GRI is supplying tyres to Joskin, the agricultural Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) based in Belgium. Announcing the news at the end of October, Joskin said it has been in operation since 1968 and is one of the world’s leading producers of agricultural trailers, tankers, and related equipment to meet the changing needs of global farmers.
In May, analysts reported that Q2 European trailer registrations were 44 per cent down and that full-year 2020 trailer registrations were set to be down north of 28 per cent. Now however, the same analysts – Clear International – are echoing the findings of other indicators and suggesting that things will turn out slightly better than expected this year.
Hankook has introduced a new line of Laufenn brand commercial vehicle tyres in the UK. With Laufenn the Korean tyre manufacturer targets the second tier of the market. Hankook initially launches Laufenn in the UK with nine patterns covering more than 85 per cent of tyres in the market for goods and people transportation, as well as construction truck tyres. Hankook adds that most sizes offer the three peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) marking for use in winter conditions. The Laufenn CV tyre range was due to be presented in the UK at the Commercial Vehicle Show, before the Birmingham NEC event was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Goodyear’s latest trailer tyre, the Kmax T Gen-2 has arrived, completing its second generation commercial vehicle tyre line-up. Designed for regional fleets, the range offers higher mileage, longer life, full winter tyre EU legislation compliance and RFID connectivity, Goodyear states. The new trailer tyre, which replaces the Kmax T, is the latest tyre product to enter Goodyear Total Mobility – a customisable group of fleet services. Total Mobility also includes smart fleet solutions and the support of an expert service network throughout Europe.
Various road and climatic conditions are encountered within the Continental Tire division’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business, and for this reason, it is introducing commercial trailer tyres that reflect regional requirements. The first of these is the Conti Hybrid HT3 WR.
Since the last report in May, Clear market research analysts are now reporting that several West European economies have had their forecasts for 2019/20 economic growth downgraded yet again. In the first six months trailer demand was up by 0.4 per cent but a fall of 14.9 per cent is forecast for the second half. As a result, the market will be down 6.6 per cent for the year.
Michelin is launching a new CargoXBib High Flotation trailer tyre, with four VF-rated sizes designed to minimise soil compaction. The VF 650/55 R26.5, VF 600/55 R26.5, VF 710/50 R26.5 and VF 750/60 R30.5 utilise the latest Michelin Ultraflex Technology, increasing flexibility and, therefore, having even less impact on the soil than the existing CargoXBib High Flotation range.
According to Clear International, demand for trailers grew by 3.6 per cent in Eastern Europe in 2018. The market has grown every year for the last six years, but that growth has been quite modest. Nevertheless, trailer sales in 2018 were the third highest on record, only surpassed in 2007 and 2008. The forecast for 2023 is that registrations of new trailers will be close to setting an all-time record.
Giti’s GTR955 Combi Road trailer tyre and Team Oliver Racing’s bonneted Volvo VNL race-prepared truck will be the highlights of the tyre manufacturer’s stand at The CV Show 2019 (Stand 4F55, 30 April – 2 May, NEC Birmingham).
In February, the European Commission announced the start of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning steel road wheels imported from the People’s Republic of China. The focus is primarily upon wheels for cars and trucks, however the proceeding also covers wheels for road-going tractors as well as for non-powered vehicles such as trailers, semi-trailers and caravans. The proceeding followed a complaint lodged on 3 January by the Association of European Wheel Manufacturers (EUWA).
For a number of years, Danish firm STARCO offered the KargoTrail and MasterTrail under its own name. The third generation of these trailer tyre lines is now available, and both have been rebranded as Kenda products. STARCO says the Kenda KR101 MasterTrail 3G and Kenda KR209 KargoTrail 3G are “improvements of the well-performing and proven STARCO range,” with changes in tyre compound and tread depth leading to “longer mileage, better wet grip and improved rolling resistance.”
Giti’s new generation trailer tyre, the Giti GTR955 Combi Road, delivers around 30 per cent more mileage versus previous comparable products, the manufacturer states. This result was achieved by enhancing the tyre profile, advanced belt construction, and a newly developed tread compound, Giti adds. The tyre went through a four-year design and test period on several different fleet types, across various diverse sectors.
Giti Tire launched its planned transition from the GT Radial brand to the eponymous Giti commercial vehicle tyre range at the CV Show in 2017. One year on, Tyres & Accessories travelled to the Birmingham NEC to meet Tony McHugh, TBR sales and marketing director UK at Giti Tire, to ask how the transition has progressed in the intervening year, catch up on the latest range developments, and find out the story behind the Team Oliver racing truck on its stand.
Local truck fleets must reckon with the HGV road user levy, and similar toll schemes are in place throughout Europe. In some countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, the rate levied depends on the number of axles a vehicle uses. Fleets whose routes take them to or through these regions are increasingly turning to solutions that enable them to run with two-axle trailers. Goodyear has now released a new tyre to meet this demand.
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