RMA Adds 100 Green Dealers
The Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) has expanded the membership of its Green Dealer Scheme for tyre retailers who stock retreaded tyres. Following an in-depth research and recruitment campaign, the Association has added over 100 new outlets to its list of passenger retread stockists, bringing the total number of retail outlets listed under the scheme is 319.
Continue ReadingWRAP Forum Focuses on Landfill Ban Legislation
The impact of new legislation banning tyre shred from landfill sites was the main discussion topic during the second WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) Tyres Stakeholder Forum. Over fifty representatives from organisations involved in both new and recycled tyre markets gathered in London in January to receive updates on WRAP’s progress since the first Forum, held last June, and continue to provide views and guidance to WRAP on its activities under the programme.
Continue ReadingDunlop Bike Tyre Tops Test
The new Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier scored a decisive victory in its first major international comparative tyre test, being declared as awesome by top test riders. The test, carried out by US magazine, Sport Rider, compared the top road tyres on the market in a gruelling assessment of traction, braking, steering response and general handling qualities.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Reports Q4 Net Loss Despite Record Sales
Goodyear has reported a fourth quarter net loss of $51 million for 2005, compared with the previous year period’s net income of $125 million. This year’s lower result was put down to losses caused by the sale of the company’s farm tyre unit. Despite the losses the company recorded sales of $4.9 billion in the fourth quarter and a full-year sales record of $19.7 billion. According to the company, sales benefited from improved pricing and product mix and higher volume in the international tyre businesses, while the effect of currency translation reduced sales by approximately $107 million in the quarter.
Continue ReadingMechanics More Expensive than Doctors
What Car? has continued its criticism of the UK garage business by publishing an investigation into car servicing costs at 200 UK dealers. The research shows it can be cheaper to employ a barrister or a doctor than a mechanic. According to the magazine, consumers frequently pay more than £100 per hour for labour at franchised dealers. Hourly rates vary across the country, from £49 for Vauxhall in Scotland to £140 for BMW in London. A locum doctor charging between £350 and £500 per day is cheaper. Even a criminal law junior barrister will charge as little as £30 per hour.
Continue ReadingPirelli Board OK’s IPO as Option for Tyre Group
(Akron/Tire Review) The board of directors of Pirelli SpA has said it will consider launching an IPO for its global tyre division, though the Italian tyre and telecommunications company said it would hold a majority share in the spin-off.
Continue ReadingConti Announces Commercial Tyre Price Hike
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) has announced a price increase of up to 6 per cent on all of its medium truck, heavy truck and OTR tyres, effective 1 March. The increase covers all Continental, General, Semperit and private brand commercial tires produced by the company. The increase, said the company, was due to raw material and operating costs.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Completes Tennessee Plant Expansion
(Akron/Tire Review) Marangoni Tread North America said it has completed expansion at its Nashville, Tennessee, tread rubber plant, effectively doubling capacity at the facility.
Continue ReadingKumho Moves to New Office
Kumho Tyres has announced relocated to new offices in Sutton, Surrey. In a ceremony held on 10 February, H S Lee, president of Kumho Tire Europe GmbH, officially opened the new facility together with the managing director of Kumho Tyre (UK) Ltd, Steve Tidmarsh.
Continue ReadingJust Tyres Opens Aldershot Branch
When Just Tyres re-launched after a management buyout at the end of 2001, managing director Ian Grant’s main objective was to consolidate its position in the marketplace, but he never ruled out expansion in the future. April 2005 saw the first new opening, in Tonbridge, and now a new branch has opened in Aldershot, with more openings to follow.
Continue ReadingDJ Wheels Launches New Designs for 2006
Pitching their marketing directly at young drivers looking to upgrade their first hot-hatch, DJ Wheels has released two additions to its 2006 range. With vivid computer game style images on both the literature and point of sale material, Sherbrook is aiming to move ‘First Wheels’ marketing forward in a campaign that breaks new ground in the accessory sector. In total nine designs are available in the 2006 DJ Wheels line-up. The new DJ388 is said to deliver ‘split-rim’ styling at an affordable price. The five-spoke design comes in either 4 or 5-stud fixing. Size availability is: 7x15 and 7x16 in Sport Silver finish, with 7x17 and 7.5x18 in Hyper Silver.
Continue ReadingDeflated British Drivers Choose Routine over Romance
As we approach the most romantic day of the year, it appears more of us are interested in being punctual than succeeding in love. According to new research, punctuality is more important than passion for Britons who are eight times more reluctant to miss a business meeting than a first date. Goodyear surveyed 9,000 drivers across 15 European countries on the events they would most hate to miss due to a flat tyre. The school run (29 per cent), a job interview (12 per cent) and a business meeting (8 per cent) were all considered more important than missing a first date. Just one per cent of Britons are concerned about missing a date because of a flat tyre, whilst less than one in twenty (four per cent) would worry about missing a get-together with family and friends.
Continue ReadingNew Millennium UHP Website
Viking International has launched a website in order to provide more information about its new Millenium Tyre range following strong demand. The website includes information about the tyre range, specifications and suitability of the UHP tyres for a vast range of cars. The site also provides dealer support with consumer incentives and POS support, and a unique password protected trade area where dealers can gain access to downloads and order POS materials direct.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Launches New Call Centre
As Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd embarks on a fresh approach to its retail business, the company has employed 18 “top retail professionals” and founded a new call centre based at the heart of Goodyear Dunlop’s Birmingham operations. With the recent announcement of new investment in Hi-Q, the company has pledged to invest in its training, marketing and systems whilst developing a new franchise programme in order to complement its company owned stores to create a strong nationwide brand.
Continue ReadingRH Claydon/BKT to Support British Quad Champion
British quad racing champion, Paul Winrow, will drive on BKT X-Driv quad tyres supplied by RH Claydon throughout the 2006 season. Winrow has been British No1 in Quad Racing for the past two years and has decided to ride BKT X-Driv in all his competitive races in Europe and the US.
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