Shandong Linglong’s truck and bus radial tyres have gained EPA SmartWay verification for 18 of its Linglong and Leao brand truck tyres in the USA for low rolling resistance. The verified tyres include steer, drive and trailer axle applications.
American tyre news source Tire Review has broken the news that Bridgestone Americas is to resurrect its Dayton medium truck tyre brand. The manufacturer discontinued the brand on the first day of 2011, and was said to have distributed its remianing inventory in the second half of 2010. Bridgestone issued its own statement on Daton confirming that "renewed interest from drivers, small fleets and managers" had led to the revival of the US manufactured product.
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has responded to a recent Motorist Forum report on customer experience of franchised and independent MoT stations and garages in the wake of the government’s statement on the matter. While Brian Spratt, IAAF chief executive, praised the Roads minister for taking a “balanced view”, he said a fundamental change of attitudes towards communication is the key to improving the garage customer service experience. The Motorists Forum report put forward 12 recommendations to the government on how to improve the garage customer experience, details of which can be found on the IAAF website.
Foxy Lady Drivers Club has opened what it says is the UK's first female friendly accident repairer network. According to the network, Women drivers can now search for a female friendly business across much of the UK for when they need their car servicing, MOT'd or repaired including all kinds of mechanical work as well as major accident damage and more minor bodywork repairs like car park dents or damaged alloys. The new Foxy Lady Approved accident repair network opened for business on Monday 7 January with an initial 90 accident repair centres featured.
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A new report published by research and markets suggest that tyre demand is increasing in emerging markets. It points out that global automotive production has a direct impact on the demand for tyres and tyre cords in the OEM segment. Higher number of cars produced translates into increased use of tyre cords in tyre production and vice versa. Therefore disruptions in vehicle production tend to distort opportunities in the market.
Infinity-sponsored golfer, Virginia Espejo, recently qualified for the Ladies European Tour 2013 during the LET 2013 qualifying school, which was held at Morocco’s Al Maaden Golf and Amelkis Golf clubs, in Marrakech.
In a bid to lower the cost of motoring for UK drivers, Goodyear is offering cashback on car insurance when purchasing Goodyear tyres in conjunction with Swinton. From the start of 2013, every motorist that purchases Goodyear tyres will be entitled to £75 cash back when purchasing car insurance online through Swinton. Goodyear and Swinton are explained that they are working together to “enable motorists to continue buying premium products in a financially challenging environment.”
Toyo Tires equipped vehicles have won the opening three stages of the 2013 Dakar rally. Open Country M/T-R tyres won Stages 1 – 3 thanks to Team Qatar Red Bull. This year’s Dakar rally runs 5 – 20 January and is nearly 5,000 miles in length. The route runs southward from Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile.
Uth is promoting its Roll-ex gear extruders, highlighting that they are specially beneficial for sensitive process steps. According to the company, the use of a gear extruder lends itself to economical fine mesh straining of rubber compounds in a manner that is also gentle on the materials and also to the precision extrusion of tyre components.
ATS Euromaster has reported that it beat its own roadside assistance records for the fourth year running in 2012. 2012 data shows ATS Euromaster’s customer response team and mobile fitting fleet cut the average time from receiving a customer call to arrival on the scene to one hour, five minutes and six seconds. That’s a drop of 17 minutes and 45 seconds from the 2009 times, which ATS technicians have reduced every year since. The data also shows ATS Euromaster is averaging a total time from receiving a customer’s call to completing the job at the roadside of one hour, 51 minutes and 29 seconds. That’s a saving of 14 minutes and 54 seconds on the 2009 times, which again, ATS technicians have slashed every year since.
Dunlop says it has completed its current touring segment offering with the introduction of the StreetSmart. This new range, which was introduced on 1 January, has been specifically designed to meet the fitment needs of classic bikes, targeting a market that is growing year-on-year.
Retreaders – whether small or large, industrial scale operations – can use the best processes, machinery and materials, but if the used casing isn’t good, then the finished retread won’t be any good either. The failure of a retreaded tyre when fitted to a customer’s vehicle is a worst case scenario for retreaders. Therefore, experts such as Stefan Dengler recommend that efforts be made to ensure high-end and comprehensive casing entry control. Visually inspecting casings is of course beneficial, however the SDS Systemtechnik managing director notes that even the most experienced casing inspector cannot see within a tyre. The most important technical aid in this area is shearography, something that every retreader can and should invest in.
Tyre manufacturer Hankook has unveiled plans for the construction of the company’s new central R&D facility in Korea. The centre, covering the total area of around 100,000 m², will be located at Daedeok Innopolis, South Korea’s premier research complex located in Daejeon, about 150 km south of Seoul. The construction of the new facility is projected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Plans to offer practical driving tests from branches of Halfords have been given the go ahead by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.
Driving tests will be available from the Halfords store in Wellingborough from Tuesday 5 February. Other branches of Halfords across the country are expected to start offering tests in coming months. All tests will be conducted by Driving Standards Agency (DSA) examiners.
The total UK bus and coach market rose 34.2 per cent to 8,102 units in 2012, ending the year on a high. 2012 was a positive year for the overall bus and coach market, with significant growth posted across the sector: Registrations of purpose-built buses and coaches climbed 12.4 per cent in the year, posting 3,811 units. Converted bus registrations rose 62.2 per cent in 2012 to 4,291 units.
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