Truck Tyres
Goodyear has signed a five-year partnership with Bretts Transport. As part of this deal, Bretts Transport will be supplied with premium tyres from Goodyear Fuelmax Gen-2 range and be supported by TruckForce under the Goodyear Total Mobility offering.
Fraikin signed a three-year truck and trailer tyre supply deal with Prometeon. Prometeon will supply and manager Pirelli and Formula brand tyres for Fraikin’s fleet of 3,100 rigids, tractors and trailers. Fraikin is no stranger to Pirelli and Formula tyres, having fitted them between 2006 and 2017. Fraikin has also previously worked with Bandvulc and ATS Euromaster.
Tym International will cease trading from 30 October 2020, effectively winding up the tyre import and wholesale business specialising in Far Eastern-produced and OTR tyres. Writing in a letter dated 8 September, managing director Steve Eke explained “the decision to cease has been forced upon the company by others that control the majority of the shares in the business”. Tyres & Accessories understands that the combination of recent business pressures caused by EU anti-dumping truck tyre tariffs and then coronavirus caused major shareholders to withdraw their investment.
The launch of the second-line Laufenn brand onto the European commercial vehicle tyre market has rounded out Hankook’s offer to fleet customers. Offering a second tier brand – alongside a growing retreading programme via its Alphatread range – can both allow the manufacturer a more extensive product range to cater to each customer’s entire fleet, and also allow Hankook to capitalise on the growing interest in more value-oriented products. The new tyres, which give Laufenn itself impressive market coverage, also help to emphasise one of Hankook’s competitive advantages; the proportion of products under three years old in its TBR portfolio. The timing of the launch could also help to address the economic strife felt by the logistics sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Featured in the September issue of Tyres & Accessories, we spoke with Guy Heywood, Hankook’s European marketing and strategy director for its truck and bus business, and UK sales director Paul Emery about how the introduction of Laufenn will help to develop the tyre manufacturer’s commercial business in the UK and Europe.
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Produced at its Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa truck and bus radial tyre manufacturing plant, Sumitomo Dunlop has launched a new drive-axle truck tyre. Locally researched, produced and tested, the SP835A is described as a “game changer”.
The former Promoter’s Cup category of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship will be renamed the Goodyear cup this season. The tyre maker has signed up as title partner for the category for ‘CHROME’ rated drivers, which is dedicated to upcoming talent. This ‘race within a race’ was introduced in 2017.
Following the news that Tructyre ATS is centralising its administration and call handling functions at specialist centre in Gateshead, further details have emerged. Top of the list is that the national specialist in truck tyre maintenance and fleet support is creating 80 new jobs at the Customer Experience Centre in Gateshead.
Goodyear has appointed Kate Norton sales general manager commercial UK & Ireland. She assumes the role after a decade-long career with Goodyear. Most recently she was head of sales capability Europe. Goodyear states that Norton has extensive knowledge of the industry. She has previously managed some of the company’s largest consumer accounts in the UK, bringing strong sales coaching skills to support the ongoing development of the commercial team.
Scandinavian start-up full-electric vehicle manufacturer Volta Trucks has signed a new tyre partnership with Bridgestone. The world’s largest tyre manufacturer will fit its tyres to the first launch vehicle, which will be revealed at an online event on Thursday 3 September. The agreement also covers the supply of tyres to Volta’s pilot vehicles, due to start evaluation with fleet operators in early 2021. Large logistics fleet operators have already signed-up to trial the Volta Zero, including DPD Group in the UK and Bring and Posten in Scandinavia, with orders also already being taken for the vehicle in both markets.
It is an open secret that the US presidential limo, affectionately known as “the beast” runs on Goodyear tyres. What many people are less aware of is that – owing to the fact that “the beast” has significant amounts of armour plating – unlike most limousines, the US presidential limo is actually fitted with 19.5-inch truck tyres that are better suited to the vehicle’s increased load. Whatever the fitment, 24 hours after Donald Trump tweeted “Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES”, adding: “Get better tires for far less!”, one has to ask if the current incumbent of the White House will be taking his own advice.
Nokian Tyres has extended its Nokian E-Truck range with an option for mid-sized trucks and buses that primarily operate in regional and city traffic. New 17.5-inch tyres will be available from the second half of 2020 as steer or drive axle fitments.
The new Launch HD Box 3 is an add on module for the X431 PRO4, X431 Eurotab, and X431 Eurotab2 and supports light commercials, heavy duty trucks, buses and other types of industrial vehicles for over 25 American, European & Asian manufacturers. According to the company behind the device, Launch UK, it is proving increasingly popular.
The Giti GTR955 Combi Road tyre is being launched in three new 17.5” sizes. The development marks the first time Giti Tire’s latest truck and bus tyre technology has been available in smaller rims. Initially available in 215/75R17.5, it will be followed by the 235/75R17.5 and 245/70R17.5 in quarter four.
Bretts Transport; Goodyear
Prometeon
Tym International
Hankook
Sumitomo Dunlop
Goodyear
Tructyre ATS
Goodyear
Bridgestone
Kirk W, Flicker; https://www.flickr.com/photos/7767586@N03/468658986 cc-by-sa-2.0
Nokian Tyres
Launch UK
TMD Friction
Giti