Apollo Vredestein B.V. joined forces with Gemballa of Leonberg, Germany, to create a tire that allows Gemballa customers to enjoy their cars throughout the year – even through slush and snow.
The tire, the Wintrac Nextreme SUV, is available in sizes 275/40 R 20 106 Y XL, 295/40 R 20 110 Y XL, 295/35 R 21 107 Y XL and 295/30 R 22 103 Y XL. It performs as a winter tire on snow and ice, handles well on dry roads and is able to cope with speeds of up to 300 km/h, reports Vredestein.
After extensive testing by Andreas Schwarz, CEO of Gemballa, the Vredestein Wintrac Nextreme SUV was approved on Gemballa’s most powerful SUVs: the Aero 1, 2 and Tornado. The Aero 1 and 2 are based on the Porsche Cayenne 958 and, like all Gemballa aerodynamic components, are made of light and strong carbon fibre. They fit onto the original mounting points of the donor car.
The Gemballa Tornado is based on the Porsche Cayenne 958 and has a 721 hp motor and extensive upgrades to the braking system, engine and interior. Combined with Vredestein Wintrac Nextreme SUV tires, it can now be driven safely even in winter conditions.
The Wintrac Nextreme SUV has a flowing, fan-shaped tread reminiscent of the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta, the summer tire designed by design studio Giugiaro. The Wintrac Nextreme SUV is the first complete tire with tread and sidewall integrated within a single design, Vredestein says. The smooth and undulating style of the tread is in stark contrast to the sipes and blocks, which provide grip and exude sturdiness and strength, seamlessly flowing into the sidewall design. “Regardless of how aesthetically pleasing the tire is, however, its essence as a safety product has been entirely preserved,” Vredestein says.
The Nextreme tread is equipped with a Sophisticated Sipe Design (SSD), which translates into a highly intelligent composition – 0.6 mm sipes in a wide central area are placed at right angles to the direction of travel. This provides more traction in the main contact surface on snowy roads, allowing improved steering precision. The sipes on the inner and outer shoulder are 0.5 mm thick, positioned diagonally, and have a zigzag shape. This is especially beneficial on bends due to the greater block rigidity. The zigzag shape of the sipes also features in the lateral grooves to ensure a safe performance on slippery surfaces. The ends of the sipes are shallower, increasing the stability of the shoulder blocks without influencing performance in winter.
The Wintrac Nextreme SUV has a very even surface pressure distribution on roads, which is essential to its performance. The ideal combination of tire construction and contours gives a contact footprint that combats aquaplaning and promotes an even wear pattern. The intelligent footprint and extra robust belt also ensure exceptional handling and steering precision. The itre’s optimum performance at high speeds can be attributed to the two-layer spiral wound nylon overhead, Vredestein notes.
