2009 - Page 4 of 205 - Tyrepress

Sofronas Drives Pirelli Fitted Porsche to Record-Breaking Win

In only its second weekend racing Pirelli P Zero Racing Slicks, US based tuner GMG Racing posted another win – this time capturing qualifying by nearly three seconds over the next-fastest car, before going on to knock out the competition and the Porsche Owner’s Club Racing Weekend race at Willow Springs Raceway with a ten-second margin. GMG’s Porsche 997 WC Cup car set the fastest time ever in a standard Cup car (non-RS or RSR) with a time of 1:19.7. Driver and GMG co-owner James Sofronas is new to Pirelli Motorsport, but after sweeping the BMW CCA (Car Club of America) Club Race CM Class during the BMWCCA West Coast season finale club race, and following that up with a huge weekend at Willow Springs in his Porsche – Pirelli reports that he is a believer.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Sets Schedule for 2010 OTR Conference

The complete schedule for the Tire Industry Association (TIA) 2010 OTR Conference has now been posted on the TIA’s website, and the association reminds those interested in attending the conference in the US that the early conference registration deadline (January 13) and hotel registration deadline (January 18) are rapidly approaching. Interested attendees can view the schedule and register by visiting the "events" section of the TIA's tireindustry.org website.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Rewards Scheme “Boosts PCR Sales Throughout 2009”, Winners Announced

Christmas arrived early for 13 lucky tyre retailers who will receive a luxury hamper and £400 in Argos gift vouchers after winning the final Maxxis Rewards quarterly prize draw of 2009. “The Maxxis Rewards programme helped promote the brand, not only boosting Maxxis PCR sales throughout the year, but also helping us to develop key relationships, as retailers contacted us to find out more about adding Maxxis to their range and some of those that already offered Maxxis were encouraged to recommend it to their customers as a quality, value for money tyre,” says Grouptyre sales director Paul Hollows.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Techking Aims for January Launch of Effiplus 'Green' Car Tyre Range

Well-known as an OTR/EM tyre manufacturer, Techking Tires is now seeking to sell a low rolling-resistance passenger car tyre range called Effiplus from January 2010. The Qingdao, China-based tyre manufacturer reports that it has already arranged a substantial off-take agreement with an as-yet unnamed Chinese tyremaker. Marketing manager Ben Zhang refused to reveal exact details of which manufacturer the company would be working with and how many tyres the company is planning to make, but Tyres & Accessories understands it will manufacture with one of China's largest producers. The plan is to sell the tyres direct to wholesalers/dealers in these respective markets, rather than distributing through importers.

While Zhang didn’t explicitly explain the thinking behind this part of the decision, it is likely to be related to the fact that, while the company’s partnerships with local distributors work well with high value items like OTR tyres, margins are slim on low value items such as passenger car tyres – particularly in such a competitive climate for the economy sector. What Zhang did say was that the company is considering offering the right wholesalers brand exclusivity, something that would enable the company and the wholesalers it partners with to share the marketing and business development investment.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Asia Pacific Marketing Push Aims to Increase Domestic Sales

Whether the attention Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Asia Pacific gained at Reifen China was a result of the tyres on display or the bus loads of dancers performing on the exhibition stand each hour, you cannot ignore that the company has embarked on a slick and high profile marketing campaign and is increasingly making an impact on the domestic Chinese market in both the passenger car and truck tyre sectors. With this in mind, Tyres & Accessories interviewed vice president and general manager Asia operations, Allen Tsaur, and senior PR manager Jojo Tang.

Cooper’s ongoing region-specific marketing push aims to invest in the future of China’s fast growing automotive business by reaching more consumers and particularly the young driver audience. Car ownership in general has shot up in recent years, but Tang reports that ownership in the 23 – 35 age group has “boomed.” And this explains the “Charlie’s Angels” meets “Kill Bill” styling of the Cooper Angels customer-facing marketing concept.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

From Hi-Viz to High Fashion

The high visibility vest, once the preserve of rail workers and those engaged in emergency services, has become ubiquitous. In his book ‘Pies and Prejudice’, Stuart Maconie refers to the reflective tabard, along with Greggs' pasties, as a new emblem of the North. And he has a point – people from all walks of life can be found wearing the high visibility tabard for workplace duties, changing a tyre or simply walking their similarly attired dog. And this army of fluorescent vest wearers are united by one common bond – they all look equally unfashionable.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti: 2009 Market Volume Constant, Segmentation and Value Down

2009 may have been a “turbulent time” in the UK passenger car and van tyre markets, but some premium tyre manufacturers finished the year better than it started; and there are signs pointing to the recovery of premium manufacturer’s sell-in sales. That’s the view of Continental Tyre Group executives, who spoke to Tyres & Accessories at the company’s annual market trends briefing in London in December. As well as presenting the company’s influential overview of market sales and general trends, Conti representatives also gave a fascinating insight into how the government’s highly successful scrappage incentive scheme may affect future car sales.

Continental estimates the UK car, 4×4 and van tyre market totalled 33 million tyres in 2009, a slight drop over the final figure from 2008. However, while 2009 is said to have seen motorists hold off getting new tyre purchases, the overall numerical impact on the market is said to have been limited. Instead Continental re-affirmed that the UK tyre market has been experiencing a so-called “de-segmentisation” effect with consumers buying tyres of lower unit value and brand equity than they purchased pre-recession (something Tyres & Accessories first observed in May 2009 following strong Korean-brand tyre sales the preceding March). What is interesting about Continental’s analysis of this effect is that they are the only company so far to suggest that there is a significant group of consumers that are dropping two segments (premium to budget, for example), double de-segmenting if you will.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Beru AG Renamed BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH

Beru AG, the TPMS sensor and diesel coldstart specialist, has officially changed its name into the German equivalent of limited company (GmbH). The company now operates as “BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH”. According to the company, the new name expresses the relationship to the US parent company, BorgWarner, while retaining the valuable Beru brand name.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Issues Christmas Tyre Pressure Safety Advice

Families can reduce their chances of being stranded by the roadside or being involved in a serious accident over the Christmas holiday period by making sure their car tyres are correctly inflated before they set off. That’s the advice issued by TyreSafe today. And it comes with a warning: “Drivers who fail to make these checks and adjustments significantly increase their likelihood of experiencing a dangerous tyre blowout.”

“During the holiday period too many motorists suffer misery from tyre related breakdowns because they haven’t made adequate checks before setting off,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Very often the cars are heavily loaded with extra passengers, luggage and presents and then head off on long, high-speed, motorway journeys. It’s essential when carrying extra weight that tyre pressures are checked and adjusted in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Motorists who fail to make these adjustments are much more likely to spend some of their Christmas break stranded at the roadside because of a tyre failure”.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vredestein Introduces TraxionXXL for Powerful Tractors

In 1997, Vredestein introduced the first four dimensions in its Traxion+ tractor radial line-up, and the company notes these tyres were an instant success. More than a decade on and Vredestein says the Traxion+ tyres are still gaining market share in almost all European countries. A new tyre based upon the Traxion+ design has now been produced. Vredestein calls it the TraxionXXL.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Reports US Tyre Shipments Way, Way Down

Tire shipments in the United States through the first half of 2009 posted perhaps their worst performance in history, according to new data from the RMA. OE passenger tyre shipments through the first six months fell an incredible 54.3 per cent versus the same period last year. By comparison, OE shipments for the first half of 2008 were down 10.8 per cent year-over-year. The replacement side wasn’t much better, off 11.9 per cent versus the same period last year. 2008’s first half saw shipments off a meager 0.7 per cent versus the first half of 2007.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maine Industrial Tire Wins GPX Solid Tyre Bid

MITL Acquisition Corp., comprised of former GPX International Tire officials and private investors, identified itself as the winning bidder for the solid tyre business sold out of bankruptcy by GPX. The new company will operate as Maine Industrial Tire, and will be led by Bryan Ganz, CEO; Troy Kline, president and COO; and Phil Fitzgerald, director of China operations.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Y&R Wins Back Pirelli Global Ad Business

Pirelli Tyres has awarded its global advertising efforts to Young & Rubicam, returning to the international agency after a 10-year absence. Y&R said its WPP Group in Milan will handle the day-to-day business. Y&R won the bid over five other agencies, including incumbent Wieden+Kennedy in Amsterdam.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan to Offer Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes

Titan International has reported its intention to offer US$75 million aggregate principal amount of its Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes, due 2017, in a private offering. The company says it intends to use the proceeds from the offering for “general corporate purposes”, including financing potential future acquisitions and repayment of existing debt obligations.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Ruia Group acquires German Automotive Supplier

India’s Ruia Group, parent company of Dunlop India and Falcon Tyres, has acquired a 60 per cent controlling stake in Germany’s Henniges Automotive Grefrath GmbH, a supplier of automotive sealing systems to numerous vehicle manufacturers, including Daimler, BMW, Audi and Volkswagen. The cost of the acquisition, made through a Special Purpose Vehicle on behalf of Ruia, has not been disclosed. A further 15 per cent share in the acquired company now rests in the hands of Henniges director Juregen Hein, while administrator Wolf Von Der Fecht owning the remaining 25 per cent stake. Ruia Group chairman Pawan K Ruia told Dow Jones Newswires that the group has a call option to buy back the shares held by Fecht and Hein.

14th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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