Smart tyres, smart infrastructure
Tyre people often remind us that the tyre is a vehicle’s only point of contact with the ground. This is, of course, true and a very salient point. However, as tyres get smarter, so are roads and infrastructure.
Tyre people often remind us that the tyre is a vehicle’s only point of contact with the ground. This is, of course, true and a very salient point. However, as tyres get smarter, so are roads and infrastructure.
The latest eco-friendly offering from Kumho is the Ecowing ES31. This successor to the KH27 is now available in a total of 46 sizes for 14- to 17-inch rim diameters, and around 70 percent of these carry an EU label grade of ‘B’ for rolling resistance. The sizes include all key fitments for bestselling small and medium-sized hatchbacks and saloons such as the VW Polo and Golf, Fiat 500, Audi A1, A2, A3 and A4, BMW 1 and 2 Series, Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio.
TVS Tyres has announced the resignation of its chief financial officer, K V Ganesh. According to the tyre maker, he resigned with effect from the close of office hours of 23 October 2019. The company has yet to name his successor.
Bridgestone Corporation has named its barrier-free bus stop kerb system, and that name is PlusStop. The company says the name PlusStop was selected as it represents the “extra value the system adds to a traditional bus stop”.
Michelin is the most search tyre brand on Google in Europe, according to price comparison site Rezulteo. Rezulteo studied the popularity of tyre brands in Europe using Google search volume data for tyre manufacturers in each country from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019. The study took “brand name” + “tyre” queries in the official languages of each European country into account.
Testing for the Extreme E off-road electric racing series began earlier this month at the Château de Lastours off-road proving grounds in the south of France. One question the tested aimed to answer during proceedings was how well the car and tyres work together. They also looked into any potential weaknesses in the electric race car’s physical and technical design, not least in its motor. The tests lasted several days and were run by Continental, tyre supplier to Extreme E, and Spark Racing Technology.
Commercial vehicle registrations dropped both in the UK and the EU in September, according to figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Total commercial new commercial vehicle registrations in the UK fell 22.0 per cent year-on-year to 47,074 units. This was the largest decline seen in a major market, and no doubt driven in part by continued Brexit uncertainty. Across the EU as a whole, total new commercial vehicle registrations decreased 10.0 per cent year-on-year to 191,588 units.
A ceremony was held yesterday to mark the official opening of Bridgestone’s new OTR tyre factory in Thailand, marking the conclusion of a long and at times less than certain construction and preparation programme. The ceremony was attended by Bridgestone Group executives as well as members of the Board of Investment, Thailand, Rayong Province, and Japanese Embassy.
Since 2013, Bridgestone has lent its name to the world’s foremost solar car race. Participants travel to Australia every two years for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), with this year’s event attracting 48 teams. The 3,000-kilometre (1,860mile) race from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia ended on 20 October, and that day Bridgestone committed itself to another decade of support.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, has announced the findings of consumer vehicle purchasing patterns in the UK.
With mobile tyre fitment becoming increasingly popular for motorists and being an enterprising addition for tyre retailers, demand for mobile tyre service vehicles has increased. Along with increased demand for mobile tyre vehicles comes the need for on-board power solutions.
The Executive Board of Axle Group Holding Limited has reported “significant growth” in the 18 months since it announced its three-year, £12 million inward investment strategy in March 2018.
According to the company, the investment has three core pillars:
Tobias Morbitzer is the new Apollo Vredestein country manager for Germany. The former pricing manager Europe moved from Apollo Vredestein’s headquarters in Amsterdam to the Apollo Vredestein GmbH site in Vallendar, near Koblenz at the start of October. He succeeds Thomas Körpert, who has left the company after more than 20 years.
As of 1 October, Mete Ekin is vice president of Bridgestone Emerging Markets. In this role he oversees Bridgestone EMEA’s businesses in Africa, the Middle East and Russia. The former regional managing director Middle East and Africa reports to Paolo Ferrari, chief executive officer of Bridgestone EMEA.
In the USA, Yokohama Avid S34RV tyres have been selected as OE on the 2020 Chrysler Voyager. The fitment covers the North American market, including Canada and Mexico, in size 235/65R17 104T. The Voyager is now available for purchase.
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