A1 Grand Prix Gets Green Light at Brands Hatch
Observers are hailing the inaugural race of the new A1 Grand Prix motorsport series as a success after it attracted 72,000 visitors over its first weekend. The fact that the series was able to sell out every seat at Brands Hatch when spectators couldn’t have known exactly what to expect must have been music to the ears of organisers and control tyre supplier Cooper. The British leg and opening race of the series was won by Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jnr, a driver who has already made a name for himself in the GP2 series.
Continue ReadingVredestein Launches Traxion85
Vredestein has announced a new addition to its range of tractor tyres. According to the company, the new Traxion85 represents the standard for modern medium-class tractors. Following the success of its Traxion+ extra wide 65 and 70 series products, Vredestein has developed the Traxion85 as a successor to the well-known Tractor Super Grip. The design of the Traxion85 has the same roots as the Traxion+, which has been used in agriculture since 1997. With this popular tyre Vredestein has realized a fast-growing share of the market in virtually every country in Europe. Visitors to the SIMA international agricultural fair in Paris in the spring of this year got a first glimpse of the new Traxion85, which is available in 14 sizes:
Continue ReadingAlonso Becomes Youngest World Champion
Renault driver Fernando Alonso has become the youngest ever Formula One world champion after coming third in the Brazilian Grand Prix. “I am the youngest champion in Formula One and now I need to find new targets because this one is done,” said the 24-year-old.
Continue ReadingConti Ploughs Gold
Continental defended its World Champion title at this year’s World Ploughing contest held in Prague, with team representative Bernhard Altmann winning a gold medal for ‘Conventional Ploughing’. Bernhard Altmann, who was World Champion in 1998 and 2002 drove on Continental AC 85 agricultural tyres “The ContiContract AC 85 proved to be particularly suitable for the ploughing requirements,” said Robert Gaubinger, coach of the Austrian ploughing team. The team intends to compete on Continental tyres next year at the 53rd World Ploughing Contest that will take place in Carlow, Ireland.
Continue ReadingDe Vries: “Navitrac is Coming to Europe“
Interstate Europe’s product portfolio will soon feature two new tyre brands. As commercial director Theo de Vries explains during an interview with Tyres & Accessories, the wholesaler is entering the truck tyre business with a new brand called “Navitrac.” Furthermore, Interstate Europe is hoping to make an impact on Europe’s exclusive brand market with the launch of the “Sceptor” passenger car tyre line. However, exactly when these two brands will be available in the UK and on the European market is not clear. The names of the exclusive distributors that will take on the new tyres in each of Europe’s national markets are similarly undefined.
Continue ReadingTradesman Refurbishment
Hofmann Megaplan has introduced a new addition to its wheel service range with the launch of the ‘Tradesman’ machine for alloy wheel refurbishment and repair. The megamount ‘Tradesman’ is the result of a joint development project with wheel refurbishment specialist Wheel Clinic. Based on a conventional tyre changer chassis, the unit enables rims up to 24 inch diameter to be clamped and rotated at the necessary speed for grinding and polishing. A full starter kit of grinding and polishing wheels is supplied with the unit and ongoing consumables are available directly from Wheel Clinic.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Asia Success
ECI International has announced record figures for the fifth edition of Tyrexpo Asia, which took place at the Singapore Expo Centre from 13-15 September, 2005. Just under 3,000 tyre industry specialists visited the exhibition, as did 100 exhibitors, occupying 5,000 sq.m of stand space and displaying a wide range of products including tyres, tubes, garage equipment, retreading materials and equipment as well as a variety of ancillary products and accessories. Overall Tyrexpo Asia 2005 achieved a growth rate of 20 per cent compared to the previous event in 2003.
Continue ReadingDrivers Offers Free Check-up During Scottish Tyre Safety Week
Drivers, the Glasgow-based car enhancement company, is offering customers a free tyre check-up for the duration of the Scottish Tyre Safety Week, which runs from 7 – 11 November 2005. Whilst most drivers are aware of the importance of looking after their tyres, fewer are aware that specially fitted performance tyres can enhance both the safety and performance of their cars.
Continue ReadingTenneco Launches Monotube Shock Absorber
Tenneco Automotive has launched a new monotube shock absorber which features a Monotube Blow Off (MTBO) valve at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany (IAA) last week. The new Ford Focus ST, which will be introduced in Europe later this year, will include shocks featuring the new MTBO valve.
Continue ReadingSibur to Float on Stock Exchange
Sibur, may float its tyre business or sell a part of it to a strategic partner before 2008, analysts have suggested. Analysts from several brokerages, including Aton and UFG, quoted Sibur senior vice president Dmitry Konov as telling them the plan was part of a broader restructuring programme for the company. He said the tyre business would be kept separate through its Sibur Russian Tires holding, which will hold stakes in the four tyre plants -- Yarshina, Omskshina, Voltire and Uralshina.
Continue ReadingNew Tuning Association Founded
A new European Tuning Association has been founded. VATZ (Verband Automobil Tuning/Zubehör - association of automotive tuning/accessories) held its inaugural meeting on the 15th September in Frankfurt. The association will have the task of representing the interests of the entire tuning industry, especially with regard to the legislative bodies, on a national level and international level. As a trade association, VATZ aims to represent the entire spectrum of European tuning providers.
Continue ReadingAlcoa’s Workhorse Wheel
Alcoa has developed a new wheel for the Axor construction vehicle together with DaimlerChrysler. The new product does not have any hand holes and has been developed to protect the vehicle’s disc brakes from sand and gravel on the drive axle. The “workhorse” wheel has the same load and mounting characteristics as a standard Alcoa wheel and will be on display at the DaimlerChrysler stand at the up and coming European Road Transport Sow in Amsterdam. It is available in three sizes: 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00 and 22.5 x 11.75 and in a Diamond Brite finish.
Continue ReadingAmerityre Distributes Prototypes
Amerityre has completed the developmental phase of its non-pneumatic spare passenger car tyre and is now producing prototypes for the automotive industry to test and evaluate. The tyres passed FMVSS testing standards and can carry loads up to 2,000 lbs per tyre.
Continue ReadingNew All Season SUV Tyre
Calling it the next generation of SUV tyre technology, Goodyear is introducing the new 4x4 Fortera(R) tyre, featuring TripleTred Technology. The tyre seeks to “respond to SUV drivers’ demands for confidence and security while driving on rain-soaked, snowy or dry roads,” according to Todd Hershberger, Goodyears marketing manager, light-truck tyres.
Continue ReadingNokian Officially Opens Russian Factory
The official inauguration of Nokian Tyres new tyre plant will take place today in Vsevolozhsk, Russia. The plant is already in operation, and the first tyres were manufactured in June 2005. Invitations to the ceremony have been sent to Finnish and Russian high-ranking authorities, partners in the construction project, customers, media representatives and the companys own personnel.
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