Coach Company: Michelin Beats Bridgestone for Durability
Kirkcowan-based Kings Coach Hire, located in Dumfries and Galloway, has completed a trial using a set of Michelin and Bridgestone tyres on two similar vehicles operating on virtually identical local bus routes. The Michelin 17.5 inch XZE2 tyres were fitted to a 31-seat midibuses in March 2005, with the tyre performance on both buses closely monitored. The Bridgestone tyres were replaced after 48,000 km whilst, in comparison, the Michelin tyres are said to have already covered 89,000 km, with a further 4mm of tread remaining.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres Buys Dunlop International
Apollo Tyres Ltd is to buy Dunlop Tyres International (Pty) Ltd (Dunlop South Africa) for US$62 million. The all-cash deal will see Apollo take on 100 per cent equity for 2.9 billion rupees (£37.3 million). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in both countries, including that of the South African Competition Commission, and a number of conditions. The Durban, South Africa-headquartered company also owns subsidiaries in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. The news follows speculation that Apollo Tyres was interested in purchasing Dunlop Zimbabwe.
Continue ReadingBusy at Beissbarth
These are busy times at Beissbarth UK. First of all there have been two new additions to the Microtec wheel balancing range. The versatile Microtec stationary micro processor controlled wheel balancers feature nine different programmes for passenger car and light trucks up to 65 kilos, with two programmes for motor bike wheels. Key features of the MT 825 Wheel Balancer include foot pedal brake to fix the balancing shaft, three alloy programmes, three special programmes and two PAX. There are two LED for imbalance direction indicators and two LCD for digital imbalance and status information. The 825 comes complete with an aluminium weight caliper tool for manual fitting of adhesive weights on the inside of the rim.
Continue ReadingAmtel Confirms Krasnoyarsk Plant Sale
Amtel-Vredestein NV has confirmed that it has sold its Krasnoyarsk tyre complex to a Russian company, Vostokshinainvest. The company previously disclosed its intent to dispose of the facility in an announcement on 22 December 2005. The Krasnoyarsk plant is a Soviet-era facility that primarily produces truck, agricultural and “C” segment tyres which do not fit the companys current strategy of focusing on the production and marketing of high-margin A and B-segment tyres used on premium and mid-range passenger vehicles.
Continue ReadingThe Widest Possible Niche
The history of Balkrishna Tyres, a company that is probably better known by its initials - BKT, began with its incorporation in 1988. The production of off-highway tyres followed in 1995. Since its foundation BKT has made its mark in the niche segments and offers tyres for agricultural, construction, industrial and earthmover applications. Now, with £39 million (Euro 56 million) being invested, the cumulative production capacity at all three of BKT’s plants is set to almost double, from 60,000 to 100,000 tons per annum. Part of this investment will go towards the introduction of a radial earthmover tyre range later this year.
Continue ReadingStamford Tyres Adjusts Its Plans For China
For Stamford Tyres the Chinese market is not new. There they have a local partner that produces some of Stamford’s private brands such as the Sumo truck tyre. Also, the new PCR private brand “Sumo Akina”, which will be launched by the end of this year, will be manufactured in China. China is becoming more interesting not only as a production base, but also as a potential sales market. China the giant is taking centre-stage for many wholesalers, including Stamford Tyres from Singapore.
Continue ReadingVarta High-Tech Bike Batteries
Varta is re-launching its range of premium quality 12V motorcycle batteries to increase coverage of the high performance sector, including machines such as the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSX 1300R.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Named Consumers Digest ‘Best Buys’
The February 2006 issue of US magazine Consumers Digest showcases the best tyres on the market, as rated by the magazines editors, and products from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company take top billing in three of the five rated segments. For the “Passenger Car Tyres, All-Season” category, Goodyear’s Assurance was the Premium selection. The Consumers Digest comparison list shows top-rated tyres in Premium, Midrange and Economy segments.
Continue Reading‘Motor Industry of Great Britain’ Available from SMMT
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has published its annual Motor Industry of Great Britain for 2005. As usual, the 220-page report contains a wealth of information and statistics concerning the world automotive industry. If you want to know how many cars per 1,000 population there are in Bolivia, for example, then this is the publication for you. (The answer, by the way, is three.)
Continue ReadingAutosport/Aftermarket Show Kick-Starts 2006
The 2006 Autosport/Aftermarket Show confirmed its position as the largest dedicated motorsport exhibition in Europe with 94,000 visitors in total. According to the organisers, 27,000 of these were trade visitors, an 8 per cent increase on 2004.
Continue ReadingStamford Announces Wheel Price Hike
(Akron/Tire Review) Thai tyre and wheel maker Stamford Tires & Wheels said it is raising prices on its Stamford Sport Wheels and private branded wheel products by 3 to 5 per cent, effective 1 February. Stamford said prices on 13- to 15-inch wheels will increase by 5 per cent, while prices on 16-inch and greater wheels will increase 3 per cent.
Continue ReadingDenman Moves in On CTNA’s Bryan OTR Plant
Pensler Capital Corp, owner of Denman Tire Corp, has signed a letter of intent to purchase Continental Tire North America’s (CTNA) OTR tyre plant in Bryan, Ohio for an estimated $75 – $80 million. The Dortmund-based Roesler Group has now backed away from the deal, despite initial interest and negotiations with CTNA and the local trade union, after being outbid by Pensler Capital. The letter of intent was reportedly signed on 16 January. “I am a little bit amused,” Roesler Group managing director, Paul Roesler Jr told Tyres & Accessories adding: “We are pleased we are no longer first in line.” In spite of his upbeat interpretation of the situation, Roesler had to concede that the other suitor simply outbid Roesler in the race to buy Continental’s Bryan facility.
Continue ReadingSmarTire to Supply Prevost with Bus TPMS
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced that it will supply Prevost buses with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that also monitor tyre temperature. The TPMS will come as standard on Prevost’s H-series bus.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres Invests In Truck and Bus Radial Manufacture
Apollo Tyres is to invest 400 million rupees in truck and bus radial production at the company’s Limba plant. Apollo’s announcement follows the news in October 2005 that Michelin had bought Apollo Tyres’ stake in the two companies’ joint venture. At the time Michelin cited the “slower than projected pace” of radialisation as its reason for the move.
Continue ReadingNizhnekamskshina Plans Radial SUV Tyre Production
Russia’s largest tyre maker, Nizhnekamskshina, has announced that it will increase capital expenditure by 14.9 per cent to 880 million ($17.6 million) in 2006. The company will invest in plant upgrades and in new capacity, including the production of radial tyres for SUVs and light trucks.
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