Yokohama to Produce Car Tyres in Europe
Yokohama is planning to establish a passenger car tyre production plant in Europe in 2008. The news came in the context of a dealer presentation by the German distribution company Yokohama Reifen GmbH. Observers suggest that the move is likely to be a way of strengthening ongoing OE projects and relationships. Yokohama did not specify which locations are being considering, give details of which tyre lines might be produced, or suggest how much would be invested.
Continue ReadingJohn O’Groats to Land’s End on Flat Tyres
Goodyear has set eccentric British challenger Lloyd Scott, a new challenge – drive the length of the nation on flat tyres. Lloyd, 48, from Essex, who has previously cycled across Australia on a Penny Farthing bicycle and completed this year’s London Marathon in a full suit of armour, has agreed to take the wheel throughout May for Goodyears RunOnFlat Rally. The RunOnFlat Rally will see Lloyd drive the more than 1600 miles in distance across the British Isles, from John OGroats, where he started yesterday, to Lands End in a Mini with flat tyres.
Continue ReadingMRF Drivers Win Asia Pacific Rally Stage
Katsuhiko Taguchi and co-driver Mark Stacey of Team MRF Tyres recently won the New Caledonia round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), which consisted of two super special stages and rough stages. Their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII finished a remarkable six minutes and 26 seconds ahead of the second-placed Mitsubishi of Rifat Sungkar, from Indonesia.
Continue ReadingMichelin Plant Makes 200 Millionth Radial
(Akron/Tire Review) There is one P225/50R17 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 that will never see the open road – the 200 millionth tyre produced at Michelin North America’s (MNA) Greenville, S.C., US1 plant last week. And Richard Simmons, the man who helped build the plant’s very first tyre – a BR78R13 – in 1975, was on hand to help produce that landmark radial. According to MNA, some 100 employees at the plant have been at US1 since day one.
Continue ReadingBrityrex 2007 – Tuning In With the Tyre Business
As the UK’s only independent biennial tyre-trade event both national and international exhibitors are now actively booking their stands for May 2007. Specifically targeted at tyre manufacturers, tyre wholesalers, tyre importers and retailers, Brityrex ’07 will feature tyres and tyre technology, retreads, tyre production equipment, tyre repair and changing equipment, fast-fit and garage equipment, wheel alignment and balancing technology, alloy wheels, valves, tools, workshop management software and tyre recycling and disposal technology. In short, everything relating to the tyre from car tyres through to commercial, industrial, agricultural, off-road and recreational tyres.
Continue ReadingViking “Ready For Anything”
Viking, the quality mid-range tyre brand, has launched a new advertising campaign as part of the brand’s recent development. The new ad depicts a Viking tyre amid bold images of stormy and unpredictable weather with the strapline: “Ready for Anything”.
Continue ReadingCTNA to Cease Tyre Production in May
Continental Tire North America will stop tyre production at its Charlotte plant in July, earlier than its previously announced date of September, because of “worsening business conditions,” local news sources have reported Under this plan, the company will lay off more than 700 workers between this Friday and July. Previously, Continental had said it would cut 172 workers Friday, 50 in June and 478 in September. The company plans to shift production to its non-union plant in Mount Vernon, Illinois, and to its factories in Mexico and Brazil.
Continue ReadingContinental Launches Wide-base Trailer Tyre
Continental Truck Tyres Europe has announced the launch of its wide-base tyre for the growing Megatrailer market. Designated 445/45 R 19.5 HTL1, the new tyre offers fleet operators the benefits of fuel-saving, higher mileage and maximising load-carrying volume. According to the company, fleet users will gain fuel savings of five per cent, higher tyre mileage and maximised load volume.
Continue ReadingPirelli and Schrader to Develop New Tyre “Check-Up” Sensor
Pirelli and Schrader have agreed to join forces to take “intelligent” tyre production a step further. The new system, based on a mini-sensor capable of generating its own power, can for the first time be located within the tyre itself and allows the tyre identification data and its temperature and pressure to be monitored in real time and transmitted to the car and driver. Schrader took on 100 new staff at its Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland facility at the beginning of April. This move was supported by £3.5 million of funding from Invest NI and brings the total number of staff at the plant to 160.
Continue ReadingVianor and Amring to Cooperate in Sweden
The Nokian-owned Vianor AB tyre retail chain is to partner with Amring Verkstäder AB in Sweden. Following the agreement, nine Amring outlets have joined the Vianor tyre chain and become Vianor Partner outlets as of 2 May 2006. The agreement gives Amring outlets the rights to utilize Vianor brand and chain marketing, Vianor’s call centre services and personnel training programmes.
Continue ReadingBlimp Naming Finalists Announced
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced the 10 finalists for its Name the Blimp Contest, launched last month. Consumers submitted more than 21,000 unique names for the tyremaker’s newest airship, according to Goodyear.
Continue ReadingCam Systems Launches New Website and Corporate ID
Cam Systems has launched a newly designed website at www.cam-systems.co.uk. To mark the occasion, the company has also introduced a new corporate identity as part of a marketing campaign to build greater awareness and understanding within the UK tyre industry. “Initially the site is aimed at introducing Cam’s people, products and services. All of our resources are in regular communication with our customers and we feel it essential that they have the opportunity to put faces to the names in our 30-strong team,” explained Steve Bazeley, Cam’s Business Development Director.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Retreading Systems Announces Price Increase
Marangoni Retreading Systems (Marangoni Tread SpA and Ellerbrock Reifenrunderneuerungs-Technologie GmbH) have announced a 4 – 5 per cent price increase on all pre-cure retreading brands and product lines. The increase will be applied from 3 July 2006 in European, East European and Mediterranean countries.
Continue ReadingImpending Master Contract Talks to Focus on Cost Cuts
(Akron/Tire Review) The United Steelworkers (USW) stated goal of protecting job security will certainly be challenged as formal negotiations begin next month for new master contracts between the Steelworkers and Goodyear, Bridgestone/Firestone and Michelin. The talks will begin against a backdrop of ever-increasing raw material, benefit and legacy costs that have forced global outsourcing of production in order to maintain profitability.
Continue Reading“I’m a Porsche Underneath”
While T&A’s favourite remain’s “White With A Hint of M42,” ASDA insurance has claimed that it has discovered the nation’s favourite white van slogan. In an online poll, ASDA Motor Insurance found every person questioned could instantly recall an amusing slogan daubed in the dirt of a white van. One third of those polled revealed their favourite slogan scrawled on the back of a dirty white van was “if only my wife was this dirty”!
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