Name change for petrol trade association
RMI Petrol, the trade association representing independent forecourt retailers in the UK has changed its name to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). It will still be part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).
Continue ReadingZipcar UK signs full Michelin tyre contract
The world's leading car sharing network Zipcar has entered into a full Michelin tyre contract for its UK fleet. Operating in London, Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford, Zipcar will gradually introduce Michelin tyres across its fleet of 1,800 cars and vans as part of the new agreement. David Cruickshank, head of fleet for Zipcar UK, said: “At Zipcar, we obsess about the member experience and, under this agreement, we can consistently provide our vehicles with a higher quality tyre, so that our members enjoy an even better drive.
Continue ReadingMetro has eye on passenger car market
Indian manufacturer Metro Tyres aims to significantly increase its share of India’s motorcycle tyre market and is considering entering the passenger car tyre segment after 2015. Managing director Rummy Chhabra disclosed this information to news agency the Press Trust of India while outlining the company’s investment plan for the next few years. PTI has not given any specific information on Metro’s intended activities within the passenger car tyre business, such as the extent, if at all, technology partner Continental will be involved.
Continue ReadingTPMS rendered useless by apathetic component
Kwik Fit has identified a weak link in the tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to modern vehicles – and that weak link is, it appears, you and I. The retail network commissioned a study to investigate motorist responses to vehicle warning lights – and discovered that almost a half of all drivers don’t know what a tyre pressure warning light means.
Continue ReadingPirelli: No complaints on F1 tyre consistency
Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery has told Spanish newspaper El Confidencial that rumours suggesting the company is supplying tyres of inconsistent quality to Formula One teams have not led to any official complaints being made. Hembery was responding to a suggestion that there are “serious differences” between tyres of the same compound made by Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Grands Prix have been surprisingly open to competition in the 2012 season, with seven different winners in eight races, and while Hembery takes credit for the tyres adding to the excitement of the racing, it is also clear that some of the top teams’ feathers have been ruffled by the more competitive championship.
Continue ReadingPirelli tyres “work well” in difficult Scottish Rally conditions
Pirelli’s rally tyres were tested by sodden conditions at Saturday’s rain-soaked RSAC Scottish Rally, round five of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship. Reigning British rally champions, David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae, charged to their fourth victory of the season at the wheel of a Pirelli KM6-equipped Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
Continue ReadingGilbert extends Pirelli Mini Challenge lead
Henry Gilbert extended his lead in the Pirelli-backed MINI Challenge at Snetterton 300. The MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S race cars raced over two classes at the fourth round of the seven-round series: the John Cooper Works (JCW) class and the Club class. The JCW class was provided with slick and wet options: the 225/625-17 DH slick and 225/625-17 WS wet tyre. For the second time this season, Pirelli DH slicks and N3 wets were available to the Club class.
Continue ReadingStyron working towards better performing SSBR
Materials company Styron reports that its R&D/TS&D Rubber Team has developed functionalised Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber in response to the European tyre label, and the team is “continuously working” to introduce new grades that will deliver even better performance. “Let's give you one example which speaks by itself to demonstrate how powerful the technology is," commented Styron sales and marketing manager Olivier Véron. “With the introduction of Styron's generation two SSBR 4602, compared with our generation one SSBR 4601 for the rolling resistance we can move from the rating C to B, while maintaining all the other properties identical like the grip and the handling."
Continue ReadingYokohama planning major Philippines production boost
According to local news reports, Yokohama intends to more than double production in the Philippines by 2017. The Philippine Daily Inquirer writes that the tyre maker’s local subsidiary, Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc., plans to increase output from its current daily level of 21,000 units to 50,000 tyres a day within five years. This news is said to have been announced by Philippine trade undersecretary Merly M. Cruz.
Continue ReadingConti to sponsor US football event
Continental Tire will serve as the “official tyre” of 2012 Herbalife World Football Challenge in the US following the signing of a sponsorship deal. Under the agreement, Continental Tire will receive field board signage, end board signage, in-stadium media, hospitality, and category exclusivity at all the championship, which will take place across North America between 18 July and 11 August. This latest deal is in addition to the company’s official status sponsorship of Major League Soccer (MLS). Last year Bridgestone was a sponsor of the event.
Continue ReadingTyreSafe emphasises need for adequate tread depth in wet
The UK is wet and it doesn’t look like drying any time soon; the country is suffering its wettest second quarter since records began in 1910. TyreSafe has reacted to the weather by publicising the necessity of adequate tyre tread to stay safe on wet roads. “Spring felt more like autumn this year with its unusually high rainfall, yet what it does show is that tyre tread depth should be checked regularly, whatever time of year, to make sure they can cope properly with wet roads,” said Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.
Continue ReadingBroad Continental range on show at Reifen
No particular surprises awaited Tyres & Accessories at Continental’s Reifen 2012 stand. The German tyre maker presented its full consumer tyre range, including several key new products also seen at the Geneva Motor Show in February – the recently launched ContiPremiumContact 5, the ContiWinterContact TS850 and the Conti.e.Contact Winter.
Continue ReadingMichelin displays new Energy Saver +, truck tyres
Michelin’s stand (3:219) at Reifen 2012 featured current tyres from all product lines, including two world premiere truck tyres and the latest passenger car Energy Saver+. In common with other manufacturers with large hall three stands such as Nokian and GT Radial, Michelin chose to present information about the tyres on touch screens, seeking to engage visitors with interactive technology.
Continue ReadingComment: Labelling Chaos?
I don’t want to be overdramatic, but the first round of tyre label unveiling that took place during last month’s Reifen 2012 (see page 46 in the forthcoming July issue for complete coverage of this event) was certainly telling. What we saw was a wide range of different approaches to disseminating this information. What we heard was an even wider range of explanations for all of this. But in the end it was as much about what the various manufacturers didn’t say as it was about what they did say.
Continue ReadingBridgestone launches 2 Ecopia fuel-saving truck tyres
Bridgestone gave its latest two truck tyres – the Ecopia H-Steer 001 and Ecopia H-Drive 001 (in 315/70 R22.5) – their European debut at Reifen 2012. According to the company, these are “the most ecological and economical truck tyres that Bridgestone has ever developed.” As such the two long-haul tyres reportedly deliver are said to offer radically lower rolling resistance, fuel consumption and environmental impact, while maintaining overall levels of tyre performance.
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