American Tire Distributors Plans IPO
North Carolina, US based wholesaler American Tire Distributors Holdings has lodged registration documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to initiate proceedings for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The company, who claims to be the largest replacement tyre distributor in the United States, intends to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ATD", however it has not yet determined the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering.
Continue ReadingDunlop Aircraft Tyres Signs First China Agreement
A three-year deal for the supply of bias tyres will see Taiwan based Mandarin Airlines become the first customer to utilise Dunlop Aircraft tyres’ new distribution and retreading facility in China. Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres Company Limited will supply tyres for the airline’s fleet of eight E-190/195 twin-engine medium range jets.
Continue ReadingMichelin to Field Aromatic Oil-Free Race Tyres at Le Mans
This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, the 78th running of the famous endurance race, takes place on 12 and 13. Michelin says the weekend event will mark a new step in the firm's “commitment to protecting the environment”. The French tyre major’s participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours will, it says, feature an all-new range of eco-friendly tyres. In addition, Michelin will organise, for the second time, the "Michelin Green X Challenge" which has now become an integral part of the regulations that govern the discipline.
Continue ReadingEnrique Guix Joins Pelmar as Area Sales Director
Pelmar Engineering Ltd. has appointed Enrique Guix as area sales director for the Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal and South American markets. Guix worked for rubber machinery firm Gumix, S.A. in Barcelona, Spain for more than 17 years before Farrel Corp. acquired selected assets from Gumix, S.A. in 2006 in order to establish Farrel Spain, S.L., where Guix worked until the end of 2009.
Continue ReadingNewest Eagle Flying With Newest Vette
Goodyear’s newest ultra-high performance tyre, the Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 has won OE fitment for the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, reports Tire Review. The new Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 is “street-refined, but track-capable,” according to Bob Toth, Goodyear’s director of new products.
Continue ReadingHankook Management Target 11 per cent Price
Hankook Tire’s management are confident they can raise confidence in its ability to their products’ global average selling price by between seven and eight per cent in 2010. According to an investors note published by Deutsche Bank, additional price hikes are possible, with Hankook’s management said to be targeting an 11 per cent increase. According to the financial analysts, Hankook’s confidence of being able to successfully implement the prices increases is based on the fact that “demand in key markets remain supportive expecting.” In real terms this means managers expect year-on-year sales volume growth of around 14 per cent this year with 100 per cent utilization.
Continue ReadingNew Name for Continental in US
Continental Tire North America is no more. The company, incorporated in Ohio, has changed its name to Continental Tire the Americas LLC. The change was made on 31 January, according to reports, but no formal announcement was made. Headquartered in Ft. Mill, South Carolina, the company was once named Continental-General Tire when it was based in Akron, following Continental AG’s purchased of the former General Tire Co. Under Ohio law, the company can change its status – from “incorporated” to “limited liability corporation” – through a formal name change. The change only affects the company’s tax status, reports said, as the entity can pass all income and losses through to its owners.
Continue ReadingSimple Oil Change Turns into Wreck Nightmare
According to The Day newspaper in New London, Connecticut, a local woman’s car was seriously damaged by the tyre shop she took it to for a simple oil change. In the 22 January incident, the woman took her 1994 Buick Century to the local Bridgestone Americas-owned Expert Tire location for an oil change. A short time later, the shop called to tell her that her car would not be done that day, and that she would receive a loaner car to use until her Buick was finished. The woman went back to the Expert Tire location to get a few things from her car, the report said, and discovered the driver’s side door was crushed in.
Continue ReadingNew Bridgestone Tyres on Show at F1 Valencia Test
Tetsuro Kobayashi, technical manager at Bridgestone Motorsport was an engaged spectator at Formula One’s pre-season Valencia testing session, with the company’s newly-developed narrower front tyre appearing for the first time on track. It will have been a relief for him to report that “so far… our tyre performance is in line with our expectations.” If this sounds a little elusive, perhaps it is because Kobayashi is waiting for more information before the next tests, both to take place on the South coast of Spain at Jerez. “First of all, we are pleased to have seen the good potential of the 2010 specifications,” he continued, “even though it’s a little difficult to judge fully the true performance because of the special characteristics of the Valencia circuit.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone MotoGP Testing Underway
Bridgestone began testing for the 2010 MotoGP on 4-5 February, making three compounds (hard and extra hard at the front, medium and hard at the rear) available to riders at Sepang, Malaysia. The manufacturer reported its satisfaction with the way the tyres handled the sort of conditions it expected in South-East Asia; scorching track temperatures and rain. New bikes, new teams and new riders made for an interesting day, compounded by the fact that the top four riders on each day recorded laptimes quicker than the existing circuit lap record. Whilst the bikes were new, the available Bridgestone tyres were exactly the same specifications as used during the Malaysian Grand Prix last year. Bridgestone believes this fact assisted teams with their setup work, since the tyres provided “a known entity”.
Continue ReadingTariffs – Are they Turning into a Game of Chicken?
An article published by Tire Review in the US indicates that Chinese officials may be guilty of ‘fowl play’ – anti-dumping duties have been added to chicken products imported from the United States, allegedly a direct response to the Obama Administration’s decision to add high tariffs – 35 per cent in the first year – over a three-year period on consumer tyres imported from China.
Continue ReadingQingdao Odyking Producing a Comprehensive Range
Shandong Province based Qingdao Odyking Tyre Co. Ltd. produces and markets a full range of radial and bias tyres, including passenger car, light commercial vehicle, truck, OTR, industrial, agricultural and lawn tyres. The company reports on its website that it produces six million tyres per annum and offers quality assurances in the form of ISO9001, DOT, ECE, GCC, CCC and other certifications.
Continue ReadingIndag Rubber Expanding Capacity to Meet Demand
Indag Rubber Ltd is India’s longest-established manufacturer of pre-cure tread rubber. The company has been engaged in the production of tread rubber and other retreading materials such as bonding gum, vulcanising solution and curing envelopes since 1982, and manufactures its pre-cure tread under the ‘Zoma’ brand name. Indag also produces un-vulcanised rubber strip gum, universal spray cement and envelopes.
Continue ReadingStamford Launching Falken Brand in Africa
Stamford Tyres is an established exhibitor at Tyrexpo Africa and has supported the show since being launched in 2004. In March the Singapore based company will once again be using the show to further endorse the group’s growing presence in the South African tyre and wheel market.
Continue ReadingCooper and Avon Looking Forward to 2010 Following 2009 Motorsport Successes
Following a year on the world’s racetracks in which more than 120 champions were crowned using its motorsport products, Avon Tyres Motorsport of Melksham, Wiltshire in the UK is to participate in a variety of competitive motorsport championships in categories as diverse as rallycross, hillclimb, sprints and historic racing in 2010. Perhaps most prominently, the division of Cooper Tire will continue its title sponsorship of the British GT Championship.
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