Autoglym’s new wheel protector
Car care company Autoglym has launched its new Wheel Protector product which the company claims lasts up to 30 per cent longer than competitors.
Car care company Autoglym has launched its new Wheel Protector product which the company claims lasts up to 30 per cent longer than competitors.
Chorley’s Weldbank Garage has won Large Garage of the Year” at the 2015 Car & Accessory Trader (CAT) magazine awards. The independent garage, celebrating its 60th year in business, emerged victorious following a competitive voting campaign, orchestrated on social media and in the local press.
Yokohama has announced plans to launch a new 4X4/SUV tyre – called the Geolandar H/T G056 – in Europe this summer. The new tyre features an orange oil-based compound which reportedly improves wet grip and shortens wet braking distance something that is clearly significant for European weather conditions.
Hankook Tyre UK will host HRH The Princess Royal at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union match between Northampton Saints and Saracens at StadiumMK, Milton Keynes, in April. The invitation was extended to The Princess Royal in her role as patron of Transaid, Hankook Tyre UK’s charity partner since 2006. Hankook is also established as a strong supporter of top class rugby union in England, having been an Elite Sponsor of current Aviva Premiership champions Northampton Saints since 2009. The Princess Royal has strong links with the sport too, being patron of both the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union.
John Ferguson has been appointed Toyo Tire North America OE Sales’ director of sales. Commenting on Ferguson’s new role, James Hawk, president of Toyo Tire North America OE Sales, said “John brings a solid track record to this position, and has been a valuable asset to our organisation as we grow our business with domestic OE vehicle manufacturers including Ford, Dodge and Ram.”
Manbat, the UK’s largest automotive battery distributor, has been a long-standing and practical supporter of the automotive industry charity, BEN. However, rather than undertaking well publicised, but sporadic, short-term money raising events, Manbat has adopted a consistent, service-centric and below the radar approach in the form of a supply agreement. Under this agreement, whenever a beneficiary that uses some form of battery-powered mobility equipment requires a new battery for it, Manbat will deliver a replacement and collect the failed battery, anywhere in the country and completely without charge.
Although just concept products at this point in time, Goodyear Tire & Rubber believes two tyres it unveiled at this week’s Geneva Motor Show hold potential to radically change the role car tyres play in future.
Winter means different things to different people depending on where they live, and thankfully tyre makers are acknowledging this. Both Pirelli and Michelin recently added summer/winter tyres for temperate European climates to their portfolios, and winter tyre pioneer Nokian Tyres has now introduced a product it describes as a “versatile chameleon for winter roads” – a tyre that not only performs well in snow and slush (real winter weather, to use Nokian’s own words), but also in the wet weather that many of us more commonly encounter in the colder months. The Nokian WR D4 is scheduled for release in autumn 2015 and is promoted as the “world’s first premium winter tyre for passenger cars” to achieve an ‘A’ European tyre label rating for wet grip.
Brazilian retreading and rubber product manufacturer Vipal Rubber has set up a sales office in Italy. The new office in Bologna opened in January 2015 and caters to a market that last year grew 13 per cent year-on-year. The decision to establish an office in Italy is not only in line with the company’s policy of remaining close to its customer base, rather it also reflects the strategy in place for developing the Vipal brand in the Italian market.
Formula One has completed its pre-season testing schedule, with Pirelli’s P Zero and Cinturato tyres improving lap times by one-to-two seconds. The full range of P Zero slick compounds was tested at Barcelona, and while the Cinturato Blue full wet was unused, the Cinturato Green got some limited track time in brief rain showers. Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery believes that most of the teams “are already well-prepared for the season ahead,” compared to 2014, with “significantly quicker” cars likely to become even faster in hotter track conditions when the season starts.
The Alliance Automotive Group has acquired the United Aftermarket Network (UAN) from shareholders Andrew and Rachael Dickinson. As a result of the acquisition, Jim Mazza, the current managing director of Groupauto, will move to a new role of managing director of Alliance Automotive Group UK trading groups. A new Groupauto MD will be recruited, Alliance adds. Andrew and Rachael Dickinson will remain with the business to transfer ownership efficiently, while Phil Dodd will immediately fill the Managing Director’s position at UAN. Both UAN and Groupauto will continue to operate as separate networks; Alliance says both brands will play to their strengths.
A number of big motocross names have visited Worcester’s Apex Motocross to try Bridgestone’s new X30 tyre. Multiple British champion Paul Malin appeared as a star guest, with guest appearances by Motors TV commentator Amy Dargan and Bike Channel presenter Suzy Taylor. Two Kawasaki KX250Fs and a pair of Kawasaki KX450s were available to ride on the day, and the tyre was given a tricky workout in torrential rain. The manufacturer will add the new X20 soft terrain tyre to its 2015 motocross range in April.
Harmful emissions from Scotland’s public sector fleets will be further reduced thanks to a £2.5 million Scottish Government investment announced by the Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay. The ‘Switched On Fleets’ initiative provides a major funding boost and is aimed at driving forward public sector fleets’ green credentials by increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road.
The new Volkswagen Passat will roll on two versions of Falken’s 16” Ziex ZE914A tyres. Debuting at Autosalon in Paris at the start of October, the new Passat had the Ziex ZE914 redeveloped by Falken’s engineers in Japan and tailored to the Passat’s specifications. The new tyre is also available as standard in an Ecorun variation – the manufacturer’s designated fuel efficiency boosting brand.
Wheel manufacturer BBS is showcasing its products together with Swiss importer Carex at the Geneva International Motor Show (Stand 7450/Gate 729). The event will see the premiere of the CI-R high-performance wheel in a new platinum silver finish. The weight-optimised wheel, has a concave shape and Y-spoke design. The proven flow-forming technology and backmilled spokes facilitate a lightweight construction – the rim is even lighter than the BBS classic CH-R. The three moulds used in the production of the 20-inch wheel ensure three different concavities.
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