The large Advance Tyre stand drew attention to the company’s off-highway strengths as well as the recent TÜV SÜD testing of the company’s truck tyres
GTC might not be the most familiar name in the business, but the Chinese tyre manufacturer – which is best known by its Advance and Samson brands – is working to change that with the establishment of a European organisation, TÜV SÜD testing its latest truck tyres, and there’s even talk of investment in a tyre factory outside China and car tyre production.
The new European organisation centres on Advance Tyre Europe Holding B.V., a Netherlands- based legal entity. Asked why GTC, the world’s 25th largest tyre manufacturer, according to the annual ranking of the world’s biggest tyremakers by turnover, chose the Netherlands, GTC told that the Netherlands are “famous for efficiency” and that country’s proximity to major shipping ports offers both logistics options that provide “the best service to customers” and opportunities when it comes to the port business.
OE leadership in port tyres
On the subject of port tyres, it is worth mentioning that Advance is very strong in original equipment (OE) tyre supply to port machinery makers. Indeed, while the company’s OE portfolio as a whole boasts some of the best-known names across the board in off-highway equipment, OE port tyre supply represents a particularly impressive example.
Advance Tyre claims a >90% share of original equipment tyre supply to Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC), the world’s leading supplier of port cranes. Lest we underestimate the importance of ZPMC to the port marketplace, ZPMC cranes operate at major ports in the Netherlands and were installed in Felixstowe back in 2019. In addition, other major global ports such as Shanghai and Indonesia utilise ZPMC equipment, which is invariably supplied with Advance tyres factory-equipped. The point of this example is that port tyres are required to carry enormous loads and so market leadership in this area is highlighted as a harbinger of success in other segments.
Similarly, the outstanding rolling resistance performance of certain products in the company’s solid tyre range, with the best reportedly in TÜV SÜD testing offering 10-20% lower rolling resistance than the market leader.
TÜV SÜD testing
Building on the reputation of its off-highway and particular port tyre products, the next target segment for Advance Tyres is truck tyres. Keen to demonstrate that the company has already achieved a fair degree of product performance, Advance Tyres submitted products from its second-generation truck tyre range to TÜV SÜD for testing. For context, the first generation range of tyres largely focused on core products including regional haul-orientated tyres. The second generation, however, is more long-haul focused and a full range.
Having presented the GLT2, GLD2 and GLS2 trailer, drive and steer axle tyres in Cologne, there are also plans for winter truck tyres.The GLT2, GLD2 and GLS2 are set to hit the European market in the second half of 2024.
Car tyres
Moving forward, plans for the production of car tyres are well underway. Indeed, the first passenger car tyres are due to roll off the production line at Advance Tyres’ Vietnam factory in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Second overseas factory
GTC produced 8.67 million truck tyres and 3.5 million specialty tyres annualy. These were made on production lines in China and latterly in Vietnam. The latest news is that company is planning a second factory outside China. Details of exactly where and when this will be built are yet to be confirmed, but it was more than a coincidence that senior executives were close enough to Cologne to attend the Tire Exhibition in June. In other words, a factory in or not a million miles from Europe, is certainly one of the options.
