Dębica, 18th March 2008 -- Tire Company Dębica S.A. launched a new summer tire, the Dębica Passio 2. The new tire from the Dębica plant is a successor to the Passio brand, the most popular summer tire in Poland. The Dębica Passio 2 tire is characterized by a brand new design that will guarantee 20% higher durability against its predecessor*. It shows an improved performance in almost all characteristics, primarily in the field of safety, i.e. driving and braking on wet surfaces, and a higher immunity to aquaplaning. Consequently the Dębica Passio 2 tire offers superior performance on all roads for compact, mid-size and small cars. The new Passio tire guarantees precise steering, comfort, and driving safety for the whole family.

“Dębica is a brand that has, for years now, enjoyed high popularity with Polish drivers, which can be seen by the results of prestigious rankings. The customers are ready to recommend Dębica brand tires, because they offer higher value for money and have been designed especially for them and their families. Modern solutions, safety, and durability at an affordable price – it is these characteristics that allow us to believe that the Dębica Passio 2 stands a chance at being as successful as its predecessor, and at becoming a popular choice for family cars in many countries around the world,” said Krzysztof Ziajor, Dębica Brand Manager at Tire Company Dębica S.A.

The modern solutions applied to the Passio 2 tire, such as the optimum position of blocks, and the tire outline, which are responsible for the pressure distribution and balanced tire footprint, guarantee a more stable performance and better mileage. The precise thread layout not only reduces the wear and tear of the tire, but also enhances the tire’s grip on the road, which means into shorter braking distance on wet surfaces.

The new Dębica Passio 2 tire has new corrugated blocks of thread that enhance the total edge length, which in turn enhances the grip on the road when braking on wet surfaces. The stiffened tire design – the carcass and blocks in the shoulder’s zone – improve the driver’s control over the vehicle in parallel to maintaining high driving comfort. The connecting elements in the central block join the blocks in the main ribs, and make the tread more rigid. Consequently, the thread surface is in constant touch with the road surface even during acute turning.

The longitudinal broad grooves in the Dębica Passio 2 tire allow water be removed easily, thus making the tire more aquaplaning-proof, and the enhanced number of radial grooves improves the efficiency of water evacuation from the tire’s shoulder’s zone.

“The major underlying design assumptions for the Dębica Passio 2 tire included enhanced performance without the loss of safety parameters while maintaining a competitive price. It is in such manner that the new tire was created, catering for the customers’ expectations. The customer surveys showed that the characteristics listed above were essential for them. I do believe that the Dębica Passio 2 tire will be, at least, as successful as its predecessor and will be equally popular with Polish and European drivers,” said Leszek Szafran, Commercial Director of Tire Company Dębica S.A.

The new Dębica Passio 2 is available in 12 key dimensions, which covers 80% of the demand in the summer tire sector in Poland. The new tire produced at Tire Company Dębica S.A. will be sold almost all over Europe.