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About Andrew

Andrew is an editor for WhatTyre, Tyrepress, and Tyres & Accessories magazine. He has more than a decade of experience in editing, writing, and journalism.

Entries by Andrew

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All-season tyre growth, especially for premium brands – GfK

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has made 2020 an annus horribilis for the UK car tyre market, with a near quarter-long lockdown slashing miles driven, original equipment sales due to prolonged factory closures, and reducing sales opportunities further with the government’s MOT exemption. However, tyre businesses have begun ramping up again in response to the reopening of business sectors, people returning to work, and the possibility that private car usage could become increasingly popular as commuters avoid public transport – though the trend for working from home could create more than a headwind for any growth in miles driven. Perhaps the greatest driver of UK car tyre sales growth in 2020 could be the projected spike in MOTs in the autumn, as the period of exemption expires for many pandemic affected motorists. Halfords Autocentres estimates that there could be an 85 per cent jump in demand for MOTs in October – click here for Tyrepress’s own analysis of the MOT situation. Why is this important in a feature about all-season and winter tyres? As we are about to see, the all-season tyre segment continued its impressive growth over April 2019 – March 2020.

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  1. Long-term trend shows winter tyres receding, all-season rising in UK
  2. Mid-range all-season tyres lead market growth
  3. Davanti unveils wave of new product, partnership news at first conference
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6th August 2020 /0 Comments/by
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First LCV market growth since January

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has announced the first growth month for the UK’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market since January. There was a 7.1 per cent increase in registrations in July, with 27,701 new LCVs joined Britain’s roads.

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  1. Record number of vans on UK roads
  2. February LCV market fall was “not unexpected” says SMMT
  3. October LCV sales down 7.4%
  4. June LCV sales down nearly six per cent
6th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

SEMA cancels 2020 Show

SEMA, the US Specialty Equipment Market Association, has cancelled its 2020 Show, due to take place 3-7 November in Las Vegas. The association said it made the decision due to Covid-19 and concerns that event facilities and services will be unavailable. It was informed by difficulties in preparations arising from “mounting uncertainty” about the show’s status. It added that full refunds for SEMA Show exhibitor booth deposits and attendee registration fees will be issued.

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6th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

‘Return to form’ for car retailers

July was the first month since the lockdown all dealerships across the UK were able to stay open through the whole month, a fact that is reflected by the uptick in car sales, Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said.

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  1. NFDA comments on August car sales increase
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5th August 2020 /0 Comments/by
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Pirelli expanding all-season tyre range by 22 sizes

Pirelli is set to capitalise on the rising consumer interest in all-season tyres across Europe with an expansion to its range to cover more than 90 per cent of the market. Pirelli will introduce 22 new sizes between 16 and 19 inches in the Cinturato All Season Plus and Scorpion Verde All Season SF product ranges. All of these products are also available with Pirelli’s Seal Inside technology – a puncture protection layer added to the inside of the tyre to help extend mobility in case of damage. Pirelli adds that the new generation of premium all-season tyres has supported growth in the all-season tyre market, which in turn has seen more tyre manufacturers bring out a wider range of products. Tyres & Accessories asked Pirelli UK chairman and CEO Dominic Sandivasci about the latest European market trends, starting with the relationship between winter and all-seaosn tyres.

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  1. Pirelli targeting UK’s growing urban commuter car parc with all-season product
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5th August 2020 /0 Comments/by
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Pirelli rolls out larger Diablo Superbike Slick tyres for BSB Championship restart

Pirelli has rolled out a range of larger Diablo Superbike Slick tyres for the Bennetts British Superbike (BSB) Championship. The series will run over six rounds starting at Donington Park on 7-9 August. Each round features three Superbike races. Pirelli has continuously acted as sole tyre supplier to the series since 2008. It supplies approximately 4,000 tyres to each event, as well as offering service and support. The new tyres were developed during the 2019 World Superbike Championship. They now comprise part of Pirelli’s production tyre range, available to racers of all levels.

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  1. Pirelli enters 10th consecutive British Superbike Championship
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5th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

Auto industry ‘far from out the woods’ despite car sales growth – KPMG

Commenting on SMMT’s new car registration figures for the month of July, Andrew Burn, UK head of automotive at KPMG, said: “With social distancing measures easing and dealerships finally in a position to reopen, it’s great to see pent-up demand released and car registrations picking-up again. However, as the year-to-date figures make painfully clear, total lost sales in 2020 are expected to be £20bn, so in many ways it’s a case of damage limitation. We’re still a long way off pre-Covid-19 levels of sales.

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  1. UK car manufacturing faces long wait to return to normal levels – KPMG
  2. Fleet registrations propping up small growth in UK new car market
  3. UK car registrations decline in May – SMMT figures
  4. September car registrations down 20.5 per cent
5th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

Pent-up demand helps UK new car registrations up 11.3%

New car registrations rose for the first time this year in July. The figure rose 11.3 per cent in the month, year-on-year, according to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures. 174,887 cars were registered in July 2020, supported by the first full month of trading for dealerships since February. July 2019 registrations were affected by declining business and consumer confidence undermined the market. Pent-up demand and special offers led to a reprieve for the sector, but overall registrations are still down by -41.9 per cent or 598,054 units year-to-date. Despite the increase in July, SMMT’s full year outlook is for a -30 per cent decline in registrations, representing more than £20 billion of lost sales.

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  1. New car registrations make March biggest month in a decade
  2. UK car production reaches 17-year high in March
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5th August 2020 /0 Comments/by
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Max Kruse scores first on track success on Falken Azenis at Nürburgring

Max Kruse Racing’s Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR scored a class win in the NLS endurance series at the Nürburgring this weekend. The team was competing on Falken Azenis race tyres for the first time. The SP3T pole position and class winner was one of six cars including a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup MR (997), VW Sciroccos, Golfs and Cupra switching to the tyre manufacturer as Falken expands its motorsport customer programme.

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5th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

Avon Tyres preparing to launch new AS7 all-season tyre

Avon is preparing to introduce a new all-season product: the Avon AS7. Boasting both 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake) and M+S (Mud and Snow) ratings, it is designed to deliver reliable traction in unpredictable weather and demanding conditions all year round. The tyre is the latest in the Cooper Tire portfolio, joining the launch of the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Sport 2 (pictured) earlier in 2020, and enhancing the company’s all-season portfolio.

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4th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

Pirelli to review minimum F1 tyre pressures after Silverstone failures

Formula 1’s exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli has concluded its initial analysis on a number of tyres run at the British Grand Prix. The tyre supplier said it has identified the cause of the tyre failures on both Mercedes and the McLaren of Carlos Sainz in Sunday’s race. A combination of the long stints the P Zero White (C1) was forced to complete and the “biggest forces” on F1 tyres ever meant the tyres were “placed under maximum stress” for a long period. The resultant wear on the tyres meant that the tyres were less protected from the extreme forces by the end of the race. While Pirelli plans to continue with its plan to supply softer compounds at the second Silverstone meeting, it said it would review the usage prescription for its F1 tyres, increasing the minimum tyre pressures to reduce structural stress.

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4th August 2020 /0 Comments/by

(Not) the end of an era…

At the end of July a significant chapter in the history of Tyres & Accessories came to an end, with the closure of the company’s offices in Clacton-on-Sea. The closure has been hastened by the effects arising from the coronavirus pandemic, and means that all editorial, administrative and advertising functions are now handled exclusively by the company’s head office in Stoke-on-Trent. This meant that T&A’s two longest-serving employees could enjoy a well-deserved retirement. Advertising manager Alan Day joined the magazine early in 1990, while company secretary Pat Aldous was employed for six weeks’ maternity cover in 1977. It proved to be a long six weeks, as she never left! Alan and Pat’s friends and colleagues – both in the UK and in Germany and Italy – wish them all the best for a long and happy retirement.

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3rd August 2020 /0 Comments/by
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Magna Tyres opens Czech Republic office

Magna Tyres Group has opened a sales office in the Czech Republic. It said the move has been in response to demand for the Magna range of OTR ad specialist tyres in Eastern Europe. It added that it has been encouraged by “unutilised market potential in this region.” The region was previously serviced by its Polish office.

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  1. Magna supplying heavy-duty OTR tyres around the world
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3rd August 2020 /0 Comments/by

Expert showcases wiper blade fitting videos on YouTube

Wiper blade manufacturer Trico has produced hundreds of fitting videos on its YouTube channel. The videos, created over the last nine years, help technicians and motorists to fit wipers blades with ease. While wiper blades are perceived as a relatively easy product to fit, many drivers still struggle, which creates an obvious revenue stream for workshops to capitalise on. However, even some technicians find wiper blades tricky, which is why Trico created a wealth of fitting videos to refer to the brand’s YouTube channel.

Wiper blade manufacturer Trico has produced hundreds of fitting videos on its YouTube channel. The videos, created over the last nine years, help technicians and motorists to fit wipers blades with ease. While wiper blades are perceived as a relatively easy product to fit, many drivers still struggle, which creates an obvious revenue stream for workshops to capitalise on. However, even some technicians find wiper blades tricky, which is why Trico created a wealth of fitting videos to refer to the brand’s YouTube channel.

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  1. Trico revamps packaging in response to customer feedback
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3rd August 2020 /0 Comments/by
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TecAlliance’s Peter Hollowood retires

TecAlliance’s Peter Hollowood has retired from an illustrious career in the automotive industry. Hollowood had worked for TecAlliance for more than 20 years, having previously run his own parts distribution business in Cheshire. Before this he held sales roles at CCI Triad (now Epicor). Mark Rudge is set to take up the mantle on an ongoing basis, assuming responsibility for TecAlliance Order Manager in the UK and Ireland, alongside his existing remit as eparts director at Fourth.

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3rd August 2020 /0 Comments/by