Apollo Tyres today introduced the all-terrain tyres, Apollo Apterra AT2 for the SUV segment. This all-terrain tyre complements Apollo’s existing Apterra range including specialised Highway Luxury (HL), Highway Terrain (HT), High Performance (HP) and the All Terrain (AT) tyres for the SUVs.
The newly launched tyre is designed and developed as a collaborative effort between the two Global R&D Centres in Enschede, the Netherlands and in Chennai, India. The Apterra AT2 will be produced at the company’s Vadodara unit in Gujarat. This tyre has been thoroughly tested in the toughest of conditions in South Africa before being introduced today as stated by the company.
The company is looking at catering to the all-terrain market of approximately 15,000 tyres/month in India, and is introducing 8 sizes in phase 1, which are targeted towards vehicle like Endeavour, Fortuner, Pajero, Force One, Scorpio, XUV 500, Hexa and others. Another 6 sizes of Apollo Apterra AT2 would be launched in phase II, and together, the range will cover over 90% of the all-terrain vehicle market as further stated by the company.
The Apollo Apterra AT2 is designed to outperform on all terrains and has a patented tread design with 3D interlocking sipes, tread with DPF technology and the shoulder design with SAW-Tooth technology, which provides a higher level of traction. Triplex casing and high tensile steel belts makes the tyre highly durable and impact resistant. The herringbone grooves of the tyre ensure efficient water drainage on wet roads and provide better control during off-roading. The wider tread width provides stability during cornering.
Commenting on the launch, Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres Ltd said “We are sharpening our focus on the SUV segment in India, with specialised tyres for different terrains, as this vehicle segment is growing faster than passenger cars. The excellent test results, and the global efforts that have gone into developing the Apollo Apterra AT2, gives us the confidence that this tyre will set a new benchmark in the all-terrain tyre space, and will further propel our leadership in the SUV segment.”
