Pirelli First Across the Line at the 2008 FIA GT Season Finale
The final round of this years FIA GT Championship, which took place on the new Argentine circuit near Mendoza, saw a victory from the PZero Racing-equipped Saleen S-7R from Longin-Kumpen (PeKa Racing). This triumph compensated the Belgian squad for the bad luck they endured earlier in the season, and highlighted the partnership between the American supercar and Pirelli tyres: a combination that has, comments Pirelli, been winning since 2004.
Continue ReadingTruck Tyres Provide Perfect Play Surface in Cheshire
A Cheshire school has found an environmental solution for its new playground and basketball court with the help of Bridgestone UK. This solution comes in the form of recycled truck tyres; the granular rubber material made from the tyres covers the 500 metre square surface is said to be soft, safe, porous and able to be coloured – in other words, says Bridgestone, an ideal material for sports and recreation. Work started at Easter and was completed in June.
Continue ReadingSchaeffler/Conti Saga – ‘Over By Christmas’?
The announcement had a phenomenal response at the stock market where, following publication of Schaeffler’s statement on EU approval, tendered shares in Continental grew by as much as 50 per cent before levelling off at around 36 per cent up, in response. Why? Because up to this point investors had become decidedly nervous about Schaeffler’s ability to complete the deal and the EU announcement was seen as a sign that the deal as a whole is on track. Due to the well-documented contraction in credit markets bankers had been scratching their heads about where the necessary financing would come from and whether the supporting banks would be able to come up with cash.
Continue ReadingUganda Fleet Operators Claim Poor Quality Tyres Affecting Business
Fleet Operators in Uganda believe the lacklustre quality of tyres sold in this market is affecting their businesses, and further claim tyre quality to be a major cause of accidents. According to Ugandan daily newspaper New Vision, bus operators have, through their umbrella organisation the Allied Bus Owners Association, alleged that the frequent burst tyres experienced are occurring due to the poor quality tyres that are dominating the market. Ssebaana Kizito, the associations chairman, stated that the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) should intervene immediately. He said UNBS should begin monitoring tyres at all sales points to ensure they are tested and proved to be genuine. Counterfeit tyres and brake pads, coupled with escalating operating maintenance and operating costs, are ongoing problems for bus operators.
Continue ReadingTyresure Encourages Winter Tyre Pressure Check
Tyresure is encouraging drivers to check their tyre pressures as the temperatures plummet. With winter drawing in and early mornings seeing temperatures nudging zero and below, many motorists aren’t checking their tyres and adjusting for the cooler temperatures. Air contracts when it is cooled, meaning that first thing in the morning your car tyre pressures could be several pounds lower than they were during the summer months - with an obvious effect on your car’s handling and road manners.
Continue ReadingCommunity Shows Support for Employees After Carlisle Tire Blaze
Following a blaze that took several days to extinguish, the 250,000 square foot Carlisle Tire manufacturing facility in Bowdon, Georgia lies in ruins, and it appears likely the remaining company buildings at the site will also require demolition. While nobody was injured in the blaze, around 350 employees now face an uncertain future. According to local media, however, the townspeople of Bowdon are rallying to support those affected.
Continue ReadingNew Racing Nut Tells You When it’s Tight
TandN Products has unveiled a NASCAR approved Saf to GO lug nut that tells fitters when the nut is snug to the wheel by indicating when two full threads are exposed out of the top. Developed by a NASCAR winning crew chief in partnership with a high-tech racing component manufacturer, the new product is designed to be used with any hub using 5/8-18 conventional racing piloted wheel studs. When threaded onto a stud, a coloured plastic ring on the end of the nut is shattered as the threaded portion of the stud pushes up on the ring. Thus exposing the contrasting colour of the nut, and indicating the nut is safely snug to the wheel and has two full threads exposed. These Teflon coated lug nuts are manufactured with 4140 steel, and heat-treated to keep from rounding. The technology is said to have a patent pending.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Emkes Appointed to Banking Group BOD
On November 19, Tennessee, US based banking group First Horizon National Corporation named Bridgestone Americas Holding chairman and CEO Mark Emkes as one of the group’s two new board members. This appointment took effect immediately. Mr. Emkes has also been appointed to serve on the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors.
Continue ReadingCar Dealers Freeze Pay
Franchised car dealers across the UK have responded to the downturn in the economy by freezing pay scales, according to the rts Auto Retail Industry Salary Survey 2009. The survey reports that 25 per cent of franchised dealer respondents did not increase basic pay for their staff between 2007 and 2008. More than that, it seems that dealers have been taking advantage of the industry’s high staff turnover rates to actually reduce pay rates for new recruits.
Continue ReadingTitan Giant Tyre Production Halted Due to Press Mishap
Titan Tire has temporarily halted production of giant tyres at its Bryan, Ohio facility due to what it says is a pressure issue with one of its 53/80R63 curing presses. A build up and release of pressure from the curing press resulted in building structure damage. Fortunately, reports Titan, there were no serious injuries. Production of the giant tyre ceased on November 23 and the company reports that it will be approximately 10 to 14 days before it recommences, the time required to undertake necessary repairs. Titan expects that certain repair costs will be covered by insurance.
Continue ReadingContinental “Welcomes” EU Tyre Label Standardisation
Continental has released a statement welcoming the proposal by the European Commission to introduce an energy efficiency labelling scheme for tyres (see ‘European Commission Proposes Tyre Labelling Scheme’ on Tyrepress.com). The manufacturer approves of the plan to provide motorists with standardised information about tyres’ braking performance, rolling resistance and rolling noise. However, the firm also warned that leading European manufacturers have reservations about the system, namely about “inadequate implementation to the disadvantage of the consumer.” This concern is a response to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, which in 2001 showed that self-certification measures are often abused due to a lack of inspection mechanisms and sanctions. Over 50 per cent of the electrical appliances checked in 320 German stores were incorrectly labelled or not labelled at all. “That simply may not happen with passenger tyres, considering how important they are for safety,” stressed executive board vice chairman of Continental, Dr Alan Hippe, the man responsible for the Passenger and Light Truck Tyre division.
Continue ReadingToyo Postponing Medium-Term Business Plan Expansions
Officials from Toyo Tire & Rubber have said the company is postponing plans to build a new tyre factory in Asia and expand its tyre output in the US. This decision has been taken in light of lower vehicle sales and the global economic slowdown, and the company has not stated when, or if, these projects will now take place.
Continue ReadingPirelli Offers Welsh Drivers Tyre Pressure Checks
The World Rally Championship arrives in Wales in early December (4-6) for its final stage of the season. To coincide with the event, Pirelli’s depots in South Wales are offering motorists in the region free tyre pressure checks between 1 and 13 December. The Italian manufacturer supplies the control tyres for the series, whose final leg takes place in the Cardiff area.
Continue ReadingToyo Issues Voluntary Tyre Recall
Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. is conducting a voluntary recall – or to use its own words, a ‘customer satisfaction campaign’ – to replace a small number of 18-inch Toyo and Nitto brand tyres the company says “may not have been manufactured to Toyo Tires’ exacting standards’.
Continue ReadingDunlop India Chairman Issues Consolatory Media Brief
PK Ruia, the chairman of Dunlop India has told national media sources that the situation at the company’s Sahagunj plant, where work remains under suspension, is “under control.” The factory has been closed since Tuesday 18 November, when staff members were told to go home with an allowance on 2,000 rupees a month. The company now states that talks with banks to negotiate the necessary working capital to reopen are “at an advanced stage”, and that the factory expects to reopen in between 15 and 90 days’ time.
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