New Goodyear Tyre Has Carbon Fibre
Carbon fibre is part of the construction of the new Goodyear Eagle(R) featuring ResponsEdge Technology™, which will be available to consumers in May. With threadlike strands of carbon that are strong and flexible, carbon fibre is a substance that weighs much less than steel of similar strength. As a woven composite fabric, it is increasingly used in high-tech racecars and jet planes. In the new Eagle featuring ResponsEdge Technology, the outboard sidewall of the tyre is reinforced with a high-tech carbon fibre insert that provides stiffness for responsive handling and steering precision. Combined with conventional tyre construction on the inboard sidewall, the ResponsEdge tyre delivers a smooth, comfortable ride.
Continue ReadingThe New Sava Perfecta
Sava is introducing a new range of summer tyres for cars and Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). The Sava Perfecta range will be available in new popular sizes and is said to offer longevity, reliability and a competitive price tag. The main benefit of Sava Perfecta is greater mileage. Other benefits are shorter wet stopping distances, reduced risk of aquaplaning, better driver control and less noise. Koos Nooi, Sava brand director Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The Sava Perfecta fulfils the requirements of possibly the largest consumer segment of the European tyre market because it is designed to meet the needs of the rational and safety conscious driver who drives a compact car or MPV. We have tested this tyre against competition, which it has outperformed. Sava Perfecta has met all parameters we set for it.”
Continue ReadingIndian Tread Rubber Producers Raise Prices
The All Kerala Small Scale Tread Rubber Manufacturers Association has decided to increase the price of tread rubber by 8 rupees (10 pence) per kilogram, India’s Business Standard reported. The association general secretary, George Varghese, said the increases were necessary to counter high raw material costs and protect tread rubber producers’ livelihoods.
Continue ReadingPirellifilm Set to Make an Impact
Pirellifilm is a unique new communication tool that intends to launch high quality short films through several media channels. The films will centre on stage and screen stars’ interpretations of the famous Pirelli claim - “Power is nothing without control” - in a different way each year. This extraordinary project, which has been in the planning for several years, is intended to support the Pirelli image and positioning and to maintain brand leadership. Pirelli has chosen the Web as the main channel for these films. The Internet, with its endless possibilities, has evolved to become an entertainment channel and, in this case, also a movie theatre. As the long-term experience of the Calendar has shown, Pirelli has always been able to attract up-and-coming talents, to communicate in a more effective and original way, and to go beyond traditional advertising channels.
Continue ReadingYHI Looks to Eastern Bloc and South Africa for Expansion
Automobile tyre-maker YHI International started its aggressive overseas expansion only in the 1990s and yet it already has presence in nearly every continent. Not content with its achievements, it is now focusing on faraway reaches like South Africa. Up until the 80s, YHI could claim only Singapore and Malaysia as the markets for its tyre distribution business. But the company realised that it had to expand beyond these two markets for further growth. That’s why, in the early 1990s, YHI started to make inroads into China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australasia.
Continue ReadingUK Fulda Challenge Team ‘Best Ever’
The 2006 Fulda Challenge UK team is heading back to Britain after its best Arctic performance yet. Kate Balchin (26) and Martin Yardley (38) travelled to the breathtaking Yukon Territory at the end of January to take part in the annual extreme sports adventure. The UK team finished in fourth place, 30 points behind the winning team. Kate finished third overall in a field of world-class female athletes and was presented with a cheque for $1,000 (Canadian). Belgiums Liesbeth Buytart and Germany’s Martin Hollerbach were the top performing woman and man respectively and they received a cheque for $3,000 (Canadian) each. The final results meant that the German Lowa team won the 2006 Fulda Challenge after leading the event from start to finish. They were awarded a Klondike gold nugget each.
Continue ReadingHangzhou Yokohama Tire Secures ISO 14001
Yokohama’s Hangzhou Yokohama Tire Co. Ltd. Chinese subsidiary has secured ISO 14001 certification. The company achieved the standard in January, Yokohama reported. Established in December 2001 and financed by Yokohama Rubber (90 per cent) and YHI Holdings Pte, Ltd (10 per cent), Hangzhou Yokohama Tire manufactures and sells radial tyres for passenger cars.
Continue ReadingMaxxis Named One of Shanghai GM’s Best Suppliers
Maxxis International’s Shanghai plant has been honoured by Shanghai General Motors for the sixth consecutive year. Named a Best Supplier for 2005, the company received the award at a ceremony in Shanghai. Of the nearly 200 suppliers eligible for this award, only six were chosen. Shanghai GM’s selection criteria included technology, quality, price, delivery, and service. Maxxis International said it “is proud to provide outstanding tyre products to Shanghai GM and expresses its gratitude for this recognition.”
Continue ReadingB3081 Named Bendiest Road in Britain
Continental tyres has named the B3081 as the bendiest road in Britain. Continental commissioned research to find out which of Britain’s 6,300 classified roads sets the toughest task for car tyres. At a steady 30 mph, a one-mile stretch of the B3081 between Cann Common in Dorset and Tollard Royal in Wiltshire exerted lateral forces of a magnitude a car would experience on a racetrack like Brands Hatch. Researchers tested a shortlist of 10 roads, as nominated by Auto Express readers, from across the UK. A standard Vauxhall Astra 1.4 with Continental ContiSportContact2 tyres was fitted with state of the art measuring equipment and an on-board computer to record forward speed and lateral acceleration.
Continue ReadingNew Bridgestone Firestone Commercial Truck & Bus Promotions
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is to start two new promotions within the commercial truck & bus group. Kurt Danielson, currently director, commercial marketing, has accepted a new assignment as executive director, commercial marketing for the US and Canadian markets effective 1 January. Kurt is responsible for the marketing of all truck and bus tyre brands, which includes the Bridgestone, Firestone and Dayton lines in both the US and Canada. In addition, Kurt is also responsible for product planning, supply/inventory planning and Oncor retreading.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Launches New Dunlop SP WinterSport 3D
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. launched the new Dunlop SP WinterSport 3D, a winter high performance tyre, during its dealer meeting in Nashville. The SP WinterSport will be available in 22 sizes for the 2006-2007 winter season, Goodyear officials said. The new tyre features what the tyremaker calls “3D sipes,” designed to “enhance grip for performance and ultra-performance sports cars,” the company said.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Appoints McCann Erickson in USA
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced its selection of McCann Erickson as its US advertising agency. The two companies will begin working together immediately.
Continue ReadingTech 3 Yamaha MotoGP Team Picks Dunlop
Dunlop has announced that the Tech 3 Yamaha team will compete in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship on Dunlop tyres. Riders will be Spaniard Carlos Checa, the most experienced rider on the MotoGP grid with ten years of top level experience of riding for different factory teams and on different tyre brands and the young British rider James Ellison. Both will be on board the latest official 2006 factory Yamaha YZR- M1 machines run by the very experienced Tech 3 team.
Continue ReadingFree Trade Talks With South Korea to Start
(Akron/Tire Review) Free trade talks between the US and South Korea have been confirmed, and if they are successful it would represent the largest free trade deal for the US since NAFTA was instituted.
Continue ReadingFord Told to Pay $29 Million in Rollover Case
(Akron/Tire Review) Ford Motor Co. has been ordered to pay a rollover accident victim $29 million. The case involved a 22-year-old Texas woman who was left partially paralyzed when a Firestone ATX on her 1999 Mazda Navajo failed and the vehicle rolled over.
Continue Reading