Maxxis tires set a new record in drift
Maxxis equipped the Xpeng P7 sedan with tires, which set a new record for the longest continuous drift on a wet surface for electric vehicles, driving in a drift for 1 hour 33 minutes and covering a distance of 73,954 km at the company's tire testing facility in Kunshan (Jiangsu, China). On the Maxxis track, the electric car completed 216 laps, and the company notes that the tires had to provide stable traction and respond accurately to the driver's actions, while effectively cutting through the water film in conditions of rapid temperature rise, and the Maxxis Victra Sport 6 tires installed on the vehicle performed their tasks optimally.
The Maxxis complex near Shanghai was built for almost $150 million and covers an area of 860,000 m2 with a perimeter of about 6 km, making it one of the best-equipped tire testing facilities in the country. Tests are carried out on 12 specialized tracks, which evaluate handling, resistance to lateral drift, braking efficiency, ride comfort, noise, and wear resistance of tires, and for setting a new record, it was important that the facility is equipped with an automated irrigation system, allowing for high-precision control of the water layer depth on the track surface. This ensures reproducible test results, and the new record was officially entered into the Guinness Book of Records.
The P7 was driven by rally driver Andreas Mikkelsen, and the tires were installed in a staggered width variant — 245/45 R20 at the front and 275/40 R20 at the rear — which, according to the company, was supposed to improve the balance between cornering grip and straight-line stability.
The Maxxis VS6 sidewalls feature an EV marking, indicating that they were designed, among other things, for use on electric vehicles, i.e., they have increased load-carrying capacity and reduced rolling resistance. In addition, the flat and wide contact patch (Full Touch technology) improves controllability, including at high speeds, and the tread pattern with three wide and one narrower longitudinal grooves is designed for both rapid water evacuation from the contact area and providing sporty handling, which is also facilitated by the Kevlar in the construction, increasing its stiffness.
The VS6 tires in size 235/55 R19 are also part of the standard equipment for the hybrid crossover XPeng G7 in the Super Range Extender version with increased range, and Maxxis says that the supply of tires for many popular models of the brand "confirms the level of quality of the company's products, as well as the effectiveness of its research department and after-sales service".
Photo: Guinness Book of Records