Andrew is an editor for WhatTyre, Tyrepress, and Tyres & Accessories magazine. He has more than a decade of experience in editing, writing, and journalism.
Global carbon black supplier Birla Carbon has introduced a new Sustainable Carbonaceous Material with the launch of Continua. Birla says the new product represents a “ground-breaking step forward in the availability and know-how of sustainable solutions in the carbon black industry.”
Four Giti Tire cars have qualified for the 49th ADAC TOTAL 24h Race 2021 at the Nürburgring (3-6 June). The tyre manufacturer will compete in a fifth straight year and its third with the pioneering #gitiracing all-female team. This season all cars will run on GitiCompete GTR1 tyres, part of Giti’s comprehensive global range of competition racing tyres. Giti says its technology findings are adapted to further develop its everyday portfolios.
Commercial vehicle tyre management system supplier TyreWatch will unveil two new products at this year’s ITTHub transport show. The company says the new additions will cut costs, improve safety and lower carbon emissions for operators across all commercial vehicle sectors. AutoAlign is a dynamic vehicle monitoring system designed to combat the widespread problem of wheel misalignment. TyreWatch says around a third of fleets suffer from misalignment unknowingly. The system will be rolled out in the UK in September 2021. Also due to be launched at the ITTHub show is a new version of the widely used TyreWatch VanSmart tyre monitoring system which, says the company, will improve safety and reduce running costs for light commercial vehicle operators.
Using the market proven TyreWatch ‘connected technology’ platform, AutoAlign continuously monitors each vehicle and detects any wheel alignment issue as soon as it occurs and automatically notifies the operator so that immediate corrective action can be taken.
Nokian Tyres is adding third and fourth production shifts at its US factory to increase output capacity to 24/7 production at the facility, in response to rising demand in North America. The company launched its third production shift the week of May 17 and will add the fourth shift in mid-July. Adding shifts is on pace with Nokian Tyres’ plans to produce as many as one million tyres at the Dayton factory in 2021.
First Stop has unveiled its “most advanced automotive centre” in Weston-super-Mare. The state-of-the-art depot in Aisecome Way offers a broad range of services, including tyre replacements, alignment, fixed-price servicing and an MOT bay fully equipped for cars, vans and motorcycles. Centre manager Dan Radford and his three colleagues are all from the local area. They say it is a “privilege to work” at the centre with its “second-to-none” facilities.
CST Tyres’ RideMigra CM-S1 sport-touring motorcycle tyre is available from UK distributor Bickers now. The medium compound tyre offers riders both sporty grip and high-mileage, comfortable touring performance according to the manufacturer. Available in sizes 120/70 R17, 160/60 R17, 180/55 R17 and 190/50 R17, the new product is the first in a new series of CST motorcycle tyres.
Giti Tire kicked off its 2021 Fun Cup Endurance Championship season with two racing icons in GT Radial car number 97. John McGuiness, part of the Honda TT Legends race team and best known for his 23 Isle of Man victories and 47 podiums, and Steve Peat, renowned multiple World and British Downhill Mountain Bike Champion swapped two wheels for four at the four-hour endurance race at Donington. The company has also added a new Giti branded vehicle to the grid, a joint entry with GT Radial Performance Centre (GTPC) partner MJ Tec from Stratford-upon-Avon.
April’s launch of Bridgestone’s quietest bus and coach tyre ever made followed 18 months of internal testing with its biggest fleet customer. The tyre is in part a product of a lengthy development project with Stagecoach, whose Manchester city centre fleet of green vehicles became the first in Europe to operate on the product. The U-AP 002 reduces rolling resistance, extends mileage, and reduces fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and total cost of ownership according to Bridgestone’s testing against its predecessor in size 275/70 R22.5. The tyre was developed to fulfil the requirements of an electric and hybrid bus fleet, a quickly growing target market.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has established NFDA Northern Ireland (NFDA NI). “The ongoing issues facing automotive retailers in Northern Ireland mean we must continue to increase our lobbying efforts to ensure the voice of the franchised vehicle dealer is heard, NFDA NI will represent the platform our industry needs to best represent dealers in Northern Ireland”, said Sue Robinson, chief executive of the NFDA.
Everton in the Community and Davanti Tyres are distributing school uniforms to pupils from Liverpool’s most socially deprived areas. The football club’s official global tyre partner has donated £10,000 to support the distribution of more than 480 complete school uniforms. The uniforms will be given to children from the most disadvantaged wards across Merseyside, whose families have been hit hard financially by the long-term effects of the pandemic.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has become one of the first industrial sector users to access the world’s most powerful computer. SRI is using the new ‘exascale’ Fugaku supercomputer to expand its materials simulation capabilities at the smallest particle level. The manufacturer has previously tapped into supercomputer technology to assist with the development of its tyre technology. Its tyre engineers previously used Japan’s K-supercomputer to launch its 4D NANO Design process. SRI credits the resulting step change in performance with the increasing number of accolades and original equipment deals subsequently achieved by its Falken tyre range list.
GT Radial is the Official Tyre Partner of the Champions Hockey League (CHL). The Giti Tire brand will use Europe’s biggest ice hockey competition to boost awareness of its winter portfolio across the continent. The agreement means GT Radial will get advertising at all games, its logo on official media backdrops and on the website, tickets, usage of the CHL emblem, tailored digital activations, on-site promotions and access to fan engagement activities. Giti said its advertising will promote the “direct link between the speed and precision of professional ice hockey and the GT Radial WinterPro2 Sport, its winter tyre dedicated to the UHP market.”
The eleven leading tyre manufacturer members of WBCSD’s Tire Industry Project (TIP) have launched a Roadmap to accelerate tyre value-chain impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to address some of the world’s most pressing issues by 2030. The members of TIP, in alphabetical order, are: Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper Tire, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho Tire, Michelin, Pirelli, Sumitomo Rubber, Toyo Tires, and Yokohama Rubber.
The online electricals retailer AO will fit Giti GTR955 Combi Road tyres on its new fleet of 50 Tiger Moving Double Deck trailers. The Giti Group has supplied tyres exclusively to AO’s wholly owned logistics fleet of 2,000 units, trailers and vans since the relationship was established 18 months ago. Tyres already in operation across AO’s fleet include the Giti GSR225 Combi Road steer axle tyre, and the Giti GDL617 drive axle tyre. The new, bespoke designed units run on size 215/75R17.5. They have a kerb weight of 15,000kg, with a gross vehicle weight of 39,000kg.
Cooper Tire Europe has launched a dealer portal for its customers. The new website combines and enhances the tyre manufacturer’s existing digital tools, presenting dealers with a single point of contact for various customer-facing functions. From the portal dealers will be able to access brand assets, news and newsletters, and Cooper’s E-University for contactless product training on demand – all with a single login. Cooper said the portal marks “an important step” in its efforts to become “the most user-friendly customer and consumer facing tyre manufacturer to work with.”
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