerings are the Eagle F1 All Season for year-round capability, the Wrangler Steadfast HT for dependable comfort, the Assurance WeatherReady 2 for all-weather conditions and the ElectricDrive 2 for electric vehicle performance.

Beyond tyre sales and installation, the Norwood team provides oil changes, alignments, brake service, battery replacement, air conditioning service and preventive maintenance. With heavy commuter traffic along Route 1 wearing down tyres and colder weather elevating the need for proper care, the store invites drivers to receive a complimentary tyre air pressure check or consultation. Tyre rotation, wheel balancing and TPMS inspections are also available.

Several promotional offers are currently available. Through 30 November, customers who purchase and install select Goodyear or Cooper tyres with the Goodyear Credit Card can receive up to USD 200 back, while a full-synthetic oil change is priced at USD 69.99 through 1 December at participating locations. Qualifying oil changes and services also earn up to USD 20 in Valvoline rebates through 31 December. The store operates Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Marsha Nelson, Store Manager, said, “Backed by more than 125 years of expertise, our Goodyear team is ready to help customers choose the right tyres and provide the service their vehicles need to get them where they’re going with confidence. We’re committed to exceptional customer service and top-quality products, and we look forward to building lasting relationships with Norwood-area drivers and their vehicles.”

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Maxxis International will display its Victra RC-1 tyres on Nissan's Project NAT2 SCCA Touring 2³ car at the SEMA Show 2026, scheduled for 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center, continuing a partnership with the Nissan Acceleration Team (NAT) that dates to 2020. NAT is an all-volunteer motorsports group staffed by Nissan employees, and the Victra RC-1 has become a popular choice among club racers and enthusiasts for its grip, handling and heat cycle performance.

Project NAT2 is a Nissan Z fitted with upgraded engine, suspension and braking systems for the SCCA T2 road-racing class, which balances performance across production-based sports cars and sedans through rules on eligibility, modifications, weight and tyres. The car will run on 100TW Victra RC-1s in 275/35ZR18, retaining much of its production character while being prepared for serious wheel-to-wheel competition with safety, handling, braking and reliability upgrades.

Visitors can see the Project NAT2 Z and its Victra RC-1 tyres at Nissan's Booth #21521 in Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Additional Maxxis tyres are on display at the outdoor booth #82002 in the Silver Lot and the indoor booth #41086 in South Hall Lower near the Bronze Lot.

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Hankook Tire held its 2026 Design Innovation Day on 30 October at Hankook Technodome, the company’s advanced research and development centre in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea. The event, themed ‘Shaping Identity, Sculpting Performance’, gave employees a chance to learn about the tyre maker’s design strategies and major accomplishments.

A central highlight was the company’s first public presentation of a unified product design identity framework covering its principal brands: iON, the world’s first full-lineup tyre brand dedicated to electric vehicles; Ventus, its flagship line and Dynapro, its SUV-focused brand. Hankook Tire also introduced a next-generation product design language for the first time and explained how it will be applied to future products, clarifying each brand’s design direction and creating a consistent approach across the portfolio.

The programme featured three sessions. One addressed design strategies for conveying product performance while preserving brand identity and introduced guidelines for turning ‘invisible performance’ developed during R&D into design elements consumers can recognise, with approaches tailored to different product characteristics. Another session presented the next-generation design language for iON, Ventus and Dynapro, translating each brand’s core values into distinctive design elements. Hankook Tire further shared a framework for collaboration among R&D, product planning, marketing and design teams so they can develop products under unified design standards.

Through the event, Hankook Tire seeks to align design strategies and direction across the organisation, improve product development efficiency and speed decision-making while strengthening global brand recognition and its premium image. The company also aims to bolster design competitiveness in original equipment collaborations with global automakers and in product development for global markets. Hankook Tire continues to earn international design recognition, including three Product Design awards at the 2026 Red Dot Design Awards for Ventus evo, iON AT and Laufenn S FIT2, plus six Design Concept awards comprising two Best of the Best honours and four Red Dot awards.

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