The Fulda Carat Exelero meets the requirements of sporty drivers and delivers shorter stopping distances on wet roads, safer handling and lower noise. After detailed tyre tests and an extensive production monitoring, Germany's leading testing, evaluation and certification organization TÜV SÜD has awarded the new Fulda Carat Exelero with the official TÜV Certification for Performance and Manufacturing.
It is the first time that the Munich based German TÜV organization has made an award to a tyre manufacturer for an outstanding product.
'The development of the new Carat Exelero is based on continuous end-user market research', said Koos Nooi, Brand Director, Fulda Europe. 'Our customer research has shown that consumers expect from a tyre an excellent grip on wet roads and safe handling capabilities. At the same time low noise emission is becoming more and more important', said Nooi.
The new Fulda Exelero is equipped with an all-new wet grip compound that provides shorter braking distances on wet roads. By developing a compound with relatively low elasticity, Fulda's development engineers optimized the tyre - to - road adhesion. A compound with lower elasticity remains attached to the road longer, thus providing more contact and better grip. With its new compound the Carat Exelero sticks better to the road.
A new high performance carcass provides safer handling. The carcass, the foundation of the tyre, was developed with the current generation of high performance sports cars and sedans in mind. Special attention was paid to achieving high stability as well as predictability of the tyre's behavior. A stable carcass will deform less under heavy braking or cornering. This has not only a positive effect on the tyre's grip but also on the response of the tyre. The steering input will be more predictable, reassuring the driver.
The new so - called DualShift design, which is unique to the Carat Exelero, helps to reduce noise levels. Using dedicated computer modeling tools, the Fulda design engineers have configured a tread pattern with two integrated design approaches: Firstly, the shoulder blocks and center blocks vary in dimension in two unique ways, thus generating a wide frequency spectrum, leading to lower noise levels. Secondly, the six ribs are rotated individually in such a way that they are all off-set one against the other. This reduces the overall noise level even more, giving the Carat Exelero driver the pleasure of a comfortable ride.
The patented design combines a directional tread pattern with a more traditional six - rib design. This combination leads to a harmonious balance between handling stability and aquaplaning resistance.
In - depth tests by Germany's leading independent testing organization TÜV SÜD have proven the overall quality and excellent performance of the Fulda Carat Exelero. These test results in combination with an overall monitoring of Fulda's production facilities have convinced the TÜV organization to award Fulda for its new Carat Exelero with the official TÜV Certification for Performance and Manufacturing.
Nooi said: 'We are convinced that independent product tests and certifications from renowned organizations such as the German TÜV support consumers in making the right buying decisions. In particular drivers of ultra high performance cars should only choose quality tyres for their cars', said Nooi.
The new Fulda Carat Exelero will be available in the first quarter of 2005, in 33 sizes in 39 versions, ranging from 15 to 23 inches. 13 of the 39 sizes are new to Fulda's tyre range. All sizes except the 215/50ZR17 will be equipped with an integrated Rim Protector, for protection of the rims against damage from curbs, etc.
The market for ultra high performance tyres has been growing over the past years and current forecasts still show a European cumulative growth rate of 70% until 2008.
Fula Exelero product list:
205/55 R16 91V
205/55 ZR16 91W
225/55 R16 95V
225/55 ZR16 95W
205/50 R16 87V
205/50 ZR16 87W
225/50 R16 92V
225/50 ZR16 92W
205/50 ZR17 89W
205/50 ZR17 93W XL
215/50 ZR17 95W XL
225/50 ZR17 94Y
195/45 R15 78V
195/45 R16 84V XL
205/45 ZR17 88W XL
215/45 ZR17 91Y XL
225/45 ZR17 91Y
225/45 ZR17 94Y XL
235/45 ZR17 94Y
245/45 ZR17 95Y
245/45 ZR18 100Y XL
255/45 ZR18 103Y XL
215/40 ZR16 86W XL
205/40 ZR17 84W XL
215/40 ZR17 87Y XL
235/40 ZR17 90Y
245/40 ZR17 91Y
255/40 ZR17 94Y
225/40 ZR18 92Y XL
235/40 ZR18 91Y
245/40 ZR18 93Y
255/35 ZR18 94Y XL
265/35 ZR18 97Y XL
235/35 ZR19 91Y XL
245/35 ZR20 95Y XL
285/30 ZR18 93Y
265/30 ZR19 93Y XL
285/30 ZR20 99Y XL
315/25 ZR23 102Y XL