Cooper Tire Europe has launched its new range-topping line, the Zeon CS Sport. Full details will be published later, however the big news is that this successor to the Cooper 2XS has achieved an 'A' wet grip label rating for every fitment within in the range.
Cooper Tire Europe has announced an extended 4×4 tyre offering within Europe, reintroducing the Discoverer CTS, and adding new sizes to many other products in the range. Europe MD Jeff Schumaker said the company is “delighted to offer Cooper’s complete range of 4×4 tyres in Europe, giving our customers the best possible choice, whatever their preference for off or on-road driving.” As well as the addition of the CTS, Cooper now offers a wider range of fitments in some of its most popular 4×4 tyres, including the Discoverer A/T3, S/T, STT, H/T, S/T MAXX and S/T2 ranges.
Cooper Tires has added its new A/T3 tyre to its Discoverer range of 4×4 tyres. The tyre’s modern six-rib all-terrain design is engineered to provide performance both for on-road and off road driving. The A/T3 tread pattern includes a broken centre and dual draft angles on the tread to aid soft surface traction. Strategically-placed lateral groove protectors on the tread help motorists avoid stone retention and ‘drilling’. It provides solid all-terrain handling, superior all-weather traction, stability and reliable tread wear.
On 17 January Cooper Tire & Rubber completed its acquisition of the former Trayal manufacturing plant assets in Kruševac, Serbia. A formal signing ceremony was held to mark the official start of Cooper Tire Serbia; this was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadić, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, US Ambassador Mary Warlick, along with Roy Armes, Chairman, President and CEO of Cooper Tire. During the ceremony Armes stated that Cooper elected to invest in Serbia not only because of its significant economic potential, but also for its quality workforce, geographical advantages and Serbian government support.
Cooper has refused to comment on multiple Serbian news reports quoting Serbian finance secretary Miodrag Djidic as saying that Cooper Tire is interested in acquiring Trayal’s automobile tyre plant. When questioned on the subject, a Cooper Tire Europe spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that’ the company’s “corporate policy is not to comment on rumour or speculation.”
Fast-Fit Tyres branch manager Darren Freeman, of Salhouse Road, Norwich, attended Ascot after winning a nationwide promotion run by Cooper Tires. Freeman’s branch was entered into the free draw along with all of the other Cooper Tires participating dealers, including the rest of the Fast-Fit chain.
A glance at any UK national newspaper’s society pages this week will tell you that Royal Ascot is upon us. Amongst the glamour of the zany hats and figure-hugging dresses will be Ivybridge motorist Julia Bertram, who will attend Ladies’ Day this Thursday (June 17), thanks to the Cooper tyres she bought from distributor, Victor Barry Tyres.
Staff at Cooper Tire’s UK headquarters in Melksham raised more than £4,000 for the Help for Heroes charity last month with a festive raffle. The raffle, organised by HR officer Steve Forbes and Unite representative Steve Saunders, took place on 23 December and raised £2,052.03 for the forces charity. That amount was matched by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe, to bring the total to £4,104.06.
The management of Cooper Tire Europe has offered “its sincere apologies to anyone who was affected”, after a camera was found in the men’s toilet by employees. The Wiltshire Times reports that the camera “was installed by a maintenance contractor at the request of a Cooper Tires manager,” who suspected employees of substance abuse. The Unite Union representative John McGookin told the paper that he has discussed the incident with company management, saying, “This was somebody’s misguided approach to a concern. It’s something we have asked that the company ensures does not happen again.”
A Cooper statement said that, “Following an extensive, independent investigation into the discovery of a camera in a toilet, it has been established that:-
1. Although there was suspicion of substance abuse on site, the decision to position a camera in a toilet was unacceptable
2. The company has a policy to deal with suspected substance abuse and this was not followed
3. The camera equipment was not made operational
4. Although the motives were genuine, as the company treats substance abuse seriously, this was a major error of judgement and therefore disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible
5. Procedures are being changed to ensure that such an incident cannot be repeated in future”
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe has released a statement announcing its plan to cut 30-50 jobs at its Melksham, Wiltshire plant, amounting to around 4 per cent of the company’s workers there. The manufacturer will invite its 1,000 employees at the site to apply for voluntary redundancy throughout May. The statement cites the reduction of costs necessary to remain competitive within its markets as the reason for the cuts.
Cooper Tire has launched a new ultra-high performance tyre which, the company claims, offers all the performance of the Zeon range, but with the addition of much improved tread life. The new Cooper Zeon CS6 replaces the Cooper Zeon XTC V and W-rated sizes. The enhanced tyre tread life comes by virtue of a new silica tread compound which, thanks to the latest in computer-aided design technology, offers enhanced grip in wet weather braking and handling situations, but also features up to 12 per cent longer tread wear than the XTC.
The CS6 will be available in sizes ranging from 15 to 18 inch rim diameters, and more high-speed ratings than its predecessor, including V, W and Y ratings. The CS6’s new up-rated tyre construction means the CS6 is lighter than its predecessor, and features lower rolling resistance, which offers energy and money saving benefits to consumers.
Cooper Tire Europe has suspended production at its Melksham, UK production plant. According to a company spokesman production and closed for a week in order to reduce stocks. However, a BBC news report added that the move would also “help safeguard its future.” There is apparently no threat to jobs at the plant which employs 1100 people. Production is expected to return to normal next week.
A number of tyre manufacturers have filed a lawsuit against chemical producers alleged to be members of a cartel operating in the late 1990s and early this decade. According to a report published by Czech Republic newspaper the Prague Daily Monitor, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited and 25 other plaintiffs filed the UK based lawsuit with the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, on February 22. The 26 plaintiffs are said to be seeking an unspecified amount of compensation from 23 companies.
One of defendants, Czech group Unipetrol, received notification of the lawsuit in late May. Speaking to the Prague Daily Monitor, a company spokeswoman, Blanka Ruzickova, said: “It is now being analysed by our lawyers, but it is sure that we are going to defend ourselves. The lawsuit is based on an accusation of a cartel agreement that we rejected already two years ago and that we still reject.”
Cooper Tire & Rubber Europe has announced two new appointments to its UK team. Brian Sprott, an 18-year company veteran, is to take on the role of UK sales manager for Retail Accounts. In this position, Mr. Sprott will report to Steve Cundy, European Business Development Director.
Before this latest appointment Sprott has held several different sales and management roles within the UK sales team, including divisional sales manager and UK retail manager – West. During his time at Cooper Tire Europe he has also acquired his Diploma in Management Studies, in 2002.
Steve Cundy, European Business Development Director, has been named the new head of Cooper Tire’s UK passenger car sales team. Cundy, a veteran of 36 years, first with Avon Tyres and then with Cooper Tire Europe, will have overall responsibility for Avon and Cooper brand replacement tyre sales for the sector. The new role will be in addition to Steve’s existing European Business Development, OE and Private Brand responsibilities.
Two other long-serving Cooper men will report directly to Steve Cundy in his new role. They are National Accounts Director, Ian Daniels, who has been with the company for 19 years, and Jason Clarke, UK Sales Manager for Regional Accounts, who has notched up nine years of service.
Cooper’s National Accounts team will also receive some new blood in the shape of James Steventon and Adrian Aynsley, who have joined as National Accounts Managers.
