Trelleborg to show new TM1000 at Agritechnica 2011
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is planning to present its new TM1000 tyres at the Agritechnica show to be held in Hannover, Germany, from 15 to 19 November, 2011. According to the company, the stand theme “flying into the future”, represents the aim and values of the Trelleborg initiative for the future of agriculture. This will be illustrated by an aircraft fitted with TM1000 High Power agricultural tyres.
Continue ReadingMINI announces winter tyre programme
MINI is the latest UK car supplier to launch a dedicated winter tyre programme. While all MINIs are supplied with summer tyres as standard, the company is now offering winter tyre and wheel packages - supplied with steel or alloy rim designs. The company's sets of winter wheels and tyres are available from £560 (not including fitting costs).
Continue ReadingMaxxis-sponsored Team Japspeed at Top Gear Live
Winner of the constructor’s title in the 2011 Maxxis British Drift Championship, Team Japspeed will demonstrate its skills at Top Gear Live, which starts today. The Maxxis-sponsored team will perform drift displays at the NEC Arena in Birmingham on 11-13 November and London’s ExCel on 24-27 November.
Continue ReadingGoodyear launches low platform trailer tyre in 2 sizes
Goodyear has announced a new range of low platform trailer tyres for applications such as car transporters in both long and regional haul service and also for heavy haulage trailers. The Regional RHT II 19.5” and 17.5” have been developed to provide increased operational mileage and improved wet grip. Goodyear says the low rolling resistence tyres meet the requirements of the future EU Regulation 661/2009. The Goodyear Regional RHT II is fully regroovable and retreadable.
Continue ReadingChancellor's doubts on 4.2.2. – four years ago
Reducing MOT frequency may compromise road safety and environmental concerns, according to the Chancellor, George Osborne, despite the decision of transport ministers to look at doing so. In a letter to the motor trade in 2007, published for the first time in November 2011 and raised in the House of Commons by Liberal Democrat John Leech MP, Mr Osborne said of the then Government’s review of MOT testing: “I share your concern about the potential implications of moving to the European standard of roadworthiness testing. It seems to me that the road safety and environmental costs of moving from annual to biannual testing, and extending the initial period from three to four years, may far outweigh the predicted cost savings.”
Continue ReadingBlackcircles.com joins TyreSafe
Online tyre retailer Blackcirlces.com has joined TyreSafe, continuing a year of membership growth for the not-for-profit organisation reach top gear. The e-Tailer will assist TyreSafe in a wide range of campaigns aimed at raising the awareness of correct tyre maintenance. Mike Welch, managing director of Blackcircles.com, said: “A key priority for us has always been helping our customers to remain safe on the road by reducing the cost of their tyre purchase.
Continue ReadingPirelli talks Abu Dhabi night race challenges
Pirelli says the challenge for its tyres at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, the penultimate round of this year’s Formula One World Championship, will be in maintaining their performance throughout the operating range of temperatures. The race will be run from dusk to nightfall, meaning that track temperatures tend to fall and then stabilise. This affects pace, degradation and wear. In addition to the manufacturer’s 2011 specification tyres, the Abu Dhabi circuit will act as a proving ground for Pirelli’s latest range of development tyres, echoing last year’s first appearance on a contemporary Formula One car.
Continue ReadingKumho expands NVQ programme
Kumho Tyres has announced in increase in its NVQ training programme. Having started in 2009, the programme has created 22 graduates to date while a further 37 tyre technicians from 31 of the company’s nationwide network of ECSTA Performance Centres (EPCs) are currently progressing through the scheme. New expansion plans will encourage retailers from the wider EPC network to become involved, according to Kumho. The scheme is being run in conjunction with Kumho’s national distributor, Micheldever Tyre Services, while the training is being delivered by ReMIT - the UK’s largest motor industry specialist training provider.
Continue ReadingHercules acquires Montreal’s Pneu Mondial
Hercules Tire Company of Canada Inc has announced its acquisition of wholesale distribution business Pneu Mondial Canada Inc, located just outside Montreal. The acquisition is Hercules’ first in Quebec and the company, a division of the Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, says it will allow it “to expand and better the service currently offered out of its five locations in Ontario, New Brunswick and British Columbia”. Pneu Mondial operates out of Saint Laurent, having been started in early 2007 by Jacques Gravel and Daniel Lamoureux to serve Quebec’s independent tyre dealers.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein ordered to pay 42.3M euro debt
The Russian Legal Information Agency reports a Russian court has ordered Amtel-Vredestein N.V. to pay TIRE Invest the 42.3 million euros sought in relation to an unpaid loan. In 2007 the former owner of the Vredestein brand entered into a loan agreement with Nomos-Bank, and this was set to mature in 2009. When Amtel-Vredestein failed to repay the loan in due time, the bank filed a lawsuit against the borrower and its guarantors.
Continue ReadingNew Rhodia CEO named
Following the company’s friendly acquisition by Belgium-based chemical companySolvay, the functions of chairman and CEO at Rhodia have been separated. Gilles Auffret has been appointed CEO of Rhodia and a member of Solvay’s executive committee. Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, deputy CEO of Solvay, remains chairman of Rhodia.
Continue ReadingApollo gains winter kudos from German TV
Last year, Apollo Tyres introduced its range into Europe, including several winter tyres. As such, it is the first and to-date only Indian tyre maker to market winter tyres in our region. The brand recently received a boost when its winter tyres were favourably reviewed by VOX TV, a national television network in Germany, Europe’s most significant winter tyre market.
Continue ReadingRhodia inaugurates expanded US silica plant
The expansion work at Rhodia’s Chicago Heights dispersible silica production facility in the US state of Illinois is now complete and the enhanced site has been officially inaugurated. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony the company, along with customers, key business partners and public officials, celebrated the addition of an additional 16,000 tons to Rhodia’s North American output, a quantity that lifts capacity in the region by a third.
Continue ReadingStarco prepares for ‘new generation’ of Schaad management
In recent years agricultural implement manufacturers have developed a range of modern implements and tractors that often demand wheels and tyres specifically designed and manufactured for the application. Starco recognised this trend some years ago and has focused on providing a comprehensive range of wheel and tyre solutions, including its own tyre brand. It has also strengthened its position within the sector through acquisitions of and strategic partnerships with specialist manufacturing companies.
Continue ReadingNot below 4mm on winter tyres, advises Conti
Manufacturers and tyre safety organisations generally recommend replacing tyres when tread depth reaches 4mm; with winter tyres, the role tread plays is even more pronounced. In an official release, Continental quotes the advice of one Ruprecht Müller, an expert at the technical centre run by the German motoring organisation ADAC: “The tread pattern makes a crucial difference, especially on snow and slush,” stated Müller. “A winter tyre loses much of its traction on snow in particular when the residual tread depth drops below four millimetres or so. It makes good sense to replace the tyres at this tread depth at the very latest.
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