High performance summer tyre with the saferty bonus

(Hannover / Telfs, September 2001) For the 2001 season Semperit has introduced a new summer tyre for speeds of over 240 km/h (150 mph). In addition to attractive looks, the directionally-orientated Direction-Sport also offers optimum handling characteristics and high driving safety on both wet and dry roads. The new Semperit tyre, which is designed for performance vehicles and upper medium range cars, will be available from March this year.

Over half the owners of fast cars expect sporty performance from their vehicles, whilst at the same time being able to drive safely and confidently on both wet and dry roads. In the development of the new Direction-Sport the focus was therefore on maximum driving stability, optimum braking characteristics, grip in bends and precise steering response.

The new Semperit Direction-Sport:

Safety first

Increasing traffic density on the roads and at the same time a trend towards ever faster, powerful medium range and luxury vehicles mean the subject of safety on the road remains a burning issue - over 50% of tyre customers consider aquaplaning protection and braking distances which are as short as possible to be crucial factors when buying high performance tyres. Further safety-relevant features, according to customers, are roadholding in bends, precise steering characteristics even when driving close to the limit and high speed stability. These results emerged from a basic study carried out by Semperit in conjunction with the market research institute iSi GmbH.

Best driving characteristics and high aquaplaning safety

The directionally-orientated, dynamic tread pattern design of the new Semperit Direction-Sport means both fun at the wheel and safety. Its extremely stiff, solid shoulder lugs provide high stability in bends, whilst its continuous central rib ensures optimum straight line stability and fast steering response. The tread pattern of the new Semperit Direction-Sport also offers safety in the wet, with four wide circumferential grooves picking up the water which is then channelled away from the ground contact patch through numerous lateral sipes reaching into the central tread area. These lateral channels also provide a large number of gripping edges which interlock with the road surface to shorten the braking distance.

The tread compound with its high dynamic stiffness not only makes the Semperit Direction-Sport extremely suitable for high speeds, it also enhances the tyre's good handling characteristics. At the same time, the silica content in the tread compound ensures very good grip in the wet.

Sporty features and economy are by no means a contradiction on the new Semperit Direction-Sport - the balanced tread/groove ratio in the ground contact patch ensures even wear and thus a long service life. Comfort was another aspect which the development engineers took into consideration - the computer-optimised tread arrangement with its harmoniously curved lateral sipes and the flat contour mean low rolling noise throughout the entire life of the tyre. This reduces noise pollution for car passengers and the environment.

Click here for the Direction-Sport size range