Vredestein's Space Master spare tyre offers a volume saving of some 60 percent in comparison with conventional spare tyres.

Tyre launches, the 10 to 15 kilometres factory walkabout these events usually entail and the briefing sessions that go with them come under the 'Avoid at all Costs' heading in my 'Guide to a Happier Life', so how I wound up at a Vredestein tyre facility in Enschede, I'll never know. Curiosity, perhaps.

Shane Byrne, Modern Tyres Ltd, Enniskillen and Bert Stellinga, who heads up Vredestein's operations in Ireland and the UK pictured at the launch of the new Sportrac 2 tyre at the Amsterdam Motor Show.

Whatever, the visit was interesting and surprisingly informative. Vredestein as a company has long intrigued me. A smallish operator by Bridgestone, Michelin or even Pirelli standards, but a premium brand nevertheless, they turn out anything between 3.8 and 4.2 million quality tyres per annum - with a goal to market at least two new product lines each year.

First to the market for 2003 is the new Sportrac 2, a top performance segment tyre that meets all of the road holding, handling and safety criteria demanded by cars that push out more torque with each passing day. Sportrac 2 tyres also looks particularly stylish. Giugiaro-designed, they would, wouldn't they!

Vredestein's second launch towards the end of the year will see the introduction of a new range of van tyres geared for light commercial vehicles in the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Renault Kangoo and Opel Combo market sector.

How Vredestein survives and prospers in an industry that's very much slanted towards the major players has much to do with their customer is king philosophy, the quality of their product, an ability to listen to the market, and a penchant for trail blazing.

Anyone who knows anything about trail blazing tyres will remember Axenta, the Vredestein tyre that offered fashion-conscious car drivers a choice of distinctive red or yellow markings on the sidewall. This was followed up in 1999 by the groundbreaking introduction of the Sportrac.

Giugiaro Design (Sportrac 2 designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, is pictured on the right), one of the most renowned design houses in the transport industry, was responsible for the appearance of this V-rated tyre - the first production tyre in the world with a top-designer's signature.

Also innovatory was Vredestein's Space Master, a unique fold-up spare tyre that saves weight and space - and as a result has found itself in the boot (or under the bonnet) of many a renowned sports car, super luxury off-roader or premium range saloon, the Mercedes-Benz SLK and SL, the Porsche Boxster, the Audi All-Road, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne included.

Now Vredestein are back trail-blazing again with the aforementioned Sportrac 2, another high-performance tyre, also designed by Giugiaro. Why you might ask would a company want to change a state-of-the-art tyre trend-setting tyre?

Simply put tyres just aren't lasting as long as they used to. Cars have changed dramatically over the last five years. The advent of common rail and pumpe- düse diesel engines, in particular, have seen torque ratings rocket in some cases by over 100 per cent. More traffic and inadequate infrastructure to deal with the resultant congestion has led to more go-stop motoring. Changing road surfaces have also taken their toll. The result of all three means more rubber left on the road. And lots quicker than it used to be.

Tyre manufacturer failing to adjust to these developments lose out. Vredestein wants its portfolio to remain where it is now: Ahead of the field. And that's why they've launched Sportrac 2.

The Axenta, the Vredestein tyre offered a choice of distinctive red or yellow markings on the sidewall.

Apart from the Giugiaro signature, Sportrac 2, has all the attributes of its acclaimed predecessor plus a number of major technological breakthroughs such as an improved tread compound and a stronger sidewall. As a result, the Sportrac 2 offers unprecedented handling and a genuinely sporty feel.

Use of Silica Sport Solution in the tread compound, means that braking performance of the Sportrac 2 is significantly enhanced, especially on wet roads. In addition, rolling resistance has been reduced and the wide vertical grooves ensure maximum dispersal of rainwater. The inner lining of the tyre is made of an innovative airtight compound, which reduces air loss and gives the tyre a longer life span.

The sidewall construction of the Sportrac 2 is also drastically improved: to better deal with lateral forces on the tyre - for example when cornering - Vredestein has made the sidewall much stronger. This HTS (Handling Tuned Sidewall) principle ensures minimal sidewall distortion. The enhanced axial firmness offered by HTS also provides maximum resistance to sideways forces, further improving the steering reaction and making the car easier to control in critical situations.

Vredestein Sportrac 2 Tyre Sizes

195/65 R 15 91 V
205/65 R 15 94 V
185/60 R 14 82 V
195/60 R 14 86 V
195/60 R 15 88 V
205/60 R 15 91 V
205/60 ZR 15 91 W
225/60 R 15 96 V
225/60 ZR 15 96 W
225/60 ZR 16 98 W
235/60ZR 16 100 W

185/55 R 15 82 V
195/55 R 15 85 V
205/55 R 15 88 V
205/55 R 16 91 V
205/55 ZR 16 91 W
215/55 ZR 16 93 W
215/55 ZR 16 97 W XL
225/55 R 16 95 V
225/55 ZR 16 95 W
225/55 ZR 17 97 W
195/50 R 15 82 V
205/50R 15 86 V

205/50 R 16 87 V
205/50 ZR 16 87 W
225/50 R 16 92 V
195/45 R 15 78 V
205/45 R 16 83 V
215/45 ZR 17 87 W
225/45 ZR 17 91 W
235/45 ZR 17 94 W
215/40 ZR 16 86 W XL
205/40 ZR 17 84 W XL
215/40 ZR 17 83 W