Earlier this year, PMM ’s Kieran Nee travelled to Budapest in Hungary to visit Apollo Tyre’s factory there.
Since 2009, Indian tyre behemoth Apollo Tyres have been the proud owners of Vredestein Tyres, the respected Dutch tyre maker. The firm has done a good job of retaining Vredestein’s reputation for quality within the market and at its tyre production facility in Gyöngyöshalász, Hungary, the two brands’ wares are produced side by side. Apollo’s largely for commercial purposes, whilst Vredestein’s still faithfully serving the passenger vehicles of Europe.
As difficult as its Central European location’s name might be for the average Briton to pronounce, it is matched by the level of complexity and research that sits behind the deceptively simple looking tyres produced there. Indeed, the exploits of over 380 research & development employees are put into practice at the plant. This vast investment in research is paying off, clearly, as the brand has received a wealth of accolades from the tyre industry for its all-season and winter ranges in recent years.
While the Apollo name might not be familiar to readers, some may have heard of Vredestein. However, as the firm describes itself, especially in relation to the UK market, it is for many “a well-kept secret”. Started in the Netherlands in 1909, the heritage brand is known for its innovative and even aesthetically accomplished designs.
Until recently, Vredestein has operated solely out of its Enschede plant in the Netherlands, but since 2017 the brand’s tyres have also been manufactured in Hungary. To give an idea of how big a step up in production this is, the Dutch plant is 92,000 sq.m, whereas the Hungarian plant is overseven times as large: 700,000 sq.m. This new, state of the art factory started from an investment of 470 million euros and features the latest in production technology. This is includes a system whereby the tyres aren’t touched by human hands from building until dispatch in order to reduce risk of damage.
Once the tyres are ready to go, they are shipped to one of 11 warehouses spread across Europe before delivery to local retailers. Whilst Apollo may be an Indian company, through Vredestein the European market is being well looked after.
Not enshrined in law in the UK as it is in other European countries, not a great deal of thought has traditionally been paid in this country to the different needs for tyre performance throughout the year. To most drivers here, tyres are tyres. There are signs, however, that that nonchalance is beginning to pass. In the face of growing climate change, deterioration of our roads and a greater emphasis being placed on car care in general, more and more are starting to take their tyres into consideration.
All season
Since 1993 and the introduction of the first all-season tyres, Vredestein has stood at the forefront of the sector. Now, the brand is increasing its all-season tyre offering in response to fast-growing demand. Vredestein is launching tyres in 25 new dimensions for wheel diameters from 15 to 22 in., expanding its three Vredestein all-season product ranges for compact and family cars and SUVs (Quatrac), high-performance cars and SUVs (Quatrac Pro), and for commercial vehicles (Comtrac 2 all-season+).
68% of car owners in the UK said that next time they purchase replacement tyres they would consider products that are specially designed to perform well in all conditions year-round, including dry, wet and snow. This makes sense, as the majority of the UK avoids the treacherous winters of higher latitudes as well as the searing heat of southern Europe – dare I say we are lucky to have the weather we have? When it comes to purchasing tyres we certainly seem to be.
This result echoes the increase in sales of all-season tyres. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the all-season segment had been growing at around 23 per cent per annum across Europe. Plus, it’s an easier sell at workshop level. Available in 15 and 16 in., the Quatrac is the name most UK independent workshops will need to know.
This tyre is dedicated to the popular midsegment market and offers a carefully optimised balance of performance in dry, wet and snowy conditions. In addition to these features, the tyre also reduces the user’s environmental footprint through lower rolling resistance and a higher wear life. The tyres now come in eight additional dimensions for 15 in. rims.
Moving up a level, the Quatrac Pro is a high-performance tyre dedicated to more powerful cars and SUVs, and is noted for its wet grip and snow handling. The tyre is already available in multiple sizes for wheels from 17 to 21 in. in diameter, and now an extra 11 additional dimensions are available, including – for the first time – for wheels 22 in. in diameter.
