DJ 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.
Continue ReadingStrike Continues at Firestone’s Liberia Plantation
Despite earlier reports that workers had gone back to work, one week into the strike company officials told Tyres & Accessories that while the industrial action “could end tomorrow, it could also go on for weeks.” In an interview with T&A, Bridgestone Americas’ Dan MacDonald and Gert Meylemans (Bridgestone Europe) explained that the ongoing strike might mean there is disruption, but it also unlikely to have any long term or direct effects on prices. Despite the plantation’s size (118,000 acres) the company representatives downplayed the effect the strike would have on the tyre market. “The majority of what is harvested is not block rubber, but liquid latex,” Dan MacDonald told Tyres & Accessories. Instead the Liberian plantation’s output is only said to make up 14 per cent of Bridgestone Americas’ and 1.2 per cent of the company’s worldwide demand. For now there is said to be significant quantities of the necessary raw materials in reserve. And the executives pointed out that the company ran other large plantations in places like Indonesia. Reserves and alternative sites aside, 5,800 striking workers is not good for any company.
Continue ReadingIs Pirelli Planning IPO For Tyre Unit?
(Akron/Tire Review) Multiple news reports say that Pirelli SpA is looking to spin off its tyre unit as a separate entity, and launch an initial public offering of stock. Forbes.com reported today that Goldman Sachs will likely be appointed to handle the IPO. News speculation in Milan says the Italian tire and telecommunications giant planned to separate its global tyre operations into a stand-alone company. Pirelli has not commented on those reports, though.
Continue ReadingNew ConRad Tyre Strengthens Continental Radial Range
Continental Tyres has introduced the new ConRad tyre, a powerful addition to its radial industrial range. The manufacturer describes the ConRad is “ideally suited for heavy transport or lift trucks carrying loads up to 10 tonnes in weight, operating on smooth, paved and mixed terrain.”
Continue ReadingQuickSilver Exhaust for Range Rover Sport
QuickSilver has introduced a stainless steel exhaust system for the new Range Rover Sports Supercharged, which the company says allows the speed and volume of the exhaust gas flow to be increased, thus producing a noticeable improvement in throttle response. There is a choice of two systems available; ‘Sports’ and ‘Supersports.’
Continue ReadingConti Tyres on 70th Anniversary 4/4 Morgan
The legendary Morgan 4/4 launched in 1936 and still produced today is about to become even more special. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Morgan Motor Company has unveiled a limited edition Morgan 4/4 slightly smaller than its Plus 4 and Roadster siblings. Just 142 “70th Anniversary” Morgan 4/4 cars will be built - two cars for every year of its production life since launch. Each car will be individually marked with the year it honours, finished in period style and fitted with Continental 165/80R15 CT22 tyres.
Continue ReadingVTS Offers Free Delivery on Everything
Vintage Tyres, has announced that from March the company intends to expand its delivery service and offer free delivery on all their products to any UK mainland destination. “Free delivery is the final stage in keeping with our total customer support ideals, orders taken before 3pm will be despatched on the same day and should arrive within 48 hours,” said managing director, Chris Marchant.
Continue ReadingUnipart Unveils First ‘Kitemarked’ Car Care Centre
Only day’s after automotive magazines criticised the quality of British garages and their lack of support for the Kitemark scheme, Unipart Automotive has unveiled the first Unipart Car Care Centre received the accreditation. Village Motor Company of Wallasey, Merseyside, part of Unipart Automotive’s national network of 1,400 independent garages, has become Britain’s first Unipart Car Care Centre to achieve the BSI Kitemark. As a leading supplier of automotive parts and accessories, Unipart Automotive says it always wanted a clear badge of distinction between the so-called “rip-off” garages and those who provide service motorists can have confidence in.
Continue ReadingStapletons Appoints New Wholesale Sales Manager
Leading UK wholesale and retail tyre supplier, Stapletons Tyre Services has appointed a new sales manager to join its wholesale operation. Following a two-year gap, Nigel O’Hara, 46, returns to Stapletons as wholesale sales manager. Reporting to wholesale and IT director, Steve Parker, Nigel’s remit is to manage Stapletons’ wholesale tyre sales operation as well as the telesales division across the country. Nigel will also manage a team of field sales staff.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Fleet Staff Raise £2000 for BEN
Employees at Kwik-Fit Fleet’s St Albans headquarters raised more than £2,000 for BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. Kwik-Fit Group is currently in the process of refurbishing and modernising its 669 UK centres and the redeveloping its Fleet Service Call Centre. As a result, all of Kwik-Fit Fleet’s sales managers have new laptop computers, while office-based staff have new desktop computers. The computers had seen out their useful life in the business and rather than scrap them, staff agreed to make a donation to BEN.
Continue Reading9-month Earnings Up at Yokohama
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has posted a 19.1 per cent increase in operating income, to 20.9 billion yen (£141.5 million), in the nine month period ended 31 December. Sales growth, cost-cutting measures, and the weakening of the yen against the dollar reportedly “more than offset increased raw-material costs.”
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