Bridgestone Archives - Page 218 of 278 - Tyrepress

Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.

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Kings Road Tyres to Offer Products Online

Kings Road Tyres began wholesaling over 30 years ago and was one of the few companies that, back then, saw the need for an alternative supply chain into the market. Since that time KRT has developed a nationwide delivery system operating from its own distribution centres throughout the UK and Ireland, using its own fleet of vehicles, and over the years has built a consistent and reliable distribution service. The most recent development at the company sees KRT keep pace with future trends. From the early part of 2007 the wholesaler will offer its products online via the Internet. Full details of this service will be available soon.

27th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Sheffield Dealership Gets a New Look

A Sheffield First Stop tyre dealership is marking its twentieth anniversary with an investment in stunning new-look premises. Since opening its doors in 1986, Steadfast Auto Centre has evolved from a small, family-run business into an award-winning dealership spanning two prime city sites and affiliated to Bridgestone. To celebrate the 20-year milestone, the company’s flagship depot has been extensively refurbished – a move that will enable the business to expand still further.

24th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Aims to Close the Gap with Michelin in France

Since Goodyear Dunlop Tire France was founded on 1 January 2004, the group has increased its market share 4 percentage points to 23 per cent of the 32 million-unit strong French passenger car tyre replacement market. The company’s next goal is to close the competitive gap between itself and domestic market dominator, Michelin.

On a global level the size of the three leading players (Bridgestone, Goodyear Dunlop and Michelin) is relatively comparable. In France it is a completely different story. According to French Automotive information source autoactu.com, Michelin holds a 45 per cent market share of car, 4×4 and van tyre sales in France, while Goodyear Dunlop’s 23 per cent puts it in second place.

24th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Expands Aircraft Retreading Plant

Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) sa/nv in Frameries is expanding capacity to keep pace with increased aircraft production worldwide from Airbus and Boeing. A reinvigorated European aviation market and soaring demand from new and existing Middle Eastern fleets is a major influence in projected growth. According to the company, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) is market leader with a share of around 50 per cent. “So far we have retreaded some 2 million tyres which is equal to the tyre supply of Lufthansa Airlines for some 120 years,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories.

22nd November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

BFNAT Drops Champ Car Sponsorship, Keeps Tyre Deal

(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has ended its title sponsorship of the Champ Car World Series, but the Bridgestone brand will remain the spec tyre for the open wheel series. BFNAT announced the change this past weekend after signing a tyre supply contract extension with the series.

21st November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Opens European Logistics Centre in Zeebrugge

With the completion of expansion work at the Zeebrugge warehouse, Bridgestone has opened its new 87,500 square metre European Logistics Centre (ELC North). The 9 November inauguration was conducted by Mr Takashi Urano, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Europe, Mr Yves Kerstens, vice president logistics and supply chain management, Bridgestone Europe and Mr Joachim Coens, chairman – managing director, Zeebrugge Port Authority.

15th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Wins Run-Flat Tyre Test

The UK’s first independent magazine run-flat tyre test has named the Bridgestone Turanza ER300 RFT as “Best Buy 2006.” The extremely close results placed Continental’s PremiumContact SSR second, with Michelin’s Primacy HP ZP third overall. All three tyres were V-rated 205/55 R16 sidewall reinforced style run-flats. The test car was a BMW 320i. Auto Express carried out the assessment as part of its annual tyre test, with experts assessing some of the biggest names in run-flats in a variety of disciplines including wet handling, rolling resistance, and dry handling.

Naming the ER300 RFT as its “Best Buy 2006,” Auto Express said the tyre was “the best performer in the wet and matched its rivals elsewhere”. The tyre finished top in half of the 10 tests, beating the Continental and Michelin run-flats in straight aquaplaning, curved aquaplaning and wet cornering. The Turanza was also named the top performer in rolling resistance and was the cheapest tyre tested.

The Continental tyre also performed well, winning tests for wet braking, wet handling, dry braking and interior noise. The PremiumContact performed particular well in the dry braking test, stopping 3.4 metres ahead of Bridgestone and about two metres earlier than the Michelin tyre. And with interior noise measured at 67.3 decibels the Premium Contact was found to be about 10 per cent quieter than the next best Michelin tyre.

Michelin scored well in noise (5 per cent quieter than Bridgestone) and wet braking, but failed to win a single test in the Auto Express report. Following on from a 15th place result in Auto Express’ standard tyre test, Michelin managers must be disappointed. On this subject a Michelin spokesman told Tyres & Accessories that the company did not believe the Auto Express run-flat results were consistent with other independent research. According to Michelin research conducted at MIRA, and by the TUV in both Germany and the Czech Republic contradicts Auto Express findings.

Bridgestone Delighted

“We’re obviously delighted to have been given the top rating,” said Andy Lane, marketing manager with Bridgestone UK. “We have worked hard for many years to develop a run-flat tyre that offers consumers the best in performance, safety and comfort, and this test shows that we’re the best at doing just that.”

To reinforce its commitment to the technology, Bridgestone UK – which won the NTDA’s Product Innovation Award for its run-flats last year – has increased the level of investment in its RFT training programme throughout 2006.

Looking forward, Andy Lane believes this infrastructure is vital, if dealers are to cope with the number of run-flat tyres already on the market – estimated to be 750,000 by Auto Express.

“As a result,” said Lane, “dealers will have to ensure that their fitters are fully trained to replace the tyres. The technology has already evolved in the last few years, to the extent that our RFT tyres are now fitted as standard on several vehicles.”

15th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Halesowen Retailer Joins First Stop

Fast Fit Plus, on Bromsgrove Road, has joined Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships, a move that company representatives say will enable the business to retain its independent status while benefiting from the kudos and support of a direct association with the leading manufacturer.

“Joining the First Stop network offers the best of both worlds for Fast Fit Plus,“ explained Jason Thoms, who runs the dealership with fellow director Colin Anderson. “We have the freedom to run the business as we choose on a day-to-day basis, safe in the knowledge that there is a network of support available in terms of training, merchandising, customer relations and promotions should we need it. It’s a great position to be in, and the move provides the perfect foundation for us to take the business forward.”

15th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s Wilson Facility Approved to Supply Run-Flats to BMW

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) has announced that its Wilson, North Carolina facility has sent its first shipment of Bridgestone run-flat (RFT) tyres to BMW. It is the first BFNT facility in the US to produce Bridgestone-brand run-flats. The 225/45R17 91W Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT tyres will be shipped to BMW’s assembly plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina for original equipment application on the BMW Z4.

14th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Respected Industry Veteran Don Driver Passes Away

(Akron/Tire Review) Longtime tyre industry veteran and current Giti Tire sales director Don Driver died unexpectedly on Oct. 14. The well-known and respected tireman was 56, and apparently suffered a heart attack. Driver began his tyre career as a territory sales representative with Michelin in the early 1970s, moving on to Canada’s Active Green+Ross as a commercial salesman later that decade. He then joined Bridgestone/Firestone Canada and spent 17 years with the tyremaker, including a stint as national sales manager. Driver then moved on to Maine Industrial Tire as vice president of sales and marketing before joining Giti Tire in 2003. He leaves wife, Carolyn, and sons, David and Shane.

13th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Finalises F1 Contracts

Bridgestone Motorsport has finalised contracts for the provision of Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres with the Renault F1 Team, Team McLaren Mercedes, Honda Racing F1 Team, BMW Sauber F1 Team, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. The six new teams are expected to run on Bridgestone F1 tyres for the first time at the Barcelona winter test in Spain, provisionally scheduled for 28-30 November, 2006.

After six years of competitive tyre supply, the FIA Formula One World Championship is about to enter a new era with Bridgestone as the sole supplier of F1 tyres from 2007 to 2010. The new teams will be joining Bridgestone’s current stable of five teams: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, Panasonic Toyota Racing, WilliamsF1 Team, Spyker MF1 Team and Super Aguri F1 Team.

13th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Supports Children in Need

Bridgestone UK has donated a set of tyres for a charity auction in aid of Children in Need. The rubber contributed to a total of more than £12,000 towards this year’s appeal after they were sold under the hammer by BBC Worldwide Magazines Production department.

10th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Heidfeld: F1 Control Tyre Means Less Overtaking

BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld has told motorsport reporters that overtaking will be more difficult when F1 runs solely on Bridgestone tyres next season. “Overtaking always used to be difficult in Formula One and I think its going to remain difficult,” he said, adding: “When you’ve got different tyres, it’s more probable that the cars will take different turns at different speeds. In consideration of this fact, I expect the overtaking to become slightly more difficult.” The new F1 season is set to get underway in Australia in March, with the competitive difference of the tyres being eradicated by the fact that all 22 drivers will be running on the same rubber.

10th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Roberts Bakery Appoints ATSE

Northwich-based Roberts Bakery has appointed ATS Euromaster as its sole commercial vehicle tyre services provider, responsible for a 90-strong fleet, which includes car-derived vans, rigids and tractor units and trailers. The new agreement will see ATS Euromaster’s truck centre in Warrington fit Michelin tyres across the Roberts Bakery fleet – replacing a previous Bridgestone policy which was managed by a local independent tyre dealer.

“We wanted higher service levels from our supplier and ATS Euromaster was able to offer a range of additional benefits,” says Nick Crank, Transport Manager at Roberts Bakery. “These include fortnightly fleet checks, together with the ability to regroove and turn tyres on the rim to ensure maximum mileage performance.

9th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Dueler H/L 400 Tyres are OE on Mazda SUV

(Akron/Tire Review) Mazda’s all-new CX-9 SUV will ride on Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 radials, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire announced. Available in three models, the CX-9 will be fitted with Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400s in sizes P245/60R18 104H and P245/50R20 102V.

6th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors