Ford Rallying Switches To Michelin
Michelin has signed up with Ford to supply tyres for the car manufacturers World Rally Championship from 2003. The three-year deal was signed after Ford reached agreement with Pirelli to terminate the existing tyre contract one year early. Ford used Michelin tyres for two seasons following the debut of the Focus WRC in 1999. Said Malcolm Wilson, Team Director of Ford Rallye Sport: We have enjoyed two successful years with Pirelli and thank them for their support. He went on: The World Rally Championship is Fords premier global motorsport activity and as such we have exciting plans for the future. We felt it was in the best interests of all parties to utilise this option now and enable us to renew our development links with Michelin.
Continue ReadingSafety The Priority In J D Power Survey
In a study of Automotive Emerging Technologies by J.D. Power in the USA, safety-related features were more important to motorists than entertainment or convenience. The most popular safety feature on the motorists wish list was a tyre pressure monitoring system, prompted by recent tyre recalls. However, the study found that the price of these features is important - one feature which was high on the list was infra-red night vision, but interest dropped dramatically when consumers were told this would cost $1,800.
Continue ReadingDebut For World’s Largest Mining Tyre
What is described as the worlds largest front-end loader and mining tyre, the Firestone 70/70-57, fitted on a LeTourneau L-2350 loader, has made its debut at a mine in Wyoming. The Firestone Super Rock Deep Tread tyre is almost 13 feet tall and weighs nearly 8 tons. It takes four people 17 hours to build the tyre and the curing time is 24 hours.
Continue Reading$35 Million Loan For Apollo Tyres
Apollo Tyres, Indias second-largest tyre manufacturer, has negotiated a $35 million loan from the International Finance Corporation and banks as part of a two-year, $51 million investment plan. $20 million will come from the IFC and the remainder from participating banks. The money will fund the set up of a new truck radial tyre plant in Gujarat and an increase in capacity of Apollos two existing plants in Kerala. The radial technology will be supplied under an agreement with Continental AG.
Continue ReadingHoosier To Be Control Tyres For 2003 Ascar Series
Cars in the 2003 Ascar race series in the UK will be running on Hoosier radials, similar to those used in oval racing in the USA, where Hoosier provide over 65 per cent of control tyres. The tyres were tested at the Rockingham circuit, at 150+ mph speeds for up to 50 laps at a time. With 105 laps completed, the softest compound tyre was found to be only 50 per cent worn.
Continue ReadingVisteon/SmarTire Partnership For Tire Pressure Monitoring
Visteon Corporation and SmarTire Systems Inc. have established a partnership agreement bringing to market a best-in-class solution in automotive tyre monitoring technology. The two companies have agreed to combine their technical capabilities in working with automobile manufacturers to design and manufacture the latest in tyre monitoring systems. The partnership merges Visteons vehicle integration expertise, global design and manufacturing capability with SmarTires patented, wireless, tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system. The demand for these systems is growing significantly from global automobile manufacturers.This agreement is exactly the type of agreement we need to make, said John Kill, Visteon Vice President of Product Development. It combines the strengths of companies to cost effectively deliver the technologies our customers want and need. The agreement places SmarTire in partnership with a Tier 1 automotive parts supplier. Original equipment manufacturers rely on Tier 1 suppliers to provide the products, quality and scheduled deliveries required by the automotive industry, reports Robert Rudman, SmarTires President and Chief Executive Officer. This relationship with Visteon opens the door for SmarTire to the original equipment marketplace. Together, the two companies will market high quality, low-cost SmarTire solutions to automotive manufacturers globally. The agreement also allows Visteon manufacturing rights for certain SmarTire products and establishes provisions that will enable SmarTire and Visteon to jointly explore other opportunities such as the commercial vehicle market.
Continue ReadingAXA Financial Cut Holdings In Goodyear
AXA Financial Inc. has cut its shareholding in Goodyear from 20,333,870 common shares at December 31st, 2001 to 10,845,483 common shares on December 10th 2002. This represents a drop from 12.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent.
Continue ReadingAgricultural Tyres
They say that you never see a satisfied farmer. What about agricultural tyre manufacturers and distributors - what sort of year has it been for them? We take a look at the factors affecting the agricultural tyre market and some of the latest products available. We also get the views of those who attended the biggest UK agricultural event, the Smithfield Show.
Continue ReadingFurther Turmoil At Fiat
In 2000, GM acquired 20 per cent of Fiat Auto. As part of the deal, Fiat could sell the remaining 80 per cent to GM in 2004. Now there are indications that the Italian company is offering to free GM from its obligation in return for GMs approval of restructuring moves. Nothing has yet been decided, but the restructuring could involve bringing in VW as an investor in Fiats Maserati brand, or a possible sale of part or all of Alfa Romeo. Any such move would require the consent of GM, and the price for this could well be the removal of the obligation to purchase. In the meantime, Fiats joint chief executive Gabriele Galateri has resigned after less than six months in the job.
Continue ReadingTyre Repairs And Materials
We are often told that we live in a throw-away culture; when somethings worn out or damaged, we replace it rather than repair it. But this tends not to be the case with tyres - for truck tyres especially, a properly-repaired tyre can give thousands of miles of service, thereby saving money. Of course, the accent is on the words properly repaired.
Continue ReadingWestern European Car Sales Fall In November
Ahead of the official figures, analysts are predicting a fall of 6 per cent in November for sales of cars in Western Europe. All of the five major markets showed a drop in sales. France was down 10 per cent, the UK down 6.8 per cent, German sales fell 6 per cent, Spain was down 8.7 per cent and Italy showed a small fall of 1.3 per cent. Among the car manufacturers, the only positive growth (+10 per cent) was for the Japanese companies, notably Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Ford was next best, showing a decline in sales of only 1.9 per cent. The worst performers were Fiat and BMW (both down around 20 per cent).
Continue ReadingRetreading In Iberia
What is the state of the retreading industry in countries outside the UK? This month we examine the roles of two key players in the Iberian retreading market.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Sells SA Distributor
Intertyre, Goodyears South African distribution operation has been taken over by African Genesis, a wholly black-owned investment company. African Genesis has taken 70 per cent of Intertyre leaving Goodyear with the remaining 30 per cent. Currently Goodyear has 40 per cent market share in South Africa and the change in management of Intertyre is planned to increase the companys performance. Intertyre CEO Lawrence Mavundla, who is also the national president of the African Chamber of Hawkers and Informal Business, said yesterday that the deal presented an opportunity for small business to set up mini distribution enterprises in the tyre industry. He said the partnership would bring about a robust growth in Goodyears market share, mainly in the passenger vehicle market.There are some chamber members who trade in tyres. However, the tyres they sell mostly dont meet the SA Bureau of Standards requirements, he said. Mavundla said while some of these small enterprises import tyres illegally, the situation was worsened by some traders who used glue to retread tyres, making them unsafe.Intertyre hopes to address these problems by making tyres available at reasonable prices to Chamber members. It is also hoped that this will initiate strategic alliances with Goodyear subsidiaries and create a platform for generating other larger projects in South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Continue ReadingMotokov (UK) Ltd: The Matador People
Motokov UK Ltd is the long-standing importer and distributor of Matador tyres from Slovakia, the UK subsidiary of a Czech company. Its tyre division is a high efficiency, low cost hands-on operation offering a dedicated service for the Matador brand. The Kings Lynn-based operation is perhaps one of the most straightforward tyre import businesses in the country. The tyre division at Motokov is handled by Paul Mills and Steve Eke. Paul has been with Motokov for seven years, Steve for 17. Their sole raison detre is to ensure the availability and supply of Matador tyres.The company which has been dealing in tyres for over 30 years, has been the importer of Matador tyres for the past ten years and has recently taken on the agency for Triangle crossply truck tyres and earthmover tyres from China.
Continue ReadingStapleton’s: 65 years in business
It was in September 1937 that Sidney Stapleton founded the company in Watfords High Street in premises that remained Stapletons Head office up until 1970. The company distributed tyres to garages and, when they began to emerge, to specialist tyre retailers. Stapletons became active in the retail side in addition to supplying tyres. In 1994 Stapletons Tyre Services was sold to Japanese company Itochu. In 1997, Roy Croft stepped down as MD, being appointed non-executive Deputy Chairman. Ashley Croft and Peter Regan (who joined the company from Itochu) took over as joint Managing Directors. Ashley later became sole MD. During this period, Stapletons had continued to grow, and the ambitions of the company were exemplified by the construction of a purpose-built headquarters, incorporating a warehouse and offices in Letchworth, Herts and a major distribution centre in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. At this time, Stapletons was offering a daily delivery service across most of the UK.It was in October 2002 that news broke that Ashley Croft had resigned as MD for personal reasons, thus severing a 44-year family link with the company. His place as MD was taken by Mike England, formerly Retail Director.
Continue Reading