New Dunlop Range for Harley Davidson to Feature MTC Technology
Dunlop has introduced a new line of Harley-Davidson D407 tyres for 2009 model year FL touring bikes. The rear tyre in the new range, Dunlop reports, features the company’s exclusive Multi Tread Compound (MTC) technology, which incorporates a long-wearing compound in the centre of the tread and a lateral grip compound on each shoulder to improve cornering performance while providing longer tread life. The D407 tyre family has been engineered and tested by Dunlop and Harley Davidson to be fitted as original equipment on Harley’s Rocker, Screamin’ Eagle Road King and Softail bikes, as well as new 2009 FL touring bikes. Dunlop began supplying tyres for Harley’s new touring bike platform in June 2008. The new D407 tyres are part of a chassis redesign for Harley Davidson that also included frame and suspension changes.
Continue ReadingTyrepac Unveils First Phase of Asia-Wide Online Tyre Portal
With the help of the Singapore Government’s Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board, Singapore based company Tyrepac is developing what it says is Asia’s first online tyre retailing site. The company’s first website, for the Singapore market, is already up and running, and the company states that websites for China, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and Hong Kong will be live in late March 2009. Plans are also underway to expand into India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
Continue ReadingBeat the Crunch with MAM
Dynamic companies that exploit I.T. can survive the downturn and emerge stronger according to aftermarket software specialist MAM Software. Managing Director Mike Jamieson says that by using ERP systems to their full potential, companies can improve efficiency, lower costs and even increase sales. The latest business management systems offer a wealth of functionality that can help your business survive the current economic downturn and actually emerge stronger said Mr Jamieson. They provide a comprehensive set of integrated business functions that can help you improve day-to-day productivity, improve customer service levels, and make informed business-related decisions that will help fuel growth.
Continue ReadingJK and Ceat Join Apollo in Indian Price Cuts
Following news that Apollo has cut prices across the board in line with the four per cent reduction in India’s Central VAT rate, Ceat and JK Tyre have announced similar cuts of 3.6 and 3 per cent respectively on the average price of their products. Apollo’s chairman, Onkar Kanwar wrote in a statement, following yesterday’s announcement on India’s cenvat, “We will be passing on this reduction to our customers, strengthening the measures that are being taken at a federal level. “We do hope this, and other measures together, will boost production and consumer spending,” he concluded. JK’s director, AS Mehta voiced similar hopes: “Once the end user is benefited, it should benefit the entire industry.”
Continue ReadingNokian Begins Job Cut Talks
Nokian Tyres has today begun new statutory negotiations in order to adjust operations and to cut personnel by approximately 450 people at its Nokia factory in Finland, due to the decreased demand for tyres. The agenda of the negotiations includes a plan to change the working model of the car tyre production from the current continuous three-shift/seven days work to the discontinued three-shift/five days operations and to re-organise operations. This would result in the annual production capacity at the Nokia factory to fall from the current 6 million or so tyres to around 4.5 million tyres in 2009. The discontinued three-shift work and the re-organisation measures would create a need to cut personnel by some 450 people, of which approximately 100 would be white-collar personnel. The aim is to carry out part of the personnel cuts by pension arrangements and other voluntary solutions. The new factory working model and re-organisations would reduce Nokian Tyres’ costs in Nokia by around 30 million euros.
Continue ReadingYokohama Advan Sport Chosen as OE for Nissan 370Z
Yokohama Rubber has announced its flagship Advan tyre has been selected as OE for the Nissan 370Z in various world markets. The Advan Sport in size 225/50R18 95W for the front and 245/45R18 96W for the rear will be fitted; vehicles equipped with the tyres were released in Japan on December 1, 2008, and will be gradually introduced into the global market. For the North American market, however, the car will be supplied with Bridgestone Potenza RE50A tyres, Bridgestone announced in November.
Continue ReadingConti Canada Raising Truck Tyre Prices
Due to the continued pressure on manufacturing costs and exchange rates Continental Tire Canada will increase prices on its medium truck tyres by up to six per cent. The increase will kick in on 1 February, 2009. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingNo Going Back
In 2008 the Ultra High Performance tyre market experienced changes unlike any year before it; and as a result will, never be the same again, Sentaida USA general manager Don Mathis recently told Tyres & Accessories “UHP aftermarket sales have been the main and nearly only, shining star in the tyre business for the last eight to 10 years. The margins and growth have surpassed nearly every other segment of the market,” he explained. However, this year has also been unlike any other in Mathis’s 36 years of experience. His thinking is that the unique combination of surplus capacity in UHP factories, the early year surge in the raw material costs, a mid-year surge in fuel cost, and the credit crunch halting new car sales and taking aftermarket wheel sales with them means the market has hit a watershed. His advice? “Reduce your UHP stock to bare minimum. I think it is really ugly now, and is going to get worse. Clear out old, high priced stock, so money can re-circulate. Take whatever loss there is now. Get it over with, as it will only get worse in 2009. Buy smart for the future with an emphasis on value in the popular passenger car sizes.” For more overview on US market sales see January’s issue of Tyres & Accessories.
Continue ReadingVintage Appoints New Member of Export Department
Vintage Tyres has added a new member of staff to its expanding export department. Muriel Colange has a long history on the European classic car scene, having worked for various specialist parts distributors across France, as well as spending time working for a Lotus car distributor, where she participated as an active member of its racing team. As befits the staff of the company, which supplies specialist tyres to classic cars, Colange possesses a great interest in and passion for cars. She has two early-model Minis and is president of the French Mini Owners Club. With a diploma in automotive commerce and marketing, she will specialise in the European development of the Vintage name. Vintage is based at The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire.
Continue Reading6 HSE Tyre Handling Workshops Planned for 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) and the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA), is running a series of workshops designed to draw attention to the dangers of handling tyres. The nationwide series of workshops are being held at venues across the country from January and March 2009. NTDA director Richard Edy said: “NTDA research shows that back injuries caused by lifting tyres incorrectly are responsible for a huge number of lost man-hours in our sector and we are delighted to be working with the HSE to highlight the dangers to the trade.”
Continue ReadingHiQ Names Three More Franchisees
HiQ has attracted three new partners in its national franchise programme. HiQ now boasts more than 140 centres across Britain, having secured Alister McGill, who will take over the company’s Alnwick, Berwick and Sunderland outlets, adding to his existing Blyth and Gateshead centres. Gary Thomson will take on the Exeter, Bath, Honiton and Weston Super Mare stores with four experienced partners. Meanwhile, Phil Godfrey has added HiQ’s Banbury store to his Abingdon and Carterton businesses. According to the company the latest announcement means HiQ’s national franchise plan is now more than half full, with all remaining partners to be announced in the coming months.
Continue ReadingUnion Official, Politicians Lash Out at Dunlop India Chief
Dunlop India chief managing director Pawan Ruia has been reportedly accused of cheating the company’s workers. This accusation, printed in the Times of India, was made by Centre of Indian Trade Unions state secretary Kali Ghosh and members of parliament Rupchand Pal and Shantosree Chatterjee (both from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) party). The union official and two politicians, says the newspaper, are of the opinion that Dunlop’s Sahaganj facility should be handed over to India’s Ministry of Defence.
Continue ReadingIndia Restricting the Importation of Truck/Bus Radials
Imported bus and truck radial tyres have been categorised as a restricted item by India’s Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). News of this action was given in a DGFT notification dated November 24, 2008. Items restricted by the DGFT generally can only be imported into India via the obtaining of an appropriate license.
Continue ReadingBiogas-Powered World Record Set on Dunlop Rubber
Achieving speeds of 327.5 km/h (204.7 mph), the Hohenester-tuned biogas Audi A4 Quattro equipped with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT tyres has set a new world speed record. The TÜV Rheinland-organized record attempt took place at the proving ground in Papenburg, Germany, and demonstrates the performance abilities of climate neutral fuels. In breaking high-speed record Hohenester used biogas extracted from field grass. With an octane number between 120 and 140 ROZ the alternative fuel offers higher numbers than conventional fuels. “High speed tuning and ecological aspects don’t have to exclude each other,” believes the record-breaking driver, Jürgen Hohenester. “This Audi A4 is a prototype, which proves how powerful these new fuel technologies can be already today.”
Continue ReadingMan Steals Police Car to Sell Tyres
A Mexican man’s risky venture to secure a set of tyres has landed him in a spot of trouble, reports the Agence France-Presse news agency. Alejandro Juarez spotted a police car sitting tantalisingly unoccupied in the town of Aguascalientes….and once Mr. Juarez’ eyes locked onto the car, it didn’t remain unoccupied for very long. When I found the car and I saw it had the key in the ignition, well, I just got in, Juarez admitted. And the reason for this unlikely theft? I was thinking about taking off the tyres so I could sell them, he said. But then I was thinking first I would take it for a spin - and then bam, I got a bit distracted and crashed. Following the car’s sudden stop – against a rubbish dumpsters – Mr. Juarez was taken into police custody.
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