Goodyear Enters World of Outlaws for Series Tyre Supply Deal
Goodyear will supply the tyres for the World Racing Group’s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in an agreement that will last more than one season, according to a press statement released by the Group. The agreement will begin at the 2010 Florida DIRTcar Nationals next February, with World of Outlaws competitors required – somewhat ironically by the Series’ rules – to fit Goodyear rubber to their rear wheels.
Continue ReadingDestination Europe: More Chinese Products En Route to Europe?
Now President Barack Obama has stuck 35 per cent import duty on all passenger car and light truck tyres from China for the next three years what happens next? Chinese tyre manufacturers won’t want to sell fewer tyres each year. But US importers, consumers and manufacturers are equally unlikely to want to pay or absorb the additional costs. Tyres & Accessories spoke to a range of US, Far Eastern and Chinese companies and found that manufacturers are having to rely heavily on production flexibility, while traders are now setting their sights on one market in particular - Europe. Stephen Wu, managing director of Chinese tyre trading operation, Best Choice International, reports that orders from the US stopped came to a virtual standstill in July. Their strategy is now openly towards producing more European market orientated products: “We stopped an SUV/LT project and waited for the decision. And we produced more European UHP tyre sizes, not US sizes.” Companies like Best Choice are now prioritising orders in other markets – especially Europe – where they aim to sell the most popular sizes, UHP and winter tyres. Best Choice is apparently interested in other markets as well, but Wu refused to give further details at this time. As far as Best Choice is concerned there is now zero chance of getting orders in the first year of the tariff, except in the 19-inch and over category. As a result competition is likely to be based on just two factors: price and delivery time.
Continue ReadingSTL Achieves European Accreditation To Test Agricultural Tyres
Independent testing facility Standards Testing Laboratories (STL) has been approved to test pneumatic tyres for agricultural vehicles and trailers in accordance with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation No. 106. ECE Reg. 106 covers new pneumatic tyres that serve primarily agricultural and forestry vehicles, agricultural machines and agricultural trailers, and that correspond to speeds below 65 km/h. "Companies interested in exporting these types of tyres to Europe can enlist the services of STL to provide unbiased, qualified testing as our facility continues to expand its capabilities and serve as a 'one-stop source' for customers," said Cheryl Schnuth, vice president, marketing, Standards Testing Laboratories.
Continue ReadingScrappage Scheme Boosts Sales For Kia And Mazda
With sales reaching 9,772 in September, Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. has hit a new record for the brand in any European market. No Kia subsidiary or distributor in Europe has ever sold so many new cars in one month throughout the brand's history and with total sales for the year passing 34,700, the UK performance has overtaken Kia Motors Deutschland - traditionally the biggest market in Europe. The result gives Kia a 2.66 per cent market share in the UK - and a 3.73 per cent share of the retail market in September - both new records for Kia. Kia's Picanto was the runaway leader in terms of sales, with 3,395 registered during the month. Rio was hot on its heels with 2,066 sales followed by the cee'd family at 1,592 - before the new model introduction from 1 October and Sportage at 792. Michael Cole, managing director said: "It would be wrong to say that the Government's scrappage scheme hasn't helped us and in particular Picanto has proved very popular amongst those trading in 10 year old cars. But our September performance and our year-to-date result cannot be attributed to scrappage alone.
Continue ReadingHankook Pulls New Truck Tyre Range Out of the Box
A new Hankook commercial vehicle radial known as the “e-cube” is being rolled out in European markets. And while at first glance the name may seem an unusual choice for a round product, Hankook Tire Europe explains the sense behind the new long-haul tyre’s given moniker: Three developmental directions have gone into the e-cube; namely energy and low rolling resistance, economy and high mileage, and environment (reduced hazardous materials and low rolling noise). These three “e” words are all equally important and thus can be represented by a three-dimensional geometric shape with equal length edges – in other words, a cube.
Continue ReadingKings Road Tyres Fined £40,000 in Health & Safety Case
Kings Road Tyres & Repairs Ltd (KRT) was fined £30,000 with £10,000 costs on 25 September at Carlisle Crown Court after a jury found the company guilty of a breach of the 1994 Health and Safety at Work Act at its Carlisle warehouse. The guilty verdict related to the fact that a pile of truck tyres stacked 19 high contravened the company’s health and safety policy. The jury cleared the firm of two other charges relating to an accident in which a roofer had fallen through a skylight. Peter Gaster, KRT group MD accepted that KRT staff failed to apply the correct measures in this instance of over stacking, but maintains the company had to defend its position against unfair and frivolous claims in respect of the roofing incident. In addition to the court case there was also some controversy over local newspaper, the News & Star’s, coverage of the case. The News & Star reported that Judge Barbara Forrester issued the fine after taking into account several “aggravating factors about the firm’s storage of tyres.” However, Peter Gaster told Tyres & Accessories the paper’s reference to “aggravating factors about our storage of tyres…is incorrect and was not mentioned by the Judge.” “We reported the roofing incident under RIDDOR, and this caused Carlisle City Council Health and Safety Inspectors to visit our premises to discuss the accident. Whilst on our premises they noticed a rather high stack of tyres. At no time then or previously has anyone been injured or has there been any accidents resulting from our storage policy,” he explained.
Continue ReadingContinental Ends Talks With MAG Over Clairoix Plant
Talks between Continental AG and MAG, a Dubai-based potential buyer of the company’s tyre technology and passenger/light truck tyre manufacturing facility in Clairoix, France, have ended. According to Continental, the talks “mutually ceased” with no agreement reached. The parties held intensive discussions, but finally concluded that it was not possible to reach common ground on pursuing further negotiations. “We would have liked to have become involved in the tyre manufacturing business as an extension to our value-chain activities which are strongly focused on the trade sector. Using the knowledge we have at present we shall continue to examine this approach. We specifically thank the French government for its commitment and support while we were deliberating on the matter, and we shall keep France in our minds as a key location for future business plans”, said Dr Fawaz Sabri vice chairman of MAG Dr Bernhard Trilken, responsible for Continental`s global passenger and light truck tyre production, added: “It was not possible to enter into concrete negotiations on the basis of jointly defined framework conditions. The two parties reached the same conclusion and, at that point, agreed to terminate the sales talks.”
Continue ReadingThumbs-Up for Michelin’s Diversity
Its tyres may all be black and round but the team at Michelin are a far more diverse group, and this has been acknowledged by a group of French organisations specialising in issues related to diversity. On October 1, Michelin was awarded a Trophée de la Diversité 2009 in recognition of its commitment to innovative methods of promoting diversity.
Continue ReadingDutch Student Wins 2009 Bridgestone Journalism Contest
Dutch student Tim Biesbrouck has been selected overall winner of the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter contest. Biesbrouck, aged 21, was one of eleven finalists this year. He was given the opportunity to show the world, and Bridgestone, his reportage skills at the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July, and his “natural flair for journalism” sufficiently impressed the media and motorsport representatives making up this year’s judging panel.
Continue ReadingQuestion of the Month: October 2009
tyrepress.com has a new question of the month – visit the homepage at www.tyrepress.com to join the debate: What do you think will be the direct result of President Obama’s Chinese-manufactured tyre tariffs? 1) The European market will take the excess product and prices in the budget segment will fall 2) Nothing except more Chinese-made tyres coming to Europe 3) The market will remain the same
Continue ReadingBF Srl Launches New Website
At the beginning of September BF Srl introduced customers to its new website: www.bfwheelweight.com. The site was recently upgraded to offer all visitors an easy way of identifying the product they are looking for. “With a few clicks you can gain access to the whole range,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories. The system is updated directly from the BF’s head office, advising all customers of the latest news relating to the company and the automotive field. A new page dedicated to the technical department, is designed to meet particular customer requirements.
Continue ReadingViking International Making Operational Improvements
Viking International says that it has made a number of positive developments over the last year to streamline efficiency and improve customer service. Kevin Parker was appointed as Group managing director at the start of the year, and has been entrusted with heading the Viking brand as well as retaining responsibility for sister company, National Fleet. Parker believes that the companies have the potential to deliver a fruitful collaborative effort, providing an increased service offering to customers, from wholesale tyres and automotive parts, right the way though to fleet solutions for its dealers.
Continue ReadingMaxxis-Sponsored Driver Wins British Drift Championship
Maxxis has been heavily involved in the spectacular sport of drifting in the UK this year, so it must be gratifying for the manufacturer to have experienced the success of Steve Biagioni from Maxxis-sponsored Team Japspeed, who was crowned British Drift Champion for 2009.
Continue ReadingVenezuelan Retreader Improsa Joins TRIB
Improsa, (Venezuela) has joined the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), bringing TRIB’s membership to nearly 500 members in 50 countries. “TRIB continues to add members…TRIB is the only international retread industry association representing new tyre manufacturers, retreaders, suppliers to the retread industry and tyre repair companies,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s managing director.
Continue ReadingChem-Trend Release Single Application Curing Envelope Treatment
Chem-Trend recently launched a single application curing envelope treatment aimed at the retreading industry. Mono-Lube 2006 is designed to increase curing envelope life, while providing “easy release from the cured tyre.” A typical life for a tyre retread curing envelope is 40 – 60 tyres, however according to the Chem-Trend Mono-Lube 2006 can extend life by between 33 to 100 per cent. In addition to providing good release from a cured tyre, it also provides good slip, enabling accurate positioning over the next, uncured tyre.
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