Fulda, May 29, 2006 – Fulda, the German quality tyre manufacturer, is proud to announce the launch of a new high performance winter tire especially developed for heavy four wheel driven cars and modern sport utility vehicles (SUV): the new Fulda Kristall 4x4. Fulda's dedicated SUV winter tire delivers three key benefits: Short braking distances on wet and slushy winter roads, safe handling capabilities and low noise levels.
4x4 driving has substantial advantages in winter, as the engine forces are spread over four wheels instead of only two. "Also owners of four wheel driven cars need winter tires in winter to be safe on the road", explained Edwin Kuiper, Fulda Marketing Manager Europe. "For braking, the 4x4 feature doesn't offer any benefits. The typically quite heavy cars have even more problems to stop on slippery winter roads than standard cars. Good winter tyres are essential to allow 4x4 cars to stop safely in winter. The new Fulda Kristall 4x4 winter tire is particularly designed for modern SUVs to allow a safe drive in all winter conditions", said Kuiper.
Short braking distance on wet and slushy winter roads
To ensure excellent road contact, especially when braking, the new Kristall 4x4 features an innovative silica winter contact compound. This new high performance compound remains flexible even at lower temperatures, providing excellent road contact leading to shorter braking distances on snow and slush
Safe handling
Kristall 4x4 provides a high level of driving safety thanks to its predictable handling capabilities. The stable centre area with continuous centre ribs transmits the steering movements directly and precisely to the road surface. The solid shoulder blocks gradually take over the transmission of the cornering forces after the initial steering input. Special wave-shaped blades stabilize the tire's tread and increase the handling performance.
Low noise
Kristall 4x4 is a very quiet tyre providing a comfortable drive. Its modern directional tread design features different block sizes which are staggered individually to one another. This staggered tread-block configuration assures that the tread-blocks do not hit the road simultaneously. This reduces noise frequency peaks, limiting the tyre's overall noise emission.
Available sizes:
The new Fulda Kristall 4x4 will be available in the following sizes:
· 205/70R15 96T
· 245/70R16 107T
· 265/70R16 112T
· 235/65R17 108H XL
· 255/65R17 110T
· 265/65R17 112T
· 255/60R17 106H
· 235/60R18 107H XL
· 235/55R17 103H XL
· 255/55R18 109H XL