IDIADA Test Shows ZT1000 from ZEETEX is a Strong Challenger for Korean and Taiwanese Brands

DUBAI, UAE, April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

In its bid to consistently improve and innovate its product line, ZAFCO recently tested the new ZT1000 pattern under the ZEETEX brand at the world renowned IDIADA testing facility in Spain to assess the strengths and areas of improvement of the ZT1000 against top tier brands.

Applus IDIADA is an engineering partner to the automotive industry providing design, engineering, testing and homologation services for product development projects worldwide. The company is present in 19 different countries and employs a team of more than 1300 engineers.

Raghavendra Sanga, the Business & Technical Insights Manager at ZAFCO, commented on the test results: "ZEETEX with its proven performance & timely customer support is growing at a tremendous pace, all around the world. This is because of our continuous efforts to present consumers with high performance that is simultaneously environment friendly. ZEETEX, which sells only REACH compliant tires in Europe, is leading the way in product innovation and customer satisfaction. It is in this line of strategy that we developed our latest innovation ZT1000."

Interpretation of IDIADA ratings:

10: Exceptional    9: Excellent    8: Very Good        7: Good    6: Acceptable

5: Poor        4: Objection        1-3: Safety risk, Failure

Results of the IDIADA test: ZT1000 and 2 other well-known brands of tires, one from Korea and another from Taiwan, were tested together. Below are the results of the tests performed:

Aquaplaning (Both Longitudinal & Lateral):

In aquaplaning test, ZT1000 outperformed the Taiwanese brand.  In the lateral test, on a scale of 1-10, ZT1000 got a rating of 7.5 against 6.8 of the Taiwanese brand, and in the longitudinal test, it got a rating of 6.8 against 6.5 of the Taiwanese brand.

Braking distance in dry asphalt:

ZT1000 got a rating of 7.2 against 7.0 of the Taiwanese brand in braking distance in dry asphalt conditions.

Straight line driving:

ZT1000 performed at par with its Korean & Taiwanese counterparts and all three got a rating of 7.9.

Steering Performance:

ZT1000 has better steering performance & got a rating of 7.7 as against 7.6 of Korean brand pattern.

Ride Comfort:

ZT1000 performed at par with Taiwanese brand pattern in ride comfort and both got a rating of 7.8

Rolling Noise:

In terms of rolling noise, ZT1000 got a rating of 7.7 as against 6.9 of the Taiwanese brand.

Estimated Tire life:

In case of estimated tire life, ZT1000 outperformed Korean  brand by getting a rating of 7.5 as against 7.2.

Raghavendra summarized the results: "For those who want a combination of sophisticated appearance, competent handling, ride comfort and durability across a wide range of road conditions, ZEETEX is your choice.  Using technology which is in the forefront of modern engineering, ZEETEX provides better control, safety assurance and unmatched quality for the most discerning drivers. R&D at ZEETEX will incorporate the results of this study in its future product developments. ZEETEX will showcase ZT1000 as an environment friendly tire in REIFEN in Essen, Germany in June 2012."

Founded in 1993, ZAFCO is a leading importer & exporter of automotive tyres, batteries and lubricants to over 800 customers. To work closely with its customers, ZAFCO has established offices in UAE, USA, India, Russia, Thailand and Brazil and has presence in over 85 countries. Key values for the company are social responsibility, environment preservation, health and safety of its employees, associates and customers. The achievements of the company's workforce have been recognized by respected industry bodies. Recent awards include:

2010: ISO 9001:2008 Accreditation

2011: Dubai Customs Gold Accreditation and Best Client Award

ZAFCO Press Office
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