Nexen held a presentation of new winter tires
The company Nexen held a presentation and test drive of the new European-type winter tires Nexen Winguard Sport 3 in Lungau, Salzburg, Austria, which premiered last year at The Tire Cologne exhibition.
According to Nexen, the main goal during the development of the new tires was to increase the level of safety, and it significantly surpasses its predecessor, the Winguard Sport 2, in a number of key parameters, particularly in terms of snow handling, while braking performance on snowy and wet roads was improved by 12% and 3%, respectively.
The operational characteristics were improved, among other things, due to the use of a new rubber compound, and the tread pattern features an increased number of blocks that have become smaller in size, which has created additional edges for traction. In addition, the blocks have one or two lamellas, which also improve the level of grip on slippery surfaces.
In the creation of the Winguard Sport 3, the latest technologies were used, and at the first stage, digital prototypes were developed, after which they underwent testing in a virtual environment, and artificial intelligence optimized their design, followed by real-world testing.
The Winguard Sport 3 will be available for order starting from spring, and in the medium term, the tires are planned to be produced in 126 sizes with a rim diameter from 17 to 21 inches. Initially, the tires will be designed for mid-range and premium vehicles, so the share of large sizes from 18 inches, which the company calls premium, has been increased to 69%. For comparison, the Winguard Sport 2 had this figure at 55%, and the first-generation Winguard Sport had only 36%.
Not all sizes will be offered at the initial stage, as Nexen explained that in some cases, tire production at the plant in the Czech Republic, where the pre-series tires for the test drive were manufactured, starts with a certain delay. If some sizes are not yet available, the company will meet demand with tires from the previous generation. The exact prices for the novelty in Nexen have not been specified, but it is noted that, as before, the tires will be aimed at the mid-price segment.
The plant in the Czech town of Žatec was opened in 2019, after which there were uncertainties regarding further investments, especially due to the coronavirus pandemic, and during the presentation, Peter Gull, vice president of Nexen's Central and Eastern European division, confirmed that the company had indeed experienced "turbulent times".
Initially, the plant was capable of producing 5.5 million tires per year, after which production volumes were increased, and according to Gull, there is a possibility that the planned annual capacity of 11 million tires will be reached in the near future. He also emphasized that Nexen is "going in the opposite direction to what competitors have chosen" and instead of reducing production or even closing plants in Europe, continues to invest.
Nexen also owns two plants in Korea (in Yangsan and Changnyeong) and one in China (in Qingdao), and in 2023, it was reported that the company intends to localize production in the USA.