2009 - Page 174 of 205 - Tyrepress

Oliver Rubber Introduces Envelope Spreader For 16-58” Retreads

Michelin North American subsidiary Oliver Rubber recently introduced a new envelope spreader for use in the retreading process, which helps mechanically facilitate enveloping prior to curing. With a push of the foot pedal, Oliver’s 1137 Envelope Expander uses preset adjustments to mechanically stretch the envelope to the optimum diameter, thus minimising envelope stretch and in turn increasing envelope life. The new Oliver spreader was developed and manufactured by the company’s Salisbury Machinery Division in Salisbury, North Carolina.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Lays off 67 as US Off Road Tyre Demand Drops

The ripple effect from the downturn in North America’s construction industry is being felt by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). In response to a decline in demand for construction equipment, BATO is decreasing production of its small and medium off road tyres, and as of March 1 will lay off 67 hourly workers at its Bloomington, Illinois facility.

According to Bridgestone, production must be reduced in order to better align this inventory with demand. “The dramatic downturn in the economy continues to plague every industry, including ours,” said Shawn Rasey, president, Off the Road Tire, U.S. & Canada, Commercial Tire Sales division, BATO.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

I’ll Have Four ViaductRock Tyres Please….

According to the much used childhood retort, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. This, however, doesn’t apply to companies whose vocabulary includes words suspiciously similar to well-known trademarks….

On February 17 Bridgestone Corporation gave notice that its complaint of trademark infringement against two Chinese tyre manufacturers has been upheld. Bridgestone claimed that the companies in question, Shandong Santai Rubber Co., Ltd and Hangzhou Bridgesteel Rubber Co., Ltd, attempted to infringe on the goodwill established by certain Bridgestone intellectual property through the use of their respective brand names, Rockstone and Bridgesteel.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Loeb Claims 49th Career Win on Pirelli’s New Sottozero

He’s one away from the ‘big five-oh’…Rally Norway, the sole all-snow round of the World Rally Championship, was the scene of five-time WRC champion Sebastien Loeb’s 49th career win – it also marked the first competition victory for Pirelli’s brand new generation of Sottozero studded winter tyre. Loeb’s Citroën kept the Pirelli-equipped Ford Focus RS WRC of Mikko Hirvonen at bay throughout the event, finishing the three-day rally after what Pirelli has called a ‘close battle’ with the Finnish driver.

In past years, spiked winter tyres for world championship winter rallies used to be of a special narrow size, designed to bite through soft snow to the harder surfaces underneath. This year, as part of the Pirelli supported FIA cost-cutting drive, Pirelli’s tungsten-tipped Sottozero winter tyres – each of which contains 384 studs – have been designed to fit on standard 15-inch gravel wheel rims.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sinton Tyres Stocking the Latest Cooper 4×4 Range

In spite of the economic downturn, Sinton Tyres reports that its customers are happy to continue investing in their SUVs and off road vehicles – and the Cooper All Terrain (Discoverer ATR) and mud pattern (Discoverer STT) thus remain as popular as ever, with the Discoverer ST remaining a firm favourite with those enthusiasts who want a 40 per cent on-road/60 per cent off road tyre.

The latest products to find a stall in the Cooper stable are the Zeon XSTA, which replaces the Sports HP in the Discoverer range, and the Zeon LTZ, which comes in American truck sizes but is also suitable for some UK conversions. Both are suitable for the aftermarket.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CJ Bird Reports ‘Going the Extra Mile’ with Michelin

Welsh haulage firm CJ Bird Transport regularly clocks up 500,000 km on its Michelin drive axle tyres and 600,000 km on its Michelin trailer tyres thanks to an active programme of tyre husbandry carried out by independent tyre dealer Celtic Tyres. The Llantrisant-based company specifies Michelin as original equipment wherever possible, and the tyres’ longevity means many of the trucks it purchases never need to be fitted with a new replacement tyre during their life on the fleet.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Stock Up After Credit Suisse Upgrading

Bridgestone’s stock jumped 3.9 per cent to 1,332 yen (10.17 pounds sterling – 1 GBP: 131 JPY), when Credit Suisse reported that its new stock rating was “outperform”, from a previous ranking of “neutral.” The bank also raised its target price to 1,700 from 1,400, reasoning that the manufacturer has shown resistance to generally negative market trends.

The upgrading could be taken positively in the wider tyre business too. In his report, Credit Suisse analyst Toru Iwai wrote that, “We believe the tyre subsector is the only auto parts subsector capable of generating profits in FY09. We believe top-line growth, a major factor in assessing the company, will likely recover faster than auto production.”

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Reviewing Global Creative Account

Kumho Tire is conducting a review of its creative business in eight key global markets. The account under review is said to cover all markets outside of Korea and Japan, and is believed to be worth between US$5 million and $10 million. Submissions from interested agencies will be evaluated following the late February close date.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Would-Be Recycler Fined for Breaking Storage Law

Borough Recycling Services, a company hoping to construct a new tyre shredding plant near Folkingham, Lincolnshire, has been fined £10,000 after it was found to be storing a quantity of baled tyres 100 times greater than is allowed by law at its existing Kirton Holme-based operation near Boston. The company admitted that it had failed to obtain the correct permits for storing the tyres, alongside other related charges brought after the Environmental Agency visited the site.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Survey Shows Motorists Are Downsizing

A survey by LV= car insurance has revealed that almost one in five UK drivers (19 per cent) has downsized or sold one of their cars since the onset of the credit crunch in a bid to save money. The main reason given by motorists for downsizing their vehicle over the last eighteen months was to save money in fuel (61 per cent) while nearly a third (29 per cent) said they did it to cut the cost of road tax. Those who downsized their vehicle estimate they have already saved an average £309.

Despite the emphasis from the Government on ‘greener’ driving, only one in six (15 per cent) of those who had downsized cited environmental concerns as part of their decision.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Energy Saver Sole OE on New Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i

Michelin Energy Saver tyres will be exclusively fitted to future models of the Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i. According to the manufacturer, the tyre contributes to the low environmental impact of the new Toyota, which is scheduled for launch in early 2009, by reducing fuel consumption by 0.2 litres per 100 km and consequently, CO2 emissions by 4 grams per km. According to Michelin, new forms of silica have been introduced into the tyre’s rubber compound and combine with structural improvements to generate the fuel saving results.

Michelin first demonstrated that integrating silica in rubber compounds would reduce the tyre’s energy requirement while optimising performance in other key areas such as grip and wear-resistance in 1992. Since the market launch of these first tyres, Michelin has helped to generate fuel savings of more than 10 billion litres, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by more than 25 million tonnes.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Setzer to Head Conti Car Tyre Temporarily

Continental has announced that, as of 1 March 2009, Nikolai Setzer will take up the temporary management of the manufacturer’s Car Tyre Division. He will continue to head up the Replacement Business Car and Light Truck Tyre Division Europe and Africa positions he presently occupies, though there will be no change in structure between the sectors. He will report to Dr Hans-Joachim Nikolin, the board representative of the Commercial Vehicle Tyre Division and – provisionally – the Car Tyre Division.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire Ceases American Kenda Distribution

Cooper Tire & Rubber has ended its marketing and distribution agreement with Kenda Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd. (Kenda USA Corporation) effective 1 May 2009. This means that from May, Kenda will resume responsibility for the sales and marketing, distribution and customer service of the Kenda brand in the United States and Canada. Cooper has been the exclusive marketer of Kenda radial passenger and light truck tyres in US and Canada since November 2004. According to the companies, both parties will continue as partners in the radial passenger and light truck tyre plant in China, “and technical and other related matters.”

“The decision to end our marketing and distribution relationship was a mutual decision between Cooper and Kenda,” said Phil Caris, vice president of sales and marketing at Cooper. “And while the results of the joint venture were positive, it was agreed that a new approach would be beneficial in pursuing each company’s brand strategy. We have been very happy with our relationship with Kenda. As we begin to look into the future, we felt this strategy put both companies in a better position in this tough economic environment.”

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Capitalize Placed in Charge of Pirelli UK Motorcycle Segment PR

Pirelli has handed London based agency Capitalize responsibility for promoting its motorcycling activities in the UK. Initial projects for the agency will include a PR campaign for Pirelli and Metzeler’s racing activities, to publicise the company’s growing product range through specialist and trade motorcycling media as well as to a wider audience through motorsport, national and consumer lifestyle outlets.

Pirelli’s racing portfolio ranges from sole control tyre for the World Superbike Championship and British Superbike Championship to its presence at landmark road racing events including the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and Macau GP as well as widespread club racing events. The company has also claimed victories in the 2008 MX1 and MX2 Motocross Championships, bringing its tally to a respectable 51 World Championship crowns.

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres to Receive OTR Investment Loan from BEML

In 2007 Apollo Tyres entered into an agreement to supply OTR tyres to Indian mining equipment manufacturer BEML, and on February 13 the tyre maker announced it will receive a Rs 1 billion (£14.45 million) loan from the state-owned enterprise to cover the costs of a new facility that will meet anticipated BEML demand. The first phase of Apollo’s new OTR tyre facility in Gujarat, being built at a total cost of Rs 1.2 billion (£17.34 million), will be dedicated to output for the equipment manufacturer. Further investments to boost the production of radial OTR tyres will also be made over the next three years, Apollo announced.

While the first batch of tyres from the new facility has already been shipped to BEML, the factory is expected to commence continuous production in March.

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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