Tyre wholesaling – a decade of change
Ten years is a long time in the tyre world. Over the past decade, European industry observers have witnessed the eco tyre niche blossom into a mainstream segment, seen the implementation of regulations such as REACH and the EU tyre label, and looked on in amazement as end users stopped sniggering at Chinese-made tyres and began looking upon them as a serious, and cheaper alternative to established brands.
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Top Ruote becomes regional Membat distributor in Italy
Membat, the Barcelona-designed “Mediterranean tyre brand”, has appointed Top Ruote its distributor in the Marche and Abruzzo regions of Italy. The tyre and wheel distributor and wholesaler will have exclusive rights to the Membat brand within these two territories. Through this arrangement, Membat anticipates “considerably” higher sales through Top Ruote and a closer business relationship.
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Michelin introduces truck tyre automatic inflation system with Aperia
Michelin has introduced a new automatic inflation system for commercial vehicle tyres. Michelin Auto Inflate is promoted as an “easy, wheel-mounted tyre management solution that allows fleets to automatically maintain optimal tyre pressure.” Auto Inflate is powered by the Halo tyre inflator developed by Aperia Technologies, a company established in 2010 by two Stanford University mechanical engineering graduate students.
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Bauma debut for BKT Portmax PM93
BKT considers the Bauma 2016 exhibition in Munich the “perfect occasion” to display its new latest tyres for the logistics sector. One of these products is the brand new Portmax PM93, an all-steel radial that is built using multi-layer steel belts; these belts, reports BKT, give the Portmax PM93 “strength and force even in the most demanding situations.” The new tyre is specifically designed for container handling in port applications, and BKT list excellent stability, durability and fuel economy as three main characteristics.
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Geneva launch for Vredestein Ultrac Satin
A successor to the Vredestein Ultrac Cento has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Vredestein Ultrac Satin is aimed at the premium high performance market and available in passenger car and SUV sizes. Manufacturer Apollo Vredestein says the Giugiaro-designed range was “developed for the discerning driver” and is crammed with advanced technology developed by the Apollo Tyres global R&D centre.
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OBO Tyres celebrates 5 years of Ecotrac retreading brand
OBO Tyres has marked the fifth anniversary of its retreading brand, Ecotrac, with discounts available on sever Ecotrac models. The manufacturer says its Ecotrac rubber compound, for retreading earthmover, agricultural and transport tyres, was the result of “years of market research,” which have made it “strong, durable and safe”. OBO said it is “proud” of the results, adding that “service and customer satisfaction is of paramount importance.”
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Top tyre manufacturers deny involvement in tyre test manipulation
Along with Nokian’s admission and apology for “mistakes” in its practices concerning tyre tests, the Finnish tyre manufacturer stated that “several operators in the field… have been suspected or evidence has been presented against them of differences between tyres in magazine tests and tyres that are for sale in stores.” After the Nokian statement’s implication of other tyre manufacturers in malpractice regarding independent tyre testing, Michelin immediately responded by stating categorically that it has “never designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations.” Tyres & Accessories approached 11 more of the world’s leading manufacturers, many of whose products regularly appear in magazine tests, for their response to the question: Have you ever designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations? Listed below are their responses.
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Terraclean conference set for March
Randstad Ltd has unveiled plans for its fifth TerraClean service centre conference, held at the Holiday Inn, Tyne and Wear, on 12 March 2016.
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Solid Auto approved supplier to CAAR members
Solid Auto UK Ltd recently became an approved supplier to the CAAR members buying group; something which the company says has contributed to its recent growth.
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Michelin giveth, Michelin taketh away – French investments, retreading plant closure
In what it calls a “series of decisions that adapt its industrial and service activities in Clermont-Ferrand,” French tyre maker Michelin has announced the closure of a retreading facility at its headquarters site and a further 164 job cuts in its Engineering operation. At the same time, the company has outlined plans to invest €90 million into projects at three Clermont-Ferrand locations.
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Goodyear reveals spherical concept tyre at Geneva Motor Show
Goodyear has unveiled its latest concept tyre, the Eagle-360, and it’s one of the more radical departures from traditional tyre design; it is a sphere. The 3-D printed model presents a long-term vision of future mobility, in which autonomous driving is expected to be more mainstream. Goodyears video demonstrating its vision of the Eagle-360s place in the future of autonomous mobility is embedded in the full article.
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Michelin releasing new Bibendum truck mascot
The Michelin Man – aka Bibendum – was voted the last century’s best corporate symbol by an international panel of judges in 2000. Although today’s Bibendum is a slimmer, more active and environmentally-responsible character than the gorging, wine-drinking epicurean created by French illustrator O’Galop in 1898, his perky charm remains. A new, trucker-friendly version of the congenial Michelin Man is now available to purchase.
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Cooper increases football alliance as Avon becomes Everton’s Official Tyre
Avon Tyres will become the Official Tyre of Everton Football Club in the Barclays Premier League 2016/17 season, with three other partnerships giving the brand exposure at every professional level of the sport in the UK. The brand joins its sister Cooper brand in football sponsorship, the latter having been the Official Tyre of Arsenal for the last two seasons.
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Falken to launch new UHP tyre, Azenis FK510
Falken has announced the launch of its latest ultra-high performance tyre for high-end vehicles, the Azenis FK510. The tyre is the company’s response to the continuously growing demand for UHP tyres. The new flagship Falken tyre has already received a ‘Highly Recommended’ rating from testers at German auto magazine, Autozeitung (Issue 6/2016). The German association of technical inspectors, GTÜ, also gave the tyre ‘Highly Recommended’ status.
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