New on the shelves

Apollo Aspire XP tyre

Latest family car and SUV tyre heads our kit round-up

Price: From £60.20 (205/55R16) Contact: www.apollotyres.com

INDIAN tyre maker Apollo has launched a new summer tyre which aims to combine comfort with safety.

The Aspire XP comes in 52 sizes covering 16 to 19-inch rims and expands Apollo’s coverage of the three bigger sizes with 20 additions for cars and the fast-growing SUV segment.

More flexible sidewalls are said to improve comfort; they absorb shocks better than the company’s outgoing Aspire 4G and Apterra HP tyres. There are also sipes on the inner shoulder of the tyre to reduce cabin noise.

The Aspire XP has the top tyre label rating of A for wet grip, achieved by a new silica-based tread compound. This has enhanced wet handling by 22 per cent over the previous tyres, Apollo says, and cut braking distances by seven per cent.

Improvements in dry performance have been claimed as well, thanks to stiff iff outer shoulder blocks and deep central al grooves which give higher accuracy in terms of steering response. Apollo, which also owns Dutch producer and former tyre test winner Vredestein, says dry braking has been improved by four per cent over the outgoing tyres, too.

Tyre label ratings have not been revealed for all sizes as the line-up is rolled out, but all those currently on the market have A ratings for wet grip. The picture is more varied for fuel economy, with the range covering B to E ratings depending on size. Speed ratings are from V to Y (up to 150-186mph).

“Aspire XP has top A rating for wet grip, thanks to new silicabased compound”