CONTINENTAL TYRES has launched the findings from a survey of 1000 Australian drivers, revealing that solely 4 per cent of SUV house owners use their car off-road, coinciding with the discharge of its SUV-specific UltraContact UX7 tyre mannequin.
Australians have an affinity for adventure-ready SUVs, making them the most well-liked car section with greater than 700,000 bought final 12 months alone – accounting for greater than half of the overall 1,237,287 new automobiles bought – nevertheless it appears most patrons aren’t utilizing their ‘sport utility automobiles’ as supposed.
The survey found that whereas 46 per cent of SUV house owners use their car for day by day transport, solely 12 per cent bought a high-riding mannequin with the intention of utilizing it recreationally.
Causes for buying an SUV, in accordance with the report, embrace house and an elevated driving place with 67 per cent citing in-cabin house as a motivator, and 62 per cent claiming improved visibility steered them into an SUV.
Whereas many Australian drivers, notably these shopping for ute-based 4×4 wagons – a class of car that dominates the sub-$80k giant SUV section – attain for off-road biased tyres, which include noise and on-road efficiency compromises, Continental’s analysis suggests a extra rounded SUV-specific tyre may be the higher selection.
In confirming this, the analysis discovered that 57 per cent of drivers mentioned they’d be extra more likely to buy tyres particularly made for SUVs, primarily based on elevated confidence round efficiency and security.
Continental Tyres’ reply is the UltraContact UX7 which the producer says focuses on three key efficiency metrics: security, sturdiness and noise consolation.
The tyre mannequin is geared in direction of on-road security, whereas nonetheless being able to taking up a dust highway, aimed toward providing efficiency appropriate for the standard SUV use case, and it’s additionally a match for smaller crossovers just like the Toyota Yaris Cross – which now outsells its hatchback counterpart.
“The SUV market has seen exponential progress lately, and we anticipate this development will proceed,” mentioned Continental Tyres Australia managing director Mitchell Golledge.
“Australians aren’t simply shopping for SUVs – they’re shopping for into a life-style.
“(The) UltraContact UX7 isn’t solely optimised for SUV automobiles but in addition meets the calls for of drivers for each city commutes and informal off-road journeys.”
Whereas the Continental Tyres UltraContact UX7 is a brand new product, different producers do provide comparable SUV-specific tyre choices just like the Bridgestone Alenza line, Michelin Primacy SUV Plus fashions, and Hankook iON SUV choices.
