Product News
What bulbs should workshops upsell?
As bulbs are becoming more difficult for drivers to change themselves because engine bays are now more compact, they are turning to workshops and fast fit centres to assist them in this once simple task. This development also provides workshops with the opportunity to upsell lighting products by combining their expert knowledge with the driver’s preferences and driving style to recommend the most appropriate replacement. Technicians can also advise customers to replace both bulbs at the same time following best practice and creating more profit margin for the workshop. Lighting specialist Hella has issued its tips to help technicians upsell.
Continental EM Master OE on Komatsu Dash 8
Japanese construction, mining, forestry and military equipment manufacturer Komatsu recently approved several Continental EM Master tyre models as original equipment for the Komatsu Dash 8 wheel loader series. As of January 2020, purchasers of WA270-8, WA320-8, WA380-8, WA470-8, WA-480-8 and WA500-8 models can select E3/L3 or E4/L4 versions of the EM Master in sizes 20.5 R25, 23.5 R25, 26.5 R25 or 29.5 R25.
Birla Carbon & GrandBio Technologies introduce ‘breakthrough’ NDC masterbatch
Following a three-year joint development programme, Birla Carbon and GranBio Technologies are making their patent-pending Nanocellulose Dispersion Composite (NDC) rubber masterbatch available for qualification by tyre and rubber companies.
Exhaust systems for Lions, Jaguars and a Golf
Klarius has announced an update to its emission control components range, with fitments for popular crossovers, estates, hatchbacks, hybrids and saloons. Vehicle applications covered include the latest models of Peugeot’s 208 1.2, Jaguar’s shapely 2009-2015 XF 3.0, the trusty 2003-2008 Volkswagen Golf 2.0, the highly economical Toyota Prius 1.8, contemporary models of Ford’s spritely Fiesta 1.2 and the 2014-2018 Fiat Doblo 1.4 van.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 top performer in Gute Fahrt tyre test
Eight premium and mid-range tyres are the subject of the latest summer tyre test from car magazine Gute Fahrt. The German publication chose to look at 215/50 R18, a popular size for smaller SUVs. Testing was performed using a VW T-Roc, and the Gute Fahrt team benchmarked the eight tyres against the T-Roc’s original equipment rubber.
Sportec M9 RR – Metzeler’s latest supersports tyre
Metzeler has introduced a successor to its Sportec M7 RR supersports tyre. Called the Metzeler Sportec M9 RR, the new arrival claims a developmental heritage that benefits from road racing experience. Supersports and naked bike riders who chose the M9 RR will find dual tread compounds in both the front and rear tyres and a pattern based on ‘Pi’ that lends itself to quick warm-up times and maximised water evacuation when riding in the wet.
Tyre connectivity can reduce new-to-worn stopping difference by 30%
Goodyear Tire & Rubber says its road testing and customer field tests involving connected tyres recently surpassed the 3-million-mile mark with initial studies showing these connected tyres can reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tyre by 30 per cent.
Britain – the home of the Pirelli SUV tyre
The UK is one of Pirelli’s biggest SUV markets and with two UK factories, one in Burton-upon-Trent and one in Carlisle, Pirelli is the only premium tyre manufacturer to produce SUV tyres on UK soil.
Zeta and Toledo offer 470 size range
The Zeta and Toledo present around 470 size options between them made via contract tyre manufacturer SD International.
Yokohama develops SUV range in line with segment growth
In order to cater for the growing popularity of SUVs and the myriad of new models being released by vehicle manufacturers, Yokohama’s 4x4 tyre range has been developed to cater for the full spectrum of SUVs, crossovers and off-road vehicles.
Continental: 250,000 tyres with Cokoon produced
Cokoon is the brand name of a new bonding system technology that all tyre manufacturers and their suppliers can use as an open source solution. The development partners, tyre maker Continental and reinforcers manufacturer Kordsa, began work on this eco-friendly dip technology in 2017. Continental says it has produced quarter of a million tyres featuring Cokoon since beginning volume production last year.
Michelin AxioBib 2 tyres fitted on Flawborough Farms’ UK-first Horsch sprayer
Flawborough Farms has switched its next-generation Horsch sprayer’s original equipment fitments for a set of Michelin high-technology agricultural tyres.
Pirelli: Grippier, greener tyres on their way
Pirelli says its tyres will be become safer and greener in the coming five years, and will come to market more quickly, too. The company has outlined its performance targets for the Pirelli passenger vehicle range within its new 2020-2022 Industrial Plan, which was approved on Wednesday
4×4 tyre sales remain strong, but SUV sub-segment growing twice as fast
Last month we heard that, according to the latest market data collated by analysts at GfK, both the value and the volume of the overall sell-out UK car tyre replacement market decreased in 2019. However, the value-rich SUV tyre sub-segment and its all-season tyre sub niche continue to show encouraging signs of growth. So, with this in mind, the March magazine’s SUV tyre feature takes a closer look at the latest trends in this particular market space.
Vredestein: all-season SUV tyre trend favours our specialist range
In January GfK’s “panelmarket” identified SUV tyres and all-season tyres as top two growing sub-segments in 2019. Indeed, since all-season tyre sales have shot up 19 per cent in terms of value and 13 per cent up in volume, the UK market is now selling four times as many all-season tyres as winter tyres sold at their peak. Within this, high performance tyres and bigger size tyres, specifically 17-inch and over, are growing fastest (see separate article for further details).