NHTSA Takes Up E-Registration, RMA Supports
The RMA has thrown its support behind NHTSA’s plans to broaden tyre registration methods. NHTSA earlier this week release proposed regulations to improve tyre registration and recordkeeping, allowing greater use of online tyre registration. The agency feels broader use of Internet or other “electronic registration” will improve tyre registration rates, which, in turn, would make tyre recalls more effective and efficient. Currently, the industry’s best estimate is that only 10 per cent of paper tyre registration cards are ever completed and returned. While most tyremakers already offer online tyre registration via their Web sites, current online tyre registration rates are unknown.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Wants Zero Waste to Landfills
Goodyear in the US has launched a new initiative to completely eliminate shipping its tyre plant waste to landfills. All scrap tyres, mis-production and other waste is either being recycled or reused. In addition, Goodyear is taking steps to reduce the amount of scrappage and waste coming from its tyre plants. Instead of going off to the landfill, scrap tyres are being shipped to companies that recycle tyres. Other waste, including no-production waste like paper, plastic drink bottles and other traditional garbage, is being sent to product recyclers. Tyre production waste is being shipped to waste processors. Used solvents are either reused or incinerated at an approved facility. The goal, said Goodyear, is to completely eliminate waste shipments to landfills. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingHankook Claims to be “Fastest Growing” Manufacturer
Hankook Tire claims it was, in terms of sales, the world’s fastest growing tyre manufacturer in 2007. The company’s sales for last year are estimated at US$3.5 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 20.6 per cent. This contrasts markedly with Hankook’s nearest rival in terms of sales, Sumitomo Rubber, whose $3.6 billion in sales was down 5.3 per cent on last year’s $3.8 billion. Korean rival Kumho experienced a year-on-year growth of 15.8 per cent, making them the fourth fastest growing company according to the figures published by US magazine Modern Tire Dealer.
Continue ReadingCementing a Commitment to Recycling
From time to time words are spoken about the role tyre manufacturers and wholesalers do – or should – play in the full life cycle of the products they sell. The accepted consensus is for a greater level of responsibility, a role most parties have readily accepted. Michelin, the world’s second largest tyre manufacturer, was one of the first companies off the mark in the UK in terms of meeting this obligation, and its joint venture facility for the processing of end of life tyres – Sapphire Energy Recovery – is now in its eighth year of operation.
Continue ReadingBlackcircles.com Adds Autocar Tyre Tests to Website
In partnership with Autocar Magazine, Blackcircles.com has entered into a partnership with Autocar Magazine that will enable the online tyre retailer to offer exclusive online video reviews of leading tyre brands. The video reviews will cover tests of numerous premium brands including Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone and Pirelli. Blackcircles.com reports it is “delighted” to be partnering with the word’s first automotive magazine, and believes the impartial tests will help its customers make the correct and safe choice when selecting new tyres. The Autocar tests involve a series of categories, such as wet and dry braking and wet and dry handling. Motorists are able to access the video reviews by visiting www.blackcircles.com/tyretests.
Continue ReadingLawsuit Families Given Access to Cooper Files
Legal proceedings against Cooper Tire in the US have, in the manufacturer’s opinion, the potential to compromise the company’s trade secrets. The plaintiffs arguing that a Cooper tyre contributed to a fatal 2005 van accident have been granted wide access to documents belonging to Cooper Tire & Rubber. This court decision, reported in the Salt Lake Tribune, has been described as “breathtaking” by Cooper. A company lawyer wrote in an affidavit that the scope of the search the plaintiffs will be permitted to carry out is “broader than has ever been applied to Cooper in any product-liability lawsuit.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Raise Prices in China
Prices for Bridgestone tyres in China are set to increase as of March, the company said. Higher raw material costs have been singled out as the reason for the changes. A company statement said price increases of between 3 and 5 per cent would take place as a cost reduction initiative previously launched by the company has failed to offset rising material costs.
Continue Reading1,000 Conti Tyres Stolen From Truck
Over 1,000 tyres were stolen from a lorry parked in a layby on the A43 between Northampton and Towcester. According to local news sources, the tyres were taken from a plain blue articulated lorry parked in the layby on the southbound carriageway near Blisworth between 23:00 on 23 January and 8:00 the following morning. The stolen tyres are ContiPremiumContact 205/55 R Continental tyres and are estimated to represent a six-figure retail sales value in total.
Continue ReadingBandag Offers New Tread Design
Bandag announced today it is now offering BDY2ä, Bandag Drive Severe Service 2, in the North American market. Working with Canadian fleets, Bandag specifically engineered this retread tire design for severe service conditions where superior traction is required from a drive position tyre. “We understand that keeping fleets up and running on time is critical to the oil field and logging industries. BDY2Ä is a next-generation design offering more aggressive traction than its predecessor,” says Chris Hoffman, product manager of global tyre products for Bandag. “Our retread tyre design complements the new Bridgestone M775 on/off highway radial tyres and has rapidly been put into use by fleets in both Canada and the western United States.”
Continue ReadingBFNT’s Gamauf to Retire
The vice-president of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT), John K. Gamauf, will retire from the company effective as of May 1, 2008. Gamauf, who also holds the office of president, Consumer Replacement Tire Sales, will be replaced by John Baratta, who currently serves as vice president, North American Consumer Tires Sales, BFNT. Baratta’s successor has yet to be named. Gamauf will continue to serve on BFNT’s board of directors. Mark A. Emkes, chairman and CEO of BFNT and its parent company, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) said: “I would like to thank John Gamauf on behalf of the entire Bridgestone Americas team for the great job he has done during his long, successful career with our company. Under his leadership, he and his team have developed the best consumer tyre dealer network in the country. Not only has he grown our consumer replacement tyre sales to record levels, he’s also done a tremendous job developing the individuals who make up his team. The result is the deepest and most talented bench in the industry. John’s truly ‘done it all’ when it comes to retail tyre sales.”
Continue ReadingTyre Specialist Becomes Sheep Midwife
When Goodyear Dunlop UK off-the-road tyre specialist, Brian Eastman, visited a farm in Shurford he ended up using a more “hands-on” approach than he bargained for. In January Eastman was visiting Richard Parris at Cutliffe Farm when farmer Parris received a call informing him that one of his sheep was in a bit of bother during labour. He leaped to the rescue, taking an intrigued Brian Eastman with him, whereupon they found the sheep was struggling with a lamb in a breach position. Parris took control, whil Goodyears Eastman held the sheep in place and kept it calm. “It was an interesting night at the farm and certainly a first for me! Mother and baby are doing well!” Brian Eastman told T&A. Perhaps his example will lead to animal midwifery being added to OTR tyre training!
Continue ReadingBridgestone Motorsport Valencia Test Summary
The Valencia race circuit in Spain played host to Bridgestone’s medium compound Potenza for ten of Formula One’s eleven teams for the second test of 2008 on January 22-24. The medium compound Potenza dry grooved racing tyre was in action for the entirety of the test, which took place in dry conditions, with blue skies overhead on the first two days, but a mainly cloudy and overcast day three. No runs were completed using any of Bridgestone’s wet range of Potenza Formula One tyres. Teams completed valuable evaluation work with both the latest and last season’s cars run to the 2008 regulations. New cars from BMW Sauber, Ferrari, Honda, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Toyota and Williams and were all put through their paces along with older cars from some of these teams as well as Force India and Toro Rosso. Super Aguri were not present at this test. Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres will be in use next week at Barcelona on 1-3 February, where Bridgestone’s hard compound Potenza will be used for the first time this year.
Continue ReadingRally Monte Carlo Gets Underway With Pirelli
For Pirelli the start of the 76th Monte Carlo Rally marks an important new chapter in its sporting history. This event will be the first WRC rally in which all the teams will use Pirelli control tyres, as part of an exclusive three-year tyre supply deal. The Italian firm has produced three different types of tyre for the world rally season, one of which is available in two different versions. Pirelli’s choice of tyres has been guided by a strict specification brief from the FIA. As well as the Pirelli PZero - designed for asphalt rallies - and the Pirelli Scorpion for gravel events, the all-new Pirelli Sottozero will be used on winter events. This tyre is available in a narrow size with longer studs, for heavy snow and ice such as is found in Sweden, and also a wider version with the option of adding short studs - which has been specially designed for the unique conditions of Monte Carlo event.
Continue ReadingHakkapeliitta Truck E Points to New Truck Tyre Range
Nokian Tyres introduced the Hakkapeliitta Truck E a new tyre for trucks and buses, designed for the most demanding winter conditions. This new winter drive tyre is also the first member of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck product family. The tyres tread design features more than 1,100 efficient transverse sipes, forming a dense network that helps maximise grip. The tyre is also equipped with special sipe activators that are very sensitive to the road surface and rapidly activate the sipes, particularly in changing temperatures and road conditions. “Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck E is the result of years of intensive work; its a new-generation product that combines the excellent grip and resistance properties that professional drivers value very highly,” says Teppo Siltanen, Product Manager, Nokian Truck Tyres. Development work drew on the experiences of the highly commended Nokian Noktop 41 traction surface and the Nokian NTR-817 truck tyre.
Continue ReadingWRAP Seeks New eQuip Lessors
WRAP is looking for new lessors to join its successful eQuip Residual Value Guarantee scheme, which in its four years of operation has benefited a number of tyre recyclers. There are currently ten finance providers signed up to the scheme and WRAP now wants to open the panel to new lessors as the recycling sector continues to grow. Ian Wardle, Head of Business Support at WRAP, says: “eQuip has already made a significant contribution towards meeting UK recycling targets. To date, 328 assets have been guaranteed through eQuip, at a value in excess of £19 million. These assets have already diverted three million tonnes of waste from landfill and the demand for this type of activity is going to grow rapidly in the next few years. We need other lessors to join the existing panel so that we can help the recycling sector to keep pace with this demand.”
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