HiQ expands into West London with Southall tyre retail centre
HiQ Tyres & Autocare reports that it has opened a new service centre in Southall. Located on the Dominion Industrial Estate, close to Junction 3 on the M4, HiQ Tyres & Autocare Southall offers “a full range of automotive services including tyre care and fitting, MOTs, vehicle servicing and wheel alignment/ADAS calibrations”. The centre features an eight-ramp workshop, equipped to service everything from everyday cars to commercial vans weighing up to six tonnes.
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New Bridgegate Tyres opens 4th HiQ centre
In April, New Bridgegate Tyres opened the business’s fourth HiQ Centre. HiQ Tyre Expert Newcastle opened its doors earlier in 2025 offers “a range of tyre services to drivers in the North East”.
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MOT failures exceed 50% in certain regions
Research based on MOT data analysis conducted by HiQ Tyres & Autocare shows that up to half of all vehicles are failing their MOT at the first attempt in certain regions of the country. Data from HiQ Tyres & Autocare shows that, on average, 38 per cent of vehicles fail their MOT test on the first attempt. However, further analysis, carried out over a six-week period in 2025, reveals that initial failure rates in some counties – such as the Midlands and the North West – exceed 50 per cent.
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Lothian extends long-term Michelin tyre supply deal
A shared vision on sustainability and a strong, established working relationship has seen Scottish bus operator Lothian commit to a new three-year contract with Michelin. The latest agreement continues a partnership that spans more than three decades and will see the manufacturer’s Connected Solutions Division supply, fit and manage the tyres across a fleet of 730 single and double-deck buses. Lothian is the UK’s largest municipal bus company and owned by the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian councils. Well-known on the roads in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas, Lothian runs more than 80 routes, employing over 2,600 staff.
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Towering figure – Kwik Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer dies
With the passing of Sir Tom Farmer, who died peacefully at home on 9 May, aged 84, the UK loses a significant figure within the tyre industry and beyond. Kwik Fit, the company he founded more than half a century ago, is amongst the many who honoured Sir Tom over the weekend.
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Hella brakes available in UK aftermarket
Hella has officially launched its range of brakes into the UK aftermarket, after more than a decade of doing business with brakes in continental Europe. According to the company, the braking lineup goes well beyond pads and discs. It additionally includes calipers, drums and shoes, master and wheel cylinders, and wear indicators, and is complemented by Hella electronics such as brake-by-wire pedals and ABS sensors.
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UK appointments – Prometeon names Hawley CFO, Heywood National Account Manager
Prometeon Tyre Group has made two key appointments within its UK team. Announcing new roles for Emma Hawley and Darren Heywood, the commercial and off-highway tyre specialist says their promotion demonstrates its “commitment to strengthening its support for customers and enhancing partnerships across the UK and Ireland.” Hawley takes on the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), UK & Eire, and Heywood picks up the remit of National Account Manager.
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GB Tyres Launches Fleet i24 truck breakdown network
GB Tyres UK Ltd is launching a truck tyre breakdown network aimed at delivering “significant benefits” to its Tyre Dealer partners. The 24/7 network goes by the name Fleet i24 and will launch in the coming weeks.
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NTDA CEO Stefan Hay to step down after 11-years
After more than a decade at the helm of the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), CEO Stefan Hay will step down from his role this summer. Hay will formally leave the NTDA at the end of July 2025 and will take up the role of CEO at the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) at the beginning of August. Recruitment for his successor is already well underway, with the NTDA board seeking a new chief executive to build on the platform Stefan Hay has established.
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Wheely-Safe to supply sensors to global telematics market
Wheely-Safe is making its patented sensor technology available to telematics companies worldwide, after establishing a dedicated business to supply and integrate its sensors with third-party telematics systems. The move follows the organic and successful implementation of Wheely-Safe sensors into a handful of telematics companies to-date. Now, with the formation of a separate business to focus on this activity, Wheely-Safe Sensors Ltd will directly enable more buses, coaches, trucks and trailers to be protected by the brand’s award-winning tyre and wheel safety technologies, which already feature on more than 30,000 vehicles.
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45% of drivers buy tyres without knowing their tyre label data
A survey commissioned by Apollo Tyres Ltd has found that nearly half (45%) of motorists are buying replacement tyres without understanding the tyre label. The survey polled 1,000 motorists in the UK and identified that only 16 per cent were informed by their tyre retailer – in-store or online – about the relevance and importance of these ratings during their last purchase. That is the lowest level among the eight European countries surveyed, which had an average of 34 per cent.
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Hankook sponsoring 3 UK truck shows in 2025
This year, Hankook is partnering with three major UK trucking events over the spring and summer – the Devon Truck Show, The Truck Show Cornwall, and The Best of the Best Truck Show. At each, the tyre maker intends to “showcase its innovative range of truck tyres, engineered with cutting-edge 3D technologies for superior wet grip and traction in all weather conditions, maintaining performance throughout the tyre’s lifespan.”
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More than a quarter of UK fleets predict growth
More than one in four car and van fleets are predicting growth within the next three years, according to new results from the 2025 Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet and Mobility Barometer. Overall, 28 per cent of respondents say they expect their vehicle numbers to rise, which is a fall on the 38 per cent reported in 2024. However, 65 per cent say the situation will be stable and just six per cent predict a decrease.
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Continental supporting Ogmore River ELT recovery programme
Starting Monday 5 May, environmental charity A Peace for Nature is heading the Ogmore River Clean Project, a large-scale community led initiative to remove thousands of end-of-life tyres from Ogmore River and Estuary in South Wales. The five-day clean up aims to protect aquatic habitats and wildlife and preserve the natural landscape for future generations. Continental Tyres has pledged its support for the project.
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Fortune and Austone support Garret Trucksport in European Truck Racing Championship
Fortune Tires and Austone Tires are entering the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship. Starting in 2025, the two brands from tyre manufacturer Prinx Chengshan are main sponsors of Garret Trucksport. The sponsorship includes financial support for the team and a flat-rate tyre supply for the trucks. The three-year contract was officially signed on 28 April at a press event in London.
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