Tag: featured
Original look, new technology – Auto Bild tests tyres for older sports cars
The latest tyre test from Auto Bild Klassik sets out to determine whether “classic tyres with today’s technology can make the driving behaviour of yesterday’s sports cars even more dynamic and, most importantly, safer.” To do this, the German magazine’s test team fitted eight 185 R15 (today’s 185/80 R15) classic car tyre brands to a 1960s Austin Healy 3000.
Apollo Tyres: Netherlands car tyre production down, but not out
Passenger car tyre production and capacity at Apollo Tyres’ Gyöngyöshalász plant in Hungary has steadily grown over the past two years. These respectively reached 2.1 million and almost 3 million units a year by the end of March 2019, and Apollo is still ramping up in Hungary. It’s a different story in Enschede, some 700 miles to the west, but Apollo Tyres says it isn’t preparing to end car tyre production in the Netherlands any time soon.
TrustFord invests in Quick Lane tyre retail franchise
Quick Lane Tyre & Autocentre has opened a new location in Prestwich following significant investment in the franchise from TrustFord. Could this signal a move further towards tyre retail on the part of Ford?
Trends and predictions in the automotive diagnostic tools market
With a global market share of over 34 per cent in 2018, Europe is expected to become the leading region in the automotive diagnostic scan tools market in the next few years. At the same time, the automotive diagnostic scan tools market and is estimated grow to a US$15 billion market size by 2025 - all of which adds up to a very positive diagnosis for those wishing to offer diagnostic servicing to consumers. With this in mind, Tyres Accessories analysed the latest market data in order to find the consensus of opinions relating to the future of the diagnostic tools market.
Tyre and brake wear: AQEG releases “most globally comprehensive analysis”
Particulate and plastic pollution from brakes, tyres and road wear are in the spotlight again. The Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) released a new report today that highlights the impact of this pollution, and the UK Government reports that Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey and Transport Minister Michael Ellis are “leading a push” to tackle its impact. The aim is for the introduction of an international standard that covers tyre and brake wear.
Michelin: Wet grip testing at 1.6mm will provide greater transparency
The debate over how much tread depth is sufficient and recommendable has been going on for years. While some tyre makers and motoring groups support changing the legal minimum tread depth to 3mm as a move towards greater peace of mind, Michelin has been a vocal advocate of not only keeping 1.6mm the legal minimum but of actually using tyres right down to this tread depth. It is also one of a growing number of parties calling for legislation that informs consumers how tyres perform when worn. Earlier this month, Michelin shared the latest developments in the quest for ‘Long Lasting Performance’.
Continental acquires R&J Strang
Continental Tyre Group has acquired Scottish commercial fleet servicing company R&J Strang Tyre Services Ltd. The company stated that the latest acquisition represents a further step to strengthen its overall commercial fleet service offering across the UK and Ireland.
Falken celebrates 20 years at the Nürburgring
Falken Tyres celebrated 20 years at the Nürburgring with sponsorship of the ADAC TOTAL 24-Hour Race (N24), held on 22-23 June 2019. The Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand’s team, run by Sven Schnabl, now fields two cars at the event, and in the VLN Endurance Championship. The UK’s Peter Dumbreck and Swiss driver Alexandre Imperatori drove the BMW M6 GT3 alongside BMW factory drivers Stef Dusseldorp and Jens Klingmann to claim an excellent sixth place finish, having started 31st on the grid, while the new Porsche 911 GT3R, driven by Austrian duo Martin Ragginger and Klaus Bachler supported by Porsche factory drivers Dirk Werner and Jörg Bergmeister, finished the race in 21st, having suffered an off that put paid to its chances of a top-ten finish. Falken also supplied racing tyres to Subaru Tecnica International’s WRX STI. Tyres & Accessories took the opportunity to catch up with Falken Tyre Europe’s new chief operating officer and president, Markus Bögner, on what is probably the rising company’s most important weekend of the year.
Micheldever appoints Mitchell as wholesale director
Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) has appointed Graham Mitchell as its new wholesale director. Mitchell will take over the key strategic role following Alan Baldwin’s retirement, scheduled for November. In a 17-year career in the tyre industry, Mitchell has acquired extensive experience across both UK and European markets. He joins MTS from Cooper Tire, where he held senior management roles that included sales director for UK and Western Europe and UK and Northern Europe sales director.
Tyre dominance in overall aftermarket beginning to diminish
The value of the United Kingdom (UK) automotive aftermarket grew by 4.9 per cent during the course of 2018. According to MarketLine, which produces its data in US-dollars across all markets worldwide, this means the UK automotive aftermarket was and is worth $28.5 billion (£22.53 billion) a year. However, the same research suggests that the value of the UK automotive aftermarket sector is increasing and in 2023 is forecast to be worth $34.4 billion (£27.2 billion), up 20.7 per cent compared with 2018.
Hankook Tire and the DTM extend partnership to 2023
Hankook will continue as the exclusive supplier of DTM for the next four years, having signed an early extension to its partnership contract with DTM marketer ITR. The tyre maker has been involved in one of the most popular international touring car series as official partner and exclusive tyre supplier since 2011. The new contract means Hankook will become the longest-standing tyre supplier in the history of the international racing series.
Autopromotec: Changing Europe makes cooperation more important
When the doors for Autopromotec 2019 opened at the end of May, the show organisers were already reporting a 4.4 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors. More than 1,650 companies exhibited at Autopromotec 2019. 43 per cent were non-Italian companies from 53 different countries. It has undoubtedly become a large and influential international show, but how will this work in a post-Brexit environment?
Brembo extends premium offer with UHP to track-day range
Mention Brembo and the Italian manufacturer’s brightly coloured brake callipers immediately spring to mind. At the same time, the brand carries with it messages of premium quality, OE fitments on the best-known cars and top-flight motorsport credentials. During Autopromotec Tyres & Accessories Alfredo Albarella, Area Manager BU Aftermarket Brembo SpA and heard about how Brembo’s latest “Xtra” UHP brake range and “Expert” dealer both aim to offer customers something extra.
Triangle moving to make its mark in Europe
In 2016 Triangle Tyre completed its initial public offering (IPO) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Back then Triangle’s top management promised that the company would invest in expanding its position in key markets – including Europe. Sure enough, in 2017 a new European leadership team was appointment and shortly afterwards a new European headquarters was opened in Milan. But around the same time, European anti-Chinese truck tyre import duties were also introduced. For many companies this meant the end of Chinese truck tyre business in tariff areas. So how has Triangle faired in this adverse business climate? Nearly two years after their appointment, Tyres & Accessories caught up with Triangle executives Corrado Moglia, general manager – Europe; Angelo Giannangeli, European marketing director; and Mirco Spiniella, business development director Europe in order to answer that question.
Bridgestone pulling away at the top of global tyre manufacturer rankings
This month’s magazine includes our annual leading tyre manufacturers table (click here for more). Ranking the world’s biggest and big tyre firms in this way gives everyone a baseline reference for gauging different firms’ performance and – if previous years are anything to go by – it can be a real conversation starter as well.
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