March 2008 - Tyrepress

Cooper to Pay Damages for Alleged Defective Tyre

A jury has ordered Cooper Tire & Rubber US$750,000 to the family of a Florida, USA man after it found the company manufactured a defective tyre responsible for a fatal accident. The widow of Louissaint Pierre sued Cooper Tire after Pierre and another man were killed in June 2005 after the rear tyre on their minivan burst.

Greg Zele, Pierre family attorney, argued that the tread separated on the tyre that blew out because of a manufacturing defect. Lawyers for Cooper Tire responded that the tyre was worn out and in need of replacement. Company representative Patricia J. Brown said that Cooper Tire would appeal the jury’s decision.

31st March 2008/by admin

Dow Europe Announces Price Increase for Synthetic Rubber

As of April 1st, or as contract terms allow, prices for all synthetic rubber grades sold in Europe by Dow Europe GmbH will by 150 euros per tonne, the company has announced. The products included in the price rise include those from its portfolio of styrene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene rubber (BR) products, including cold polymerized emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (BUNA E-SBR), high-cis polybutadiene rubber (BR), low-cis polybutadiene rubber as well as solution styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR).

31st March 2008/by admin

Goodyear OE For 2009 North American Toyota Models

According to Goodyear, a “variety” of its tyres have been selected for OE fitment on several models of the 2009 Corolla and Matrix. These North American market selections represent some of the first OE fitments of Goodyear’s Eagle F1 All Season tyre, launched last July. The 2009 Corolla and Matrix will come standard with the following tyres, depending on the specific vehicle model: P195/65R15 Eagle LS-2; P205/55R16 Eagle RS-A; P215/45R17 Eagle RS-A; and P215/45R18 Eagle F1 All Season.

31st March 2008/by admin

Firestone Sole Tyre Supplier for Combined IndyCar Series

In Europe Formula 1 is considered the leading motor sport, but in the US IndyCar is king, but for the past 12 years this single-seater championship has faced rivalry from Champ Car. Now, however, the two championships are combining under the IndyCar Series banner – and Firestone has been selected as the sole tyre supplier to the series.

Bridgestone and Firestone have supplied both championships for the past 12 years and, for the previous few seasons, been sole official supplier to both. As official tyre supply brand, Firestone will act as title sponsor for the Firestone Indy Lights series, while still, says Bridgestone, benefiting from the tyre major’s racing work over the past five years.

31st March 2008/by admin

Nokian JV Facility in Kazakhstan Granted Funding Approval

Investment funding for the planned Ordabasy joint venture in Kazakhstan, the product of cooperation between Nokian Tyres and Kazakhstanian multi-industrial company Ordabasy Corporation JSC, gained approval from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan during its sitting on March 28. The Development Bank, formed in 2001, is responsible for providing credit to medium-term and long-term projects in non-primary sectors of the national economy.

Establishment of the Ordabasy facility is anticipated to cost 160 million euros, and will have an annual capacity of four million tyres when complete.

31st March 2008/by admin

MITAS Announces 25-Inch Earthmover Tyre, Further Sizes to Follow

Czech Republic based manufacturer MITAS a.s. is expanding its Mitas brand earthmover radial range with the addition of a 25-inch size. The company reports that trial production of this new product is already underway, and serial production will commence in the second half of the year.

The new earthmover radial is suitable for all wheel loaders and articulated dumpers, and Midas has plans to make further additions to the line-up. “When the first stage of the project, the EM-radial-tyres in 25 inch, is successfully completed, the second stage of the project, the production for EM-radial-tyres up to 33 inch will be implemented”, said Dr. Jaroslav Čechura, general director and chairman of the Board at MITAS a.s.. “The total investment for the Mitas earthmover radial tyre project amounts to ten million Euros.”

31st March 2008/by admin

Harvie Tyres MD Terry Brooks Retires

Following 43 years in the tyre industry, managing director of Harvie Tyres Ltd., Terry Brooks, has announced his retirement. In a statement Mr. Brooks said that, following more than four decades in the industry, 38 of which have been spent within the Stahlgruber group, it is time he focuses on more leisurely pursuits.

“During my 34 years with Rema Tip Top and the past 4 years with Harvie I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with a great number of people who I liked and respected,” said Mr. Brooks. “Trusted colleagues, supplier partners and professional advisers are key to the success of any business, it is even better when personal relationships work well and in this regard I have been extremely lucky.”

He concluded: “For your help and friendship over many years I offer my sincere thanks to you all.”

31st March 2008/by admin

Police Checks Reveal Defective Motorcycle Tyres Commonplace

Nottinghamshire Police has revealed worrying findings after carrying out spot checks on motorcycles on the county’s roads, reports TyreSafe. As part of Operation Retina, which aims to combat the number of motorcyclists killed on the county’s roads, more than half of all bikes randomly stopped over a one-week period during the road checks were found to have defects, including worn tyres.

This statistic mirrors data released by Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA), which indicated bike MOT failures had increased significantly – from 1,700 to 5,000 – between 2006 and 2007, and TyreSafe says this highlights the fact that riders are simply not looking after their machinery.

31st March 2008/by admin

Tyremen Seeking Partners to Share its Success

As 2008 gathers momentum the team at Tyremen report they are looking forward to a bright and busy few months. Having secured contracts with two of the industry’s best known names in the European wheel industry, the company is now looking for trade partners to share its success.

31st March 2008/by admin

Performance Fibers to Idle Production at Two Factories

International competition and reduced demand from US tyre customers have led Performance Fibers Holdings, Inc. (Performance Fibers) to announce on March 26 its intention to halt all manufacturing at its Winfield and Scottsboro, Alabama factories. The company’s plans will see polyester fabric converting operations in Winfield and fabric dipping operations in Scottsboro idled, affecting a total of around 140 employees. The exact timing for the cessation of production will depend, says Performance Fibers, upon the transition period necessary to meet customers’ needs.

The decision to idle its full manufacturing operations at these two plants was, the company reports, caused by a number of factors, including lower consumer demand for cars, global competition, and higher raw material and operating costs over the last three years. These factors, combined with the restructuring activities of key tyre customers in North America, have resulted in lower overall demand for tyres.

31st March 2008/by admin

Greater Loads Possible with Upgraded Goodyear Sure Grip Lug

The load carrying capacity of a key size in Goodyear’s popular Sure Grip Lug industrial tyre range has been increased. The load index of the 12.5/80-18 Goodyear Sure grip lug tyre has risen from 139 (10PR) to 146 (14PR) following an upgrade to the carcass and bead construction. This increase gives the new tyre a maximum nominal carrying capacity of 3000 kilograms, a 570 kilogram per tyre increase over the previous version of the tyre.

This tyre size is a popular fitment on JCB, Komatsu, Cat, CNH and Volvo industrial machines and in particular on the front axles of Backhoe loaders. The decision to increase the load capacity was made following an in-depth analysis of available equipment in the marketplace and in anticipation of the future path of development these machines will take.

31st March 2008/by admin

DOTZ Brand Remains Important For Alcar

Following the great success of its BSA Brand end user advertising campaign in 2006, Kent based wheel distributor Alcar has placed an emphasis upon its DOTZ house brand. The introduction of seven new styles, including the unveiling of the new ‘Dull Anodised’ finishes on ‘Radium’ and ‘Roadster’, has been paired with a end user and trade advertising campaign to push home the re-focus on the DOTZ brand. The increased DOTZ presence not only covers retail and trade magazines there – the company plans to increase brand presence on the web. As well as offerings for the passenger car aftermarket, Alcar has released the first DOTZ wheel dedicated purely to the SUV market. ‘Omega’ is available solely in a 22-inch size and Alcar reports it is already developing substantial interest within this market sector.

31st March 2008/by admin

Lucky Number

Move over Twelve…..Thirteen has arrived! This intriguingly named product is in fact the latest alloy wheel from German manufacturer Oxigin, and is follows on from the “Twelve” series rim. The one-piece “Thirteen” design is a five-spoke wheel with a high load-bearing capacity, making it suitable for use on heavy vehicles.

A particularly eye-catching feature of the Thirteen, says Oxigin, is the contrast between the wheel spider sections, which are painted in a high gloss, black finish (Higloss-Black), and the sections with a 2D-front-brushed finish (Face Diamond-Cut). The latter produce an additional spider that is turned inwards and whose “gleaming rays” point towards the wheel centre.

28th March 2008/by admin

TGI Buys Serit Tires

Tire Group International (TGI) has bought US-based Brazil and the Caribbean tyre export specialist, Serit Tire Wholesale (STW). According to an official statement announcing the acquisition, TGI purchased all STW’s assets for an undisclosed sum.

“This acquisition gives TGI an instant presence in Brazil, which is a market we have been absent for the last nine years. We are also retaining the services of STW’s president Ernie Rodriguez. Rodriguez will be responsible for the continuing development of this market, as well as developing other key markets we have targeted. Rodriguez has over 15 years experience in International Tire Sales and his expertise will be another asset TGI can count on,” said Tony Gonzalez, Tire Group International’s Chief Executive Officer. Gonzalez also stated that TGI will continue to be aggressive in its growth strategy and will look for other acquisition opportunities that make business sense and fit into TGI’s growth plans.

28th March 2008/by admin

BF SRL – Technical Advances

BF SRL has been present on the Market for over 25 years and is a regular exhibitor at tyre shows, including Reifen events in Germany. During this quarter of a century, BF SRL has become known as one of the leading companies in the field of manufacturing weights for wheel balancing.

The company’s large product range includes adhesive weights for car, motorcycle, truck and off-road vehicle, plus clip weights for every type of wheel balancing.

28th March 2008/by admin

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