Hanover, September 2026. 90 years ago, Semperit launched the Goliath, one of the world's first winter tires specially developed for snow and ice. Since then, vehicles have changed dramatically, and so have the demands placed on their tires. Today's winter tires must perform reliably in a wide range of weather conditions while also meeting the requirements of larger, heavier and more powerful vehicles.

The Speed-Grip 5 shows how Semperit is reacting to this development: In its anniversary year, the brand is significantly expanding the size range of its winter specialist.

35 new sizes will be added for the 2026 winter season, 29 of them in the UHP (Ultra High Performance) segment. The new dimensions further expand coverage of today's passenger car and SUV platforms. In total, the Speed-Grip 5 product range now includes 134 items for rim sizes between 14 and 21 inches.

"For us, 90 years of winter tire development mean above all that we have to take up changes in the vehicle market again and again," says Matthias Bartz, Business Development Manager EMEA. "We are seeing growing demand for these tire dimensions, especially for more powerful passenger cars and SUVs. For us, it is important to further develop our range with the vehicle market and to cover the relevant platforms as broadly as possible."

When Semperit introduced the Goliath in 1936, the focus was mobility on snow and ice. In the decades that followed, new requirements were added. Semperit developed, among other things, studded tires and winter tires for different vehicle sizes. This was followed in 1988 by the Direction-Grip, the brand's first directional winter tire. In 2006, Semperit finally introduced the Speed-Grip product family, which has since been continuously developed over several generations. Today, a winter tire must be engineered for much more than snow. Throughout the winter season, it encounters constantly changing road conditions, including wet pavement, slush, and cold, dry roads. These different conditions demand different properties from the tire: grip and braking performance must be just as convincing as precise handling and high mileage.

The Speed-Grip 5 was developed for these different requirements. Numerous sipes in transverse and longitudinal directions support precise handling on snowy roads as well as high traction when starting and braking. V-shaped grooves drain water and slush to the side, while the tread blocks provide reliable grip on dry roads.

Depending on the dimension, the Speed-Grip 5 is approved for speeds of up to 270 km/h. In the AutoBild winter tire test 2025 (issue 41/2025), the tire achieved a “Good” rating, with particular recognition for its high level of safety across wet and winter road conditions.

What began 90 years ago with a winter tire for snow and ice is now a wide range for different vehicle classes and areas of application. With the expansion of the Speed-Grip 5, Semperit is expanding its range in a targeted manner where the requirements of the market are changing. The traditional brand with Austrian roots demonstrates what defines modern tire development: identifying emerging trends early and consistently translating them into products that meet evolving customer needs.