Vredestein's powerful new tire for powerful cars

April 22, 2013

The new flagship tire from Vredestein Tyres North America Inc. will share a name with the Ultrac Vorti, the ultra-high performance line the company introduced last year.

The Ultrac Vorti R had its coming out party at the 83rd International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland, in March. Based on the Ultrac Vorti, the Ultrac Vorti R has an increased focus on grip and sportiness, all within a "distinctive" size range, according to the company.

Many of the sporty cars for which the Ultrac Vorti R was developed, such as the  Porsche 911, Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8, have different sizes in their front and rear tires due to their high capacities and rear-wheel drive. For these cars, Ultrac Vorti R comes in sizes with an adjusted tread and construction specifically optimized for the rear axle.

Front and rear sizes

1. 235/35ZR19 91Y XL.

2. 245/35ZR20 95Y XL.

3. 265/35ZR20 99Y XL.

4. 245/30ZR21 91Y XL.

5. 265/30ZR21 96Y XL.

Rear sizes

1. 255/30ZR19 91Y XL.

2. 295/30ZR19 100Y XL.

3. 305/30ZR19 102Y XL.

4. 305/30ZR20 103Y XL.

5. 305/25ZR21 98Y XL.

The tread of the Ultrac Vorti R was developed by Apollo Vredestein B.V., a subsidiary of Apollo Tyres Ltd., together with the Italian design house Giugiaro Design, which has been closely involved in the development of Vredestein tires for the last 16 years. The sleek, asymmetrical tread pattern features unique carrbon accents on the tread (and sidewall).

The name of the Ultrac Vorti R also is a Giugiaro creation, and is derived from the word vortex, which refers to the powerful air flow created by the blades of a helicopter as it takes off.

Contacts with premium car stylers such as Carlsson Autotechnik GmbH and, more recently, Hamann Motorsport also played "a very valuable part in the development of the Ultrac Vorti R."

The tread compound of the Ultrac Vorti R contains multiple resins that are activated at different temperatures. This carefully composed compound results in optimal performance (i.e., gripping power) over a much wider  range of temperatures.

The adjusted belt angle and lower air ratio ensure that an even larger part of the tread comes into contact with the road surface. In this way, the car’s power is converted into an even more controllable grip. The extra groove in the central rib also provides more cooling to maintain this high level of traction.

While the contour of the tire is flat, the tread of the Ultrac Vorti R is broad. This creates an extra-wide contact surface "for superior grip, handling and stability, especially in bends and at high speeds," says Apollo. The large tread blocks on the outer shoulder provide the tire with an even greater sideway grip.

The circumferential grooves have slanted flanks for enhanced block stability in the traverse direction. This leads to greater compensation for the sideway forces in bends. The 30-degree edge in the inner wall contributes to "an even and fluent transition" of surface pressure when driving fast around bends.

The Ultrac Vorti R has unique side notches in the central ribs that serve as flex points. This ensures that the footprint is extended, the performance and steering precision are increased, and the tire is provided with extra cooling. The optimized construction guarantees steering precision at higher speeds and exceptionally stable road-holding.

The tire also was displayed at the Top Marques Monaco Show.

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