'Disappointing' August motorcycle sales
Speaking about the fall in sales of motorcycles in August, Sue Robinson, Director of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) which represents motorcycle retailers across the UK, said: "As the summer months are usually prime time for motorcycle sales it is extremely disappointing to see registrations decline in August".
Continue ReadingBentley considering diesel engine for new SUV
Bentley could use a diesel engine for the first time in its history in the SUV which was recently confirmed for production. Speaking at the Frankfurt Motor Show, CEO Dr Wolfgang Schreiber said: "We will investigate a diesel engine. In that platform (the Bentley will share its underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and VW Touareg) a diesel engine will be implemented, anyway, so it could make sense. The numbers in Europe could be very high."
Continue ReadingTyres, magazines and the quality dichotomy
What do tyres, websites and a new cover design have in common? It is all a question of quality. In the British tyre industry everyone talks about price versus quality. Almost as often the debate broadens out before settling in the amorphous arena of “value”. More often than not this means the narrowing of the gap between two perceived opposites. In practice it could mean a customer buying a high quality product for a lower than expected price.The classic example of this is the customer that buys a higher priced product that performs beyond either their expectations or what the competition has to offer. In either case both propositions are predicated on the basis of product quality. Without this there are only short term pricing and sales strategies. And this in turn leads to the key difference highlighted by the age-old business adage: “sales are vanity, profits are sanity”. Without a properly considered quality-focused market approach, businesses struggle to make sense in the long-term, whether the macro-economic environment provides wind in your sails or an adverse gale.
Continue ReadingTyrepress.com upgraded and relaunched
In just a few days’ time, a completely upgraded tyrepress.com will be unveiled. We’ve listened to feedback from within the industry and taken stock of the increasing demand for our online services, and the result is a totally redesigned site with improved mobile and tablet functionality along with more user friendly search and navigation.
Continue ReadingYokohama involved in track, rally action during August
While many motorsport series take a summer break in August, Yokohama says there was still plenty to keep its tyre engineers busy across Europe and the world last month. The Japanese brand supports more than 35 race series in the UK and Europe with more around the world, including the USA and Asia, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the FIA European Rally Championship and the UK BRDC Formula 4 series.
Continue ReadingDouble Coin ‘an outstanding product’ – Kirkby Tyres
Liverpool’s Kirkby Tyres continues to promote Double Coin truck and bus radial tyres, having been sole UK and Ireland importer for more than 20 years. This year the wholesaler made the Chinese manufactured brand the focal point of its presence at the Birmingham NEC’s Commercial Vehicles Show, and Kirkby is convinced that it was “an overwhelming success” for Double Coin.
Continue ReadingFirenza range growth supported by International Tyres in UK
Firenza characterises its partnership with West Midlands based wholesaler International Tyres as “increasingly successful”, and the tyre supplier has been working to increase its range to suit more sizes and applications across the commercial tyre segment in the UK and Europe.
Continue ReadingG&S Tyre Services appointed Linglong truck tyre distributor
The Al Dobowi Group, UK importer of Linglong TBR tyres, has announced a new distribution partnership with Essex’s G&S Tyre Services. Al Dobowi says G&S has developed a reputation for providing an exemplary level of service to the UK fleet market and demanding vehicle operators, while G&S identified Linglong as a brand with UK market potential.
Continue ReadingMaxxis is in it for the Long Haul
Perhaps more renowned for its car and bike ranges, Maxxis provides a solution for a wide variety of long and medium haul applications, manufactured with a tread compound intended to increase durability and shoulders designed using Virtual Intelligent Prototyping (VIP) technology to reduce wear. Maxxis explains that its VIP technology combines a series of computer-aided analysis programs that lay out a framework for each tyre’s design. The system factors in pressure points at varying inflation levels and contact points to simulate cornering, acceleration, braking and the effects of strain and wear.
Continue ReadingCoulthard a Cooper brand ambassador
In addition to unveiling its new Zeon CS Sport, on Wednesday morning Cooper Tire Europe gave word that it has recruited David Coulthard as its UHP range brand ambassador. The ex-Formula One and DTM driver, who now fronts the BBC's F1 coverage, will represent the tyre maker until the end of 2016 at key events and also offer technical advice and feedback to the company's product development team, as he did for the Zeon CS Sport.
Continue ReadingCooper unveils new UHP flagship
Cooper Tire Europe has launched its new range-topping line, the Zeon CS Sport. Full details will be published later, however the big news is that this successor to the Cooper 2XS has achieved an 'A' wet grip label rating for every fitment within in the range.
Continue ReadingToyo makes US appointments
On 6 September Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. president and CEO Akira Nobuki confirmed that company has made a couple of overseas appointments to its North American operations.
Continue ReadingUniwheels OE on new Audi A8 Hybrid
Uniwheels’ has been selected to provide OE wheels for the new Audi A8 Hybrid. The contract sees Uniwheels provide its “19-inch hybrid aluminium wheel”, which is said to offer an exclusive aerodynamic design.
Continue ReadingConti merges brakes & chassis divisions into vehicle dynamics unit
Effective from the 1 September Continental AG has merged its Suspension Systems and Chassis Electronics segments into the Electronic Brake Systems business unit from the Chassis Components unit, which has been dissolved as far as an organizational structure is concerned. In line with the move the Electronic Brake Systems unit has been renamed Vehicle Dynamics.
Continue ReadingContiTrade Africa acquires Jody’s Tyre Group
ContiTrade Africa, a newly founded entity of Conti Global Holding, has bought eight Jody’s Tyre Group fitment stores in Johannesburg, South Africa. ContiTrade Africa is responsible for franchise and retail operations in Africa with two main systems, FIT&GO and Best Drive – some of which are company owned while others are franchise stores. Of the eight stores recently acquired three will be converted into FIT&GO and four into Best Drive with one store trading by the name, Jody’s Tyres.
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