Point-S hosts 2014 member’s conference
On Friday 17th January members of Point-S, the leading of independent tyre dealer network, attend their annual conference and gala dinner at the Menzies Welcombe Hotel in Stratford upon Avon.
On Friday 17th January members of Point-S, the leading of independent tyre dealer network, attend their annual conference and gala dinner at the Menzies Welcombe Hotel in Stratford upon Avon.
On 10 March, three new sizes will join Bridgestone’s Battlax Hypersport S20 Evo sport radial tyre range. These include one front and two rear sizes, in dimensions popular on 250cc and other light/middle weight motorcycles. Bridgestone will initially launch the tyres in Japan and will then introduce them in other global markets.
Yulex Corporation is opening a Seed & Genetics Center focused the development of guayule plantations and best practice for all kinds of applications. According to the company, Yulex’s Seed & Genetics Center will support the global commercial development of guayule. Additional research activities at the Center involve the refinement of sustainable production techniques designed to improve guayule’s rubber yield and quality through natural processes, with a focus on soil management and natural crop production inputs.
Maxxis says its MAS2 successor, the Victra Sport VS01, addresses the demands of high performance vehicle drivers, and opines it may prove to be one of its most significant product launches in years.
The entire VS01 range of summer tyres comes with a new asymmetric tread pattern and rim protector. Maxxis says sport performance is delivered through the tyre’s high-strength steel belts and high rigidity bead filler, while driver comfort has been aided by the use of finite element analysis to keep noise to a minimum.
Launch UK has unveiled its latest generation of diagnostic tools. Centring on the X-431 PRO, the line is said to offer a full fault system diagnosis for American, Asian and European vehicle manufacturers. As one the first Android based diagnostic tools, X-431 provides greater speed, reliability and ease of use over other diagnostic tools.
The China Rubber Industry Association reports that its ‘green tyre specifications’ document is currently open for input from the industry before its official launch during the first quarter of this year. The document was opened for comments on 27 December and will remain so until 20 January. According to the CRIA, the document defines what a green tyre is and sets out parameters to be used in a Chinese tyre label.
On 2 January, Kumho Tire announced the domestic market launch of its first self-sealing tyre. The company’s ‘K-Seal’ technology has been introduced on the Kumho Majesty Solus range and is available in three sizes – 275/40ZR19 XL 105W, 245/45ZR19 XL 102W and 235/45ZR17 XL 97W. These tyres are capable of self-sealing tread punctures of up to five millimetres in diameter.
The world’s fourth-largest sugar producer, Tereos, has joined the French BioButterfly project to develop and roll out a process for producing bio-butadiene. The company has signed a partnership agreement with Michelin that focuses on the industrial transformation of agricultural raw materials; this partnership aims to strengthen the upstream phase of the BioButterfly project.
Apollo Tyres has announced the introduction of the Vredestein brand in India. Four ranges from the Dutch tyre maker will initially be available there – the Ultrac Sessanta, Ultrac SUV Sessanta, Ultrac Cento and Sportrac. These will be sold in a range of sizes for 15 to 20-inch rim diameters. The Vredestein range sold in India will complement the existing Apollo passenger car range, Apollo Tyres states.
Autoparts UK, one of the fastest growing motor factors, has launched an exclusive brand of batteries into the UK automotive aftermarket and signalled the introduction of more new brands in the future.
The Goliath brand of batteries joins Padtech brake pads, Disctech brake discs and Ultratec oils in being exclusively available from Autoparts, which has recently been subject to a massive rebranding exercise and the amalgamation of Apanels, a leading supplier of crash repair, body shop dry goods and key mechanical products.
To showcase the launch of its new X Multi D tyre, Michelin has introduced an Instagram-based contest aimed at the trucking community. Called ‘Deliver Everywhere’, the contest invites truck drivers and others to showcase their brands in “some of the unusual, out-of the-way places in which they operate.” Truckers based in the UK and 13 other European countries are eligible to participate.
Half a century of Pirelli beautifying the weeks and months through its Calendar will be celebrated in Milan this evening at a gala event attended by an array of big names. Pirelli has been tight-lipped about its preparations for the launch, however other sources have tipped a number of former Cal photographers to be present, including Peter Beard (2009), Patrick Demarchelier (2005, 2008), Karl Lagerfeld (2011) and Steve McCurry (2013), along with models such as Alessandra Ambrosio, Isabeli Fontana, Summer Rayne Oakes, Tatjana Patitz, Alek Wek, Erin Wasson, Karolina Kurkova. Some say Kevin Spacey will act as event host.
At Agritechnica Mitas unveiled its Very High Flexion (VF) tyre for sprayer applications, the VF HC1000. The company displayed the new VF 380/90R46 173D HC 1000 TL on its show stand ahead of the range’s 2014 commercial launch.
With its new SprayBib VF420/95R50, Michelin says it has introduced a size that is unique in the crop-conditioning segment. The new tyre is on display at Agritechnica this week and the tyre maker says this extension of the range demonstrates its “ability to integrate innovative technologies that satisfy farmers’ needs throughout the crop cycle.”
Michelin will bring its latest range of motorcycle tyres in January 2014, with three versions of the Pilot Road 4 available in a total of 17 sizes. The Pilot Road 4, Pilot Road 4 GT and Pilot Road 4 Trail have been developed to decrease wet braking distances. The GT version of the tyre has been awarded a major original equipment contract too; it will be fitted to the new BMW R 1200 RT, one of the bestselling bikes in its category.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.