Lightyear One: Bridgestone tyres for first commercially available long-range solar car
Two key agendas influenced Bridgestone’s decision to get involved with the World Solar Challenge (WSC). Alongside a desire to promote sustainability, the tyre maker viewed the event as an opportunity to make contact with young innovators. One such innovator was Lex Hoefsloot, whose team from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands achieved WSC class wins with their Stella solar vehicles on four occasions. These victories became the starting point of a relationship between Hoefsloot and Bridgestone that continues to this day and will see Bridgestone Turanza Eco tyres fitted to the world’s first commercially available long-range solar electric vehicle later this year.
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RMA quits BIPAVER, Vaculug joins as individual member
The association representing the UK’s retreading industry is no longer a member of European retreading trade association BIPAVER. According to the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA), its departure from BIPAVER on 31 December 2020 is unrelated to Brexit.
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Hankook tyres OE on Porsche 718 models
Hankook’s Ventus S1 evo 3 will be fitted as original equipment on Porsche’s current 718 Boxster and Cayman from spring 2021. The products fitted will be tailor-made Ventus S1 evo 3 tyres in sizes 235/40 ZR19 (92Y) N-0 for the front axle and 265/40 ZR19 (98Y) N-0 for the rear axle. This is in addition to the Porsche Cayenne and Taycan models which Hankook already equips with Ventus S1 evo 3 tyres in SUV and EV specifications, respectively.
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Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy becomes Protoura Sport ambassador
Marking the launch of its new flagship UHP tyre, Davanti unveiled Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy as its Protoura Sport ambassador. No stranger to speed, Hoy retired from cycling as one of the most decorated Olympians in history, embarking on a new career in motorsport. He has since won races in the European LeMans Series and the GT4 24hr Series. He now competes in a range of codes from rallycross to endurance to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. “We are proud to welcome Sir Chris to the Davanti family,” said Davanti Tyres general manager Peter Cross. “As someone with a reputation built on elite-level performance, both on two wheels and four, he perfectly embodies Protoura Sport.”
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Davanti launches flagship UHP tyre – Protoura Sport
Davanti has launched its new ultra-high performance tyre for the premium vehicle market, the Protoura Sport. The brand calls the Protoura Sport its “most advanced car tyre,” with “decades of engineering expertise” and “thousands of miles of testing” going into its development. “With Protoura Sport, we’ve created a tyre with many new and innovative features,” said Davanti Tyres general manager Peter Cross. “This tyre sets a new bar for responsiveness, handling and performance. It’s at one with the driver.” Davanti previewed the tyre just over a year ago at its first international dealer conference, where it discussed development plans for its range and brand development. It had previously previewed the tyre at 2019 trade shows.
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Get a grip – Auto Bild tests performance tyres for compact cars
While anyone prioritising ride comfort above every other factor should steer clear of low profile, higher rim diameter tyres, motorists who want a more dynamic driving experience certainly benefit from a couple of extra inches and a flatter sidewall. Auto Bild has tested 15 size 235/35 R19 tyres suitable for sporty compact cars such as the VW Golf GTI, Audi S3 and Seat Leon Cupra.
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Automechanika Birmingham names Elrick as sales director
Messe Frankfurt, the organiser of Automechanika Birmingham, has appointed Grant Elrick as the company’s new sales director. Elrick is responsible for all sales and commercial activity around the Automechanika Birmingham show.
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Marangoni celebrates 20 years in Brazil
As of 24 April, the Marangoni factory in Brazil is 20 years old. Inaugurated in 2001, the plant in Minas Gerais state was instrumental in introducing the Ringtread system to markets throughout Latin America, and as such has fulfilled Marangoni’s mission of providing tyre retreaders and their customers with “a higher quality product” suited to a continent that’s home to one of the world’s largest road networks.
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Customised Trelleborg tyres for Valtra’s anniversary T Series
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is celebrating the 70th anniversary of tractor and agricultural machinery manufacturer Valtra with its tyre personalisation service, YourTire. Among the initiatives to honour Valtra’s milestone, Trelleborg has employed YourTire to create bespoke TM1060 tyres with Valtra’s anniversary logo. These tyres will be fitted to a limited-edition version of the Valtra T Series tractor released to celebrate the occasion.
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HiQ upgrading in-store experience following brand re-vamp
HiQ has started to roll-out enhanced customer experiences across its network of 108 branches following a recent brand re-vamp announced on 18 March 2021. According to the company, the design elements support HiQ’s core values of honesty, value and trust. The modular approach supports multiple retail formats from large to small.
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Michelin sponsors 2021 TRA Responsible Recycler Scheme Award
Michelin Tyre will sponsor the inaugural Responsible Recycler Scheme (RRS) Member of the Year Award in 2021. The National Tyre Distributors Association has added the accolade to its suite of Tyre Industry Awards, recognising its closer ties with the Tyre Recovery Association. The TRA’s Responsible Recycler Scheme has promoted best practice in tyre recycling for many years, while the sector has been generating increased interest with several key investments announced over the past 18 months. The award reflects the rising profile of tyre recycling in the UK, with the associations recognising the need to promote the best performing companies in this vital industry. Michelin’s sponsorship of the award joins the manufacturer’s commitment to switch to 100 per cent renewable, recycled and bio-based materials for its tyres by 2050, restated recently as part of the manufacturer’s strategic framework.
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Quick Lane opens 5th franchised centre in Gorton, Manchester
Despite the adverse circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Quick Lane Tyre & Autocentres continued its steady growth plan with the opening of its fifth franchised centre in Gorton, Manchester. The new location joins Ford’s global network of more than 1,000 workshops in 32 countries.
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First Stop offer TechMan Pro garage management software
Bridgestone’s First Stop retail network is offering Techman Pro as part of its franchise programme in the UK. According to Bridgestone, First Stop TechMan Pro creates “greater levels of professionalism across its forecourts thanks to real-time digital reporting – including personalised camera and video analysis – as well as data on workshop efficiencies, in a win-win for customers and dealers alike”. First Stop has hailed the technology as “a game-changing addition to its existing dealer package”, adding that it will play an integral role in helping the network grow to 220 centres by 2024.
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Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 for Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris has gone the way of the Mini and Fiat 500 and bulked out to meet market demand. Toyota has launched the Yaris Cross, a new and larger version of its popular supermini. It designed this B-segment SUV specifically for the European market and has selected Goodyear as an original equipment tyre supplier. The Toyota Yaris Cross will wear the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 in size 215/50R18 with a load/speed rating of 92V.
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Michelin releases IF version of Agri Row Crop
Michelin has shared a few key details about its new AgriBib Row Crop IF, a range of Improved Flexion tyres designed specifically for use on self-propelled and trailed sprayers and on low to medium horsepower row crop tractors from 70 to 180HP. According to the manufacturer, this newest addition to its agricultural tyre range offers farmers and contractors three major benefits.
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