At a meeting on 6 May, members of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority unanimously voted to support the tyre aging motion that has arisen from the campaign begun by Liverpool woman Frances Molloy following the 2012 death of her son in a coach crash. The motion, titled Coach Safety & Prevention of Road Traffic Accidents, calls for an age limit of six years to be placed on tyres fitted to coaches.
Ceat Ltd reports that production has resumed at its Bhandup facility following the fire that broke out in the plant’s raw material store on 23 February. Company managing director Anant Goenka shared with India’s Business Standard that the cause of the fire is still unknown, however sabotage has been ruled out.
A report in the Financial Times, which focussed on the expectations of German car producer companies, showed that younger people are shunning buying new vehicles. According to the report, the average age of a new car buyer in Germany rose to a record 52.2 years in 2013, three years older than the average a decade ago, reflecting a trend observed in other industrialised countries.
The US state legislature in Massachusetts is considering a new bill on tyre aging. If brought into force, the new law could make it illegal for passenger vehicles to have tyres over six years old.
Frances Molloy, who has campaigned for the introduction of tyre aging laws following the death of her teenage son in a coach crash caused by the failure of a 19-year old tyre, says she is determined to keep going despite the content of a letter received from Patrick McLoughlin. The Secretary of State for Transport reportedly stated he is” not persuaded” that legislation to restrict the age of tyres is “appropriate at this stage”.
An inquest that opened at Woking Civic Offices yesterday adds substantial weight to the argument for tyre aging laws. The inquest into the crash of a 52-seat coach last September, which claimed three lives, has heard the coach lost control and left the road following the failure of a its front nearside tyre – a tyre manufactured more than 19 years earlier.
Falken Tyre Europe has added the first all-season tyre to its portfolio. The Euroall Season AS200, which will be available from July in 27 dimensions, is described as a product that “offers improved traction on dry, wet and even snowy roads without compromising on comfort” along with “significantly reduced tyre rolling noise and shorter braking distances.”
Firestone is a car company. This is the message at the heart of Bridgestone America’s new brand campaign. Titled “Drive a Firestone”, the campaign hinges on the notion that, while it doesn’t actually produce cars, Firestone is indeed a car company. The tyre maker’s message is that regardless what a motorist drives, Firestone tyres and the service its retailers provide can help make their car run stronger, longer.
October net orders of heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles for North American markets were 18,914 units, up 24 per cent from September, according to ACT Research Co. Medium-duty Classes 5-7 net orders also gained sequentially, posting 19 per cent month-over-month growth.
China based nano precipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) manufacturer ShengdaTech has announced plans to relocate its global headquarters from Shandong Province to Shanghai. Company president and CEO Xiangzhi Chen, CFO Andrew Chen, COO Anhui Guo and other executives are to be based at the new office, and Shanghai also serves as the chosen site for ShengdaTech's research and development centre. The company’s NPCC manufacturing operation will continue in Tai'an City and will utilise the old ShengdaTech head office at this location for various administrative functions.
Shandong Province, China based nano precipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) manufacturer ShengdaTech announced on October 3 that a Chinese tyre manufacturer has issued purchase order requesting ShengdaTech supply its ongoing tyre production requirements. This order was made, says ShengdaTech, after the company successfully completed product testing of its NPCC in a major tyre manufacturer’s production process. The name of the tyre company involved in the testing or the company that has issued the purchase order has not been disclosed.
With tyre price increases putting the bite on some motorists’ budgets, an American man has showed off his own unique way to cut tyre costs by a whole 25 per cent.
West Virginia man David Woods was stopped by police in the town of Beckley after officers observed his aging Oldsmobile speeding “all over the road,” with debris flying off the vehicle. Upon pulling aside for the officers, it became apparent that Woods was driving his vehicle with only three tyres fitted, a metal rim standing in for the absent fourth tyre.
After failing a field sobriety test Woods told police he was en route to an auto parts store to make some much needed purchases when he was pulled over.
(Akron/Tire Review) Hankook Tire America Corp. has introduced the Hankook Ventus AS RH07, an all-season performance line intended for direct OE replacement and for plus-sizing light truck/SUV applications. Hankook said the new Ventus AS RH07 will initially be available in 14 sizes, covering 17- to 22-inch wheel diameters.
(Akron/Tire Review) Ford Motor Co plans to ask NHTSA to tell US car owners to change their tyres after six years of service – regardless of their condition. Ford and DaimlerChrysler already advise owners of their vehicles to discard tyres after six years through their respective vehicle owner’s manuals. Ford claims its testing and research shows that the effects of aging on tyre reliability increases significantly after six years.
