US Tyre Shipments Increase by 2.5 per cent
US tyre shipments increased by 2.5 per cent in 2004, compared with 2004, according to preliminary estimates released by the RMA. The group cited strong increases in the nation’s GDP and Industrial Product Index (IPI) as being behind this growth. The positive general figure contrasts with a 2.8 per cent decline in passenger car OE sales, which fell to 53 million units. Light truck OE also decreased by 600,000 units, or 7.5 per cent, to approximately 7.4 million units in 2004.
Continue ReadingFurther Expansion At Amtel
Amtel’s latest 5500 tyres per day production line has gone into operation. The $50 million “Kirov-II” line will produce approximately 2 million tyres per year, raising annual production at the complex to 7 million units.
Continue ReadingMichelin Loses 320,000 Tyres in Fire
Michelin North America Inc lost approximately 320,000 tyres because of fire at a South Carolina distribution centre, according to a Tire Business report. The fire was started on 13 January after a tornado (possibly two) lifted the roof off the facility and slammed it back down again. Residents living within half a mile were evacuated. Michelin reports that the loss of tyres represents only a fraction of 1 per cent of the manufacturer’s unit sales in North America. Michelin added its financial loss is negligible since TNT carried insurance on the building and property, the US trade magazine added.
Continue ReadingPirelli Continues Rally Sponsorship
Pirelli will continue its UK and Ireland rally involvement, the company announced at January’s Autosport/Aftermarket Show. The manufacturer will sponsor the Kwik-fit Pirelli British Rally Championship and the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, the latter for the second consecutive year. More than 3000 people visited the Pirelli stand during the course of the show. The company has since describe its participation as “a great success,” adding that its Ford Focus WRC simulator was one of the main attractions.
Continue ReadingStrike Threat at Tyre Plant Lifted
The threat of strike action at the Michelin tyre plant in Ballymena has been lifted, the Belfast Telegraph has reported. Workers at the plant voted by a substantial majority not to embark on a course of industrial action. As a result, union negotiators have told management that a pay offer, which had been rejected in November will now be accepted.
Continue ReadingAvon Unleashes the Viper
“The new tyre range represents a major advance in sports tyre design and is the result of years of testing combined with original and innovative engineering concepts. We are proud to deliver this three-tier offering of 19 sizes to the motorcycle market and have great confidence that it will be enthusiastically received” – Avon’s motorcycle product manager, Pete McNally, can only be that enthusiastic about one thing – the Viper has finally been unleashed.
Continue ReadingThe End of the Spare Tyre? – Results
When Tyres & Accessories published a question of the month on the subject of run-flat tyres, it provoked quite a reaction. At the time T&A asked: Should run-flat tyres be fitted on new cars as ‘standard’ original equipment? The answers given were both varied and surprisingly. Although 45 per cent of those who responded answered with a definite ‘yes,’ more than a quarter of readers (27 per cent) said an equally definite ‘no.’ Almost the same number sat on the fence, so to speak, satisfied with the development of a two-tier market. Consequently the majority of respondents were either against or indifferent to the introduction of run-flat technology through OE, while the largest single group were for them. So, the question still remains: does anybody really want run-flats, or are manufacturers trying to introduce them by stealth?
Continue ReadingBridgestone Awarded Investors in People accreditation
Bridgestone UK has been awarded the Investors in People (IIP) accreditation, following a detailed audit of the company’s working practices. The IIP standard is a government-led business improvement tool designed to advance an organisation’s performance through its people, and provides strategies for managing people effectively, nurturing talent, and ensuring equal opportunities. “This award is a ‘pat-on-the-back’ for the company and its employees,” said John McNaught, managing director of Bridgestone UK. “It shows that we are committed to providing our employees with a stimulating and rewarding place to work, communicating effectively, and working hard to provide opportunities for personal development.” The company will now be the subject of three-yearly independent inspections to confirm the maintenance of high standards in order for the IIP accreditation to be retained.
Continue ReadingWill F1 Lose a Tyre Supplier?
The FIA is still deliberating over whether or not to adopt just one tyre supplier for future Formula One series’ according to reports from Autosport magazine. The association’s president, Max Mosley suggested the change in an effort to cut the F1 teams’ costs, saying that too much of the teams’ budget is spent on testing new compounds.
Continue ReadingThe Condor Will No Longer Fly
Reiff Reifen & Autotechnik (Germany) gave up the production of retreaded passenger car tyres at the end of December 2004, because it was not making a good enough return on its investment. The Condor tyres it produced were a well-known brand and the Reiff manufacturing plant, built only five years ago, was considered the “most modern in the world.” What caused the degeneration of such a promising business model?
Continue ReadingTwo Shows in One?
Tyres played a significant part at this year’s Autosport Interntional/Aftermarket Show. Yes some of the biggest players (Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental) were noticeable by their absence, but the shows still managed to attract some 92,000 people of whom 25,000 were registered trade and international visitors. Importantly, a number of these visitors will have found themselves ‘crossing over’ to the other side, from consumer to trade or vice versa.
Continue ReadingWhat a Model Tyre Dealer Looks Like
One of the highlights of the Aftermarket show, from a tyre point of view, was the Model Tyre Retailer display. Set up in the form of a Yokohama Advan Dealership, the exhibit was designed to be a demonstration of best practice. Each hour, on the hour, tyre technicians gave 30 minute presentations showcasing market leading products and services. Speaking at the opening of the Model Tyre Dealer display, NTDA national chairman, Martin Rowlands commented: “The exhibit offers an insight into the type of equipment and services that modern, forward looking tyre shops are beginning to use. The pace of development for both tyres and vehicles has accelerated at a frightening speed over the last decade and there is now a need for better diagnostic equipment, better technical knowledge and above all premises that are clean, efficient and inviting! Customers have become better informed and more demanding, but also more receptive to service quality,” The exhibit featured tyres produced by Yokohama, Pro-Align wheel alignment systems, REMA Tip Top Machinery and CP Designs tools. The organisational forces behind the stand were show organisers Haymarket Exhibitions and alignment specialist Pro-Align.
Continue ReadingHankook’s Emotional Tokyo Auto Salon
As the UK tyre business was observing events at the Autosport/Aftermarket show, on the other side of the globe, the Tokyo Auto Salon was attracting some 300,000 spectators. Approximately 30,000 of these passed by the Hankook stand each day. According to Hankook, every Japanese car, wheel and tyre manufacturer was present. Demonstrating its new corporate identity, the Korean company adopted the Hankook Emotion theme for its stand. The exhibition displayed 20 items including its range of Formula 3 racing tyres, Ventus UHP tyres, the low-noise XQ-Optimo and a number of concept products. The company also tried to charm its visitors with a racing Porsche on the company stand, with a magician providing further entertainment. “The Hankook Tire booth was a fine chance to promote our new corporate identity program in Japan, one of the world’s most important markets for modified automobiles. We worked hard to make a venue that would give auto buffs from around the world a look at our world-class technology and tyres of the future,” commented a Hankook representative.
Continue ReadingThe Pro Comp Range Reaches British Isles
Although US produced Pro Comp tyres have a good reputation in the states, they are not so well known in the UK. That’s why Midlands based 4x4 distributor, John Craddock Ltd, jumped at the chance to become the brand’s sole importer for the UK & Ireland. Tyres & Accessories spoke to marketing manager, Jamie Stevens.
Continue ReadingContinental Expands Engineering Services Unit
Continental AG is expanding its automobile manufacturer and supplier engineering services. “For 2005 we are aiming to achieve corporate sales volumes in the double-digit million range,” said Continental executive board member, Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann. “In the area of vehicle dynamics and suspension control in particular we are filling a niche that to date has hardly been tackled by engineering service providers, as only very few companies have the required broad technical knowledge of automotive brakes, chassis, electronics and tyres,” explained Dr Neumann.
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