NTDA Survey Shows Tyre Retailer Confidence Down
The NTDA (National Tyre Distributors Association) has published the results of a members survey, which shows that UK tyre retailers are battening down the hatches to avoid the pain of the looming recession. “Even though its the early days of the recession, the answers to our survey indicate that tyre retailers are battening down the hatches and are expecting a tough time ahead,” association director, Richard Edy commented. Two thirds (66%) of those questioned said that they have reduced their capital expenditure, while 62 per cent have postponed the purchase of equipment. When it comes to the workforce, just over half of the businesses (55 per cent) have reduced staffing levels and 50 per cent have awarded pay rises below the level of inflation. 45 per cent reported that they had reduced staff hours or cut overtime.
Continue ReadingRema Tip Top Offers Run-Flat Mounting Solutions
A full product range should include something for every requirement and budget, and Rema Tip Top reports that its workshop equipment line-up includes run-flat solutions spanning the spectrum from entry level to high end solutions that will keep even the most demanding workshop happy. The Butler Topline tyre changer is a superb introductory machine, reports Rema Tip Top. It adds that this unit represents an intelligent evolution to the award winning Airdraulic and Aircombi tyre changers. One of the new standard features on the Topline is the ‘safety belt’, which has been developed to reduce the mounting stress particularly whilst fitting low profile, UHP and self supporting tyres, thus preventing damage to any part of the tyre or rim.
Continue ReadingStamford Warning Q2 Loss
Stamford Tyres of Singapore has told Asian news sources that it expects to record a loss in its second quarter ending 31 October, 2008. The company said that the losses were a result of currencies in Australia, South Africa, Indonesia and India weakening against the American dollar in October. It says that the losses are not related to speculative hedging instruments. The firm still expects to post a profit for the first half of its financial year.
Continue ReadingGEM ‘Puts the Pressure’ on Manufacturers to Supply Accurate Gauges
Road safety association GEM Motoring Assist (GEM) has urged all vehicle manufacturers to include an accurate tyre pressure-measuring device as part of the spare tyre equipment kit supplied with new cars. In voicing this request, the association says that defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor in the death of 43 motorists in 2007 and played a part in nearly 1,000 further accidents. David Williams, chief executive of GEM, is supporting the work of TyreSafe and the safety organisation’s argument that tyres play a fundamental role in the performance and safe handling of a car. “Many gauges on fuel station forecourts are not accurate and constant use of them could give drivers a false sense of security,” said Williams. “Including an easy to use digital tyre pressure reader as part of the tool kit of any new car with simple instructions of how and when to use it would cost very little to the vehicle manufacturer and be a real safety benefit for the owner.”
Continue ReadingSnap-on Equipment Brands Unveil Redesigns
John Bean and Hofmann, brands within Snap-on Equipment, have unveiled their new cabinet designs and equipment overhauls for the company’s ranges of wheel aligners, balancers and tyre changers. Hofmann has redesigned its high specification monty 3300 racing tyre changer, in order to allow it to handle run-flat and ultra high profile (UHP) tyres, while the John Bean range of aligners now features ergonomically designed cabinet fittings.
Continue ReadingGeneral Grabber Gets Tire Rack Notice
Continental Tire North America’s General Grabber HTS has earned the top rating among light truck/SUV all-season tyres in a recent Tire Rack track test. According to CTNA, the Tire Rack testers ran the tyres – size 255/55R18 – against competing lines on a 2006 Porsche Cayenne, reporting that ride quality, road handling and driver feel were first rate on the HTS stating, CTNA said. We are very pleased that a General brand tire performed so well in Tire Rack’s testing, said Travis Roffler, CTNA’s director of marketing. The Grabber HTS test results are just one more example of how well this stellar product line performs, and the level of quality that has been placed into all General tyres. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingCorrection – Goodyear Healthcare Facility
Tyres & Accessories reported on December 1 the opening of a new healthcare facility at Goodyear’s head office in Akron, Ohio. It has since been brought to our attention that this, however, is not the case, and the health care facility in question is in no way connected with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber corporate headquarters. We wish to apologise for any confusion that may have arisen as a result of the previous article’s publication.
Continue ReadingWhat to Look For in Wheel Care Equipment?
The Trade Group boasts a wealth of experience in every area of garage equipment and, the company believes, nowhere more so than in wheel care products. As Trade Group spokesman Terry Bullworthy explains, “We not only select and specify the most advanced, most user friendly and most cost effective equipment but we will always offer our customers a choice to suit their budgets and because of this our range includes market leaders Hofmann Megaplan, Beissbarth and also the newly introduced range of Trademaster tyre and wheel equipment.
Continue ReadingDunlop Oil & Marine Pleads Guilty to Price Fixing Charges
Grimsby based marine hose manufacturer Dunlop Oil & Marine has agreed to plead guilty to taking part in a scheme to fix prices and rig bids. The US Justice Department says the company has also agreed to pay a $4.54 million fine for its wrongdoings. This please follows previous charges handed out to executives in the UK and several other countries. Three British businessmen were sentenced to imprisonment.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire, Local Officials Meet to Discuss Future of Findlay Factory
News sources in the US state of Ohio have provided details of meetings between state and local officials and those at Cooper Tire regarding the status of the company’s Findlay, Ohio facility. The Toledo Blade, which comments that Cooper is Findlay’s largest company and the meeting was held “in hopes of keeping it that way”, reports that during the November 26 meeting the tyremaker was given a “strong pitch” for retaining the facility, one of four Cooper plants potentially facing closure in the US.
Continue ReadingGovernment Can’t Intervene in Dunlop India Crisis
The labour minister in the Indian State of West Bengal has admitted there is not much the state government can do to resolve the problems between Dunlop India and union groups. This disclosure, reports the Times of India, came after the minister received a letter from company representatives explaining their decision to suspend production. Mr. Mrinal Banerjee, the labour minister, said he would meet with union leaders on December 2. We will talk separately with unions and the management and then plan a tripartite meeting,” he said. “But this is all we can do. For, this is not a sick company and the management is simply saying that it has failed to run the factory.
Continue ReadingAvon Releases New Motorcycle Sports Tyre
Avon has announced the release of its new VP2 sporting tyre range, marking with it the first time the firm has used a multi-compound rubber construction. The tyre contains three different rubber types, designed to make the tyre more suitable for contrasting road and weather conditions. Its centre possesses a durable, harder rubber, with a softer compound used on the edges providing increased grip in the wet and cold at extreme lean angles. The three different models in the VP2 range include the Sport tyre for road riding; the Supersport, for some track use in addition to the road; and the Xtreme, which is a road legal tyre, but purpose built for aggressive sports riding on track. The front tyre comes in sizes 120/60 x 17 and 120/70 x 17 and the rear in 160/60 x 17; 180/55 x 17 and 190/50 x 17. All three types of tyre are available from January at £190 a pair.
Continue ReadingUS Tyre Shipment to Decrease More than 6% in 2008, Says RMA
According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, US tyre shipments are projected to decline by more than six per cent this year compared with 2007, with a further one per cent decline predicted for 2009. Total tyre shipments were below 300 million for the first time since 1997, when shipments were 290 million units. The decrease in tyre shipments, says the RMA, reflects the sharp downward revisions in the domestic economic conditions predicted for both the consumer and commercial sectors. Overall, combined OE and replacement tyre shipments for 2008 light vehicle and truck categories are anticipated to decrease by more than 20 million units to approximately 290 million total shipments, compared to the 310 million total shipments in 2007. A further slight decline of approximately three million total units to nearly 287 million total units is anticipated for 2009 as an economic rebound is unlikely to occur until the latter half of the year.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Cuts 147 Western New York Jobs
Goodyear Dunlop has cut 147 jobs from its Western New York plant, according to American new sources. The cuts have been prompted by slowing tyre sales, with the company matching the slowdown with a cut in production for auto and commercial tyres. The Buffalo News states that motorcycle tyre production continues as normal, while United Steelworkers of America reported that 52 workers took buyouts, with another 95 laid off on 1 December.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Lay Off more than 150 in US
At least 10 salaried employees and 148 hourly workers at Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire’s LaVergne, Tennessee facility will be laid-off from 21 December. This round of festive season redundancies will shrink the workforce at the passenger car, light truck and truck and bus tyre factory by almost 10 per cent.
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