It has been nearly five years since an evaluation of all terrain (AT) tyres was done locally. Over this period, technology has moved forward and the local playing field – in terms of local manufacturing of tyres versus importation – has changed dramatically. This alteration in the industry was particularly noticeable when we started assembling the different contenders for the big All-Terrain Tyre Test, this time for 18-inch rubber, in association with Tiger Wheel & Tyre and GWM South Africa.
Since 2019, the tyre market has rapidly expanded in terms of volume and brand diversity, pitching world-renowned manufacturers with production facilities here – such as Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental (General) and Sumitomo (Dunlop) – against a plethora of brands imported through companies like TiAuto, SA Tyre, Treadzone, Exclusive Tyres, Minty’s and…