Winter Snowcontrol/Scorpion Ice&Snow From Pirelli
Two years ago, Pirelli launched its Winter Snowsport, a tyre with an asymmetric tread pattern, for sports cars and high-powered saloons. The same technological basis from which the Winter Snowsport was created has enabled Pirelli to offer two new products, extending the same guarantee of safety that Snowsport gives to top-of-the-range cars, to other important motoring segments. On a glacier in Iceland, Pirelli launched the two new products. With 21 sizes for 13 to 15 diameter rims, the Q- and T-rated new directional Winter Snowcontrol will be available in all European markets. The tyre offers performance in all winter conditions, particularly on ice and snow, to all drivers of cars in the medium to medium-low segment. Scorpion Ice&Snow is an asymmetric winter tyre specially developed for sport utility and recreational vehicles, which provides excellent performance on ice and snow and is highly versatile on snow-covered off-road surfaces. The tyre is based on the Scorpion concept for the 4x4 market and will be available in nine sizes from 15 to 18 inches (8x T-rated, 1x H-rated).
Continue ReadingChanges At Tenneco Automotive
Richard J. Sloan (62), executive vice president and md of Tenneco Automotives European operations, is to retire in mid June. He will be succeeded by Hari N. Nair (41), senior vice president and md, Tenneco Automotive International Group. Nairs replacement is Timothy R. Donovan (45), senior vice president and general counsel.
Continue ReadingNegative Trend in Passenger Car Business Continues
After a short interruption in April, the negative trend in passenger car sales continued in the European Union. According to the car manufacturers association ACEA, sales in the 15 member states in May were down by 2.7 percent compared to the previous year. In the first five months the business decreased by 3.2 percent in comparison with the first five months of 2000.
Continue ReadingAutoExpress Award For Conti Tyre
The ContiPremiumContact has been named as best tyre in the Product Honours Awards from UK motoring magazine AutoExpress. Judging criteria included wet and dry handling, aquaplaning, braking and fuel economy.
Continue ReadingNew Key Account Manager Ford And Viborg In Clermont-Ferrand
Michael Hottner (38) will become the key account manager at the tyre manufacturers headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand for Michelin customers Ford of Europe and the Viborg group. Hottner was responsible for two-wheeler business for seven years at Michelin Germany
Continue ReadingNew Agricultural Tyre From Michelin
Michelin has introduced the MachXbib – a tubeless radial designed for high-powered tractors. It combines high load carrying capacity with low soil compaction. On the road, it permits heavy load transportation at sp eeds up to 50 km/hr. It is available in two sizes: 900/50 R42 TL and 710/55 R30 TL.
Continue ReadingNew Member of TecDoc
American automotive supplier Delphi has become the latest member of the TecDoc automotive parts information platform. With a turnover of 29 billion US-Dollars in 2000, Delphi Automotive Systems is the biggest automotive supplier in the world. Altogether 114 companies worldwide, representing 130 brands, now support the TecDoc platform, covering 100 percent of the European spare parts market.
Continue ReadingJoint Marketing Agreement for Accuride and Amcast
Accuride Corporation has announced an international marketing agreement with Amcast Industrial Corporation and Speedline s.r.l.. The agreement lays out procedures for the global marketing of the companies’ aluminium wheels for heavy/medium vehicles. This follows last year’s agreement on the marketing of steel wheels through an Amcast/Gianetti venture.
Continue ReadingRetail Distribution Of SmarTire Begins
SmarTire Systems, the tyre pressure monitoring equipment supplier, has launched the US distribution of its new aftermarket products through the Tire Rack and Big O Tires. SmarTire CEO, Robert Rudman says, These orders follow our initial distribution in Europe and represent the beginning of our marketing strategy for SmarTires aftermarket products in North America.
Continue ReadingMore Jobs To Go At Goodyear?
Union officials at Goodyears Wolverhampton truck tyre plant are seeking discussions with management over rumoured plans to cut a further 450 jobs. Transport and General Workers Union representative, Peter Booth said that they wished to impress upon Goodyear, the world-class quality of the workforce.
Continue ReadingFleet Managing Director For National Tyres
In the UK, National Tyres and Autocare has appointed Kevin Parker as Managing Director of its Fleet Division. His previous position was as Sales Director for FTM Tyrefit and he has 13 years experience in the automotive trade.
Continue ReadingNew Tyre From Debica: Passio
Their latest product, the summer tyre Passio with a T-speed rating was presented to the European press and public at the end of January. This tyre is intended to succeed the Debica Vivo. For Zdzislaw Chabowski there is no doubt that in future his factory in Debica will be very important within Goodyear’s integrated production system all over the world. This article presents the new product, the company and the management. The product is a summer tyre, a so called bread and butter tyre, with speed index T, being developed in Goodyear’s research and development centre (GTCL) in Luxemburg. Afterwards it will be comprehensively tested on gravel roads, motorways and also on the race track in Vallelunga, Italy. According to the manufacturer, comfort and driving conditions on both wet and dry roads have been improved. Noise levels have been reduced, and compared to its predecessor, Passio should be able to reduce the braking distance on both dry and wet surfaces. Passio is a tyre for both the original equipment and the replacement market which soon will be available in nearly every European country. Debica Tyres was founded in 1939 and transformed into a public limited company in 1991, whose shares have been traded at the Warsaw stock exchange. The Polish government found a strategic investor in Goodyear at the end of 1995, who, in two steps, has increased its financial interest in the company and has become the majority shareholder meanwhile.
Continue ReadingNo Price Reductions For Chrysler
Goodyear, Chryslers number one tyre supplier in the USA, has resisted pressure to drop prices by 5%. Tire market competitor Cooper does not deliver tyres to Chrysler but its Technical Rubber Products generates every fourth dollar from business with Chrysler. We will see whether Cooper can resist the pressure from Chrysler to drop prices for products from its Technical Rubber Division.
Continue ReadingConcorde “Had History Of Tyre Failures”
A report by French air accident investigators reveals that Concorde suffered damaged fuel tanks caused by tyre blowouts on no fewer than six occasions before the fatal crash in Paris last summer. The report also states that, since Concorde began flying in 1976, there have been 57 incidents of tyres bursting on the runway.
Continue ReadingJapanese Firestones More Durable?
An Arizona-based panel of experts assembled by an attorney acting against Firestone has stated that Firestone tyres made in Japan are more durable than those made in America. The ATX tyres manufactured in Japan are claimed to carry thicker layers of key rubber materials, which prevents damaging cracks from appearing. Firestone denied the claim, admitting differences in production but not in durability, the company added that the findings are not based on scientific analysis but on anecdotes and unsupported theories.
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