TRW and Goodyear Create New ESC System Thanks to ‘Talking Tyres’
TRW Automotive Goodyear Tire & Rubber have jointly developed a new system that is designed to automatically adjust the performance parameters of a vehicle’s electronic stability control (ESC) system based on the dimensions and other characteristics of the vehicle’s tyres.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Success
Over 1OOO trade visitors poured through the doors of the Singapore Expo Centre on Tuesday as Tyrexpo Asia got underway. The first day of the exhibition saw the highest single visitor figures in the event’s history. Organisers, ECI international commented: “We have been delighted with the excellent turnout today. The exhibition floor has been very busy and exhibitors have expressed satisfaction with the quality of visitors attending the show. We have already had a number of rebookings for the next Tyrexpo Asia in two years time”.
Continue ReadingContiChampionContact Special World Cup Tyre
Continental is celebrating the 2006 World Cup with the launch of a special tyre. In the run-up to world’s most prestigious footballing event (from 2006) the ContiChampionContact will be available from tyre dealers. Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Blatter and Brazil’s legendary Pele will all be using it when they come Germany for the FIFA World Cup 2006, as the tyre will also be fitted to all VIP vehicles and shuttles.
Continue ReadingFire at Caldwell Tyres
Two firemen have been injured following what news sources are describing as a major fire at Caldwell’s tyre plant in Strabane, County Tyrone. The fire happened at about 2200 BST on Tuesday. Fire service area commander Ian Doyle said the fire was one of the biggest in the region in recent months. “When we arrived, the fire was rapidly spreading throughout the building and when tyres are burning they give off a lot of heat and thick black smoke and one of our fire-fighters suffered some smoke inhalation in the early stages of this. They were very punishing conditions for the fire-fighters,” Commander Doyle told BBC news.
Continue ReadingInventor Puts Tiger in the Tank, Literally
Want a novel way of beating sky-high pump prices and fuel strikes? A German inventor claims he has developed a way to make cheap diesel fuel out of dead cats. Dr Christian Koch, 55, from Kleinhartmannsdorf, said his method uses old tyres, weeds and animal corpses. The ingredients are heated up to 300 Celsius to filter out hydrocarbons which are then turned into diesel by, and this is no joke, using a catalytic converter. Dr Koch told online new sources the resulting “high quality bio-diesel” costs just 15 pence per litre. The cadaver of a fully-grown cat can produce as much as 2.5 litres of fuel - meaning around 20 cats are needed for a full tank, he explained. “I tank my car with my own diesel mixture and have driven it for 105,000 miles without any problems,” Dr Koch told Germany’s Bild newspaper.
Continue ReadingHunter Aligns Ferraris at Maranello
Ferrari is upgrading all its Hunter conventional sensor wheel alignment systems to incorporate new digital imaging technology. For the last 12 years every new car made at Ferrari’s Maranello plant has received a final ‘Hunter’ wheel alignment check before leaving Maranello, according to Pro-Align.
Continue ReadingPirelli Supplies Fastest Cars in Frankfurt
Pirelli has supplied tyres for the Brabus E V12 Biturbo, a world speed record-holding tuned Mercedes on show at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, along with the main new models from Bentley, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Maserati, Peugeot, Audi, Volvo, Alfa Romeo and AMG. The Milan-based firm is also equipping the most sophisticated tuned versions of models from Ferrari, Mercedes, Range Rover and Jaguar prepared by the German specialists Novitec, Brabus and Arden.
Continue ReadingCorporate Manslaughter Bill Concerns for Fleets
Tyre safety could assume even greater importance soon when the Corporate Manslaughter Bill becomes law in the UK, warns Cheshire-based fleettyreline. The Bill is expected to become law within the next 18 months and will create a new offence of Corporate Manslaughter to cover all deaths at work and target corporate rather than individual liability. For example, a company could find itself liable in the instance of a death arising from an unroadworthy vehicle. Said fleettyreline chairman John Church: This Bill has far-reaching implications for any company operating a fleet, whether it is half a dozen vehicles or many hundreds. If a vehicle is defective in any area, most notably in a safety-critical area such as tyres, the liability issue is clear-cut. Our understanding is that, if an employee uses his or her vehicle on company business, the liability will also fall on the company.
Continue ReadingFit Run-Flats Right
It is now becoming increasingly vital that dealerships across the country understand the fitting implications that run-flat tyres bring with them, Bridgestone has reported. As a result Bridgestone is promoting its free Run-Flat Certificate Programme, which offers training for tyre dealers and fitters across the UK. To date, in excess of 600 UK fitters and store managers have attained certification, and more than 400 machines have already been inspected and accredited by Bridgestone.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Commercialises Support Ring Run-Flat System
Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it has succeeded with the practical application of Bridgestone Support Ring run-flat system. The support ring will be delivered to Toyota Motor Corporation for use in its new RAV4 for the European market. This system has been in development since 2002 based on technical collaboration with Germany’s Continental AG and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
Continue ReadingChinese Market Favours Malaysian NR
The Chinese market seems to favour Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) and is attracting increased interest from players in the Malaysian rubber products industry, according to the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB). The MRB recently organised a trade delegation visit to China and revealed details about business between the two far eastern countries. The MRB explained that Malaysian rubber was well-known in China for its good quality. China imports about 1.4 million tonnes of NR per year, and this year, Malaysia’s NR exports to China are projected to increase to 350,000 tonnes from 290,000 last year.
Continue ReadingGoodway Considers Chinese Compounding Plant
Goodway Rubber chief executive, Tai Boon Wee, has spoken of the company’s plans to build a Chinese compounding plant. “Goodway is looking into the possibility of setting up a rubber compounding plant, possibly in Dongguan in China, via a joint venture with a local partner,” Mr Tai said.
Continue ReadingMichelin Tops JD Power US OE Tyre Satisfaction Rankings
Newly released data produced by JD Power and Associated, ranks Michelin as the best OE tyre supplier in terms of US customer satisfaction. The study is based on responses from more than 32,000 new-vehicle owners who purchased a vehicle between 2003 and 2004. Overall satisfaction of OE tyres is based on performance in five factors: wearability, appearance, traction, ride and handling. Michelin achieves the highest OE tyre satisfaction index score in each of the four segments included in the study: luxury/sport; mass-market/non-luxury; pickup/full-size van; and SUV. Michelin leads all four segments in the five factors contributing to customer satisfaction. However, Michelin-owned BFGoodrich did not fare so well, coming bottom in the luxury sport segment and receiving mediocre marks in the mass-market report.
Continue ReadingFit Run-Flats Right
It is now becoming increasingly vital that dealerships across the country understand the fitting implications that run-flat tyres bring with them, Bridgestone has reported. As a result Bridgestone is promoting its free Run-Flat Certificate Programme, which offers training for tyre dealers and fitters across the UK. To date, in excess of 600 UK fitters and store managers have attained certification, and more than 400 machines have already been inspected and accredited by Bridgestone.
Continue Reading‘Car Dealers Ignoring Profit Opportunity’ Says Group Tyre
Those car dealers not offering a tyre replacement and fitting service are passing up a golden profit opportunity by not offering a one-stop service for fleet, business and private users, believes Group Tyre (UK). Chairman John Church points out that dealerships are seeing their traditionally profitable sales opportunities, such as optional extras and accessory sales, being steadily eroded, as more and more vehicles leave the factory with higher specifications and features fitted as standard. Add to this the fact that service intervals are growing ever longer and it is easy to see that opportunities for profits are becoming more difficult to find.
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