Apollo Tyres has officially launched the sales of the off-road model Vredestein Pinza AT, which became the brand’s first model in the All-Terrain segment of the American tire market. Originally, the new model was introduced still in September last year but it only went on sale now, and in honor of this event, a billboard was put up in New York’s Times Square.
«When we brought the Vredestein brand to North America a little over a year ago, we introduced a range of passenger car tires that were developed specifically for the unique needs of drivers in this market," said Abhishek Bisht, Asst Vice President, Americas, Apollo Tyres Ltd. «In the year since, we have been lauded by customers, media and independent testing authorities for the quality, value and performance of our products. Our expansion into the all-terrain category with the comfortably rugged Vredestein Pinza AT is a moment worthy of celebration, and Times Square is the perfect venue for this.»
Development of the new tire product involved Apollo’s Global R&D centers in Europe and Asia, the main goal being to develop and deliver a uniquely capable, yet comfortable all-terrain tire. The development was preceded by an intensive study into pickup and SUV drivers’ habits and requirements; the new tire was tested in different climates and weather conditions on 3 different continents.
The tread pattern of the new Vredestein model (very similar to that of the Apollo Apterra AT2) includes four wide longitudinal zigzagging grooves and deep sipes that are meant to reduce the risk of hydroplaning and improve grip on wet and snow-covered roads. In addition, jagged edge shoulder design delivers rugged aesthetics and full capability in mud, sand and snow, while the Interlocking sipe design provides tread stability. The tire features a 3PMSF sign, which testifies to its effectiveness in winter conditions.
The tires are available in 2- and 3-ply carcass construction (in P-metric and LT sizes respectively), and for additional strength, including when used at high speeds, steel belt edge protectors, a hexagonal seamless bead core structure, and an extra nylon layer are provided.
The new Vredestein model was tested by the experts of Tire Rack, who tested it solely on tarmac, without checking out its off-road capabilities. In the test, the new model was up against three rivals — Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek, Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse AT, and Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus — and ultimately scored first place with a big lead over the competition, showing excellent results in all performance areas without a single prominent issue. «The tires ensure a smooth and comfortable ride, low noise, and the best wet grip of all the tires that we tested this time around, i.e. have a really well-balanced performance» — the TR experts noted.
Quick Take
Vredestein Pinza AT
- Available Sizes in Line: 13
- Year Released: 2021
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe
The tire was launched in 47 sizes, 15 additional sizes being planned for Phase 2 of product rollout. The Vredestein Pinza AT comes with a 70,000-mile warranty for the P-type and a 50,000-mile warranty for the Light Truck variant, the company said. In the future, the line will be extended with a highway version for SUVs and pickup trucks, which will be named Vredestein Pinza HT.
