![Pirelli inaugurates new tyre development simulator](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/marcotronchettiprovera-simulatorepirelli.jpg)
Pirelli inaugurates new tyre development simulator
Pirelli has inaugurated a new driving simulator at its research and development division in Milan. The manufacturer says it is using its experience with simulation in Formula 1 to accelerate road tyre development cycles and tyre testing, reducing lead times and reinforcing partnerships with leading car makers with increased agility. Pirelli is the latest premium brand tyre maker to implement new simulation technology into its R&D department, following announcements by Michelin and Goodyear. The Italian brand adds that the new simulator is the latest instalment of its digitalisation strategy.
Continue Reading![Reinventing the simulated wheel](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Theta-C.jpg)
Reinventing the simulated wheel
For the generations raised in the late 20th century, the idea of travel simulators raises images of a capsule for eight people moved around with hydraulics to match a film, or perhaps contestants tasked with landing a plane on The Krypton Factor. Since those heady days, exponential increases in computer processing power and the ability to model a rapidly increasing range of sensory outputs from a highly complex web of inputs. Compared to the relatively broad strokes of retro aeronautical simulation, the convincingly realistic representation of the driving environment has become a legitimate source of automotive research and development. The latest simulation technology is increasingly making its way into tyre development as a means of increasing the efficiency of product development. With Michelin’s announcement that it would install a new Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulator at its North America Research & Development centre in Greenville, South Carolina, USA, Tyres & Accessories got in touch with its manufacturer Ansible Motion and its international manager for the company’s commercial group, Phil Morse to talk about the increasing prevalence of human-in-the-loop simulation within tyre and vehicle development, and the opportunities it offers.
Continue Reading![Goodyear buys Easy Tyre and Autocentres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WO4Z9335.jpg)
Goodyear buys Easy Tyre and Autocentres
Goodyear Tyres UK Limited has acquired Easy Tyre and Autocentres, which runs 17 HiQ branches as a franchisee. Easy Tyre and Autocentres’ branches span from Telford to Kettering, in a geographical area with a high value car parc and, according to Goodyear, represent the “second step” in the company’s ongoing retail strategy. All sites will become Goodyear’s equity operating under the HiQ brand going forward.
Continue Reading![Fintyre Group employee pay ‘coming’, restarting business operations a priority](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/RS-Exclusiv-Hohenwestedt_tb.jpg)
Fintyre Group employee pay ‘coming’, restarting business operations a priority
All 16 companies in the German Fintyre Group have now applied to open insolvency proceedings. But what lies ahead for the 1300-plus employees awaiting wages and salaries, the affected companies’ creditors, and the companies themselves? Sebastian Brunner, spokesman for Miguel Grosser, the provisional insolvency administrator at law firm Jaffé, told our sister website in Germany, Reifenpresse.de, that approximately 200 Reifen Krieg employees will receive their outstanding January wages and salaries in the coming days. Business at the group’s wholesalers and retailers is largely at a standstill, though the office of the provisional insolvency administrator has some more positive news on this too.
Continue Reading![Anger amongst Fintyre Group’s workforce in Germany: “They’re dealing with people, not numbers”](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Tyreexpert-sml-1.jpg)
Anger amongst Fintyre Group’s workforce in Germany: “They’re dealing with people, not numbers”
They are resigned, angry and desperate. But above all, they’re disappointed. Disappointed that they weren’t informed about the bankruptcy by their employer Fintyre, but by the media. Our sister publication in Germany, Neue Reifenzeitung, has spoken with staff at TyreXpert outlets in the north of the country to gain an insight into the mood of the workforce.
Continue ReadingCeat begins production at newest plant
Commercial production at Ceat Ltd.’s new production facility near Chennai, India began yesterday, reports the tyre maker. Ceat says production capacity at the plant in Sriperumbudur Taluka will now be “ramped up progressively in a phased manner” up to a daily capacity of 28,500 car tyres and 2,500 motorcycle tyres.
Continue Reading![Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man dealers join Michelin Quality Centres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/113-01-Michelin-Quayside-Tyre-Service-Centre-1200x797.jpg)
Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man dealers join Michelin Quality Centres
Michelin’s accredited dealer network continues to grow, with new Michelin Quality Centres (MQC) – the new name for members of the Michelin Auto Professional programme – appointed in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Continue Reading![Test World to offer skid trailer tyre testing](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Test-World-proving-ground.jpg)
Test World to offer skid trailer tyre testing
Test World is expanding its service offering to include tyre testing using a skid trailer, co-operating with Applus+ IDIADA to enhance its winter testing capabilities. The test equipment captures tyre adherence measurements, behaviour and characteristics in snow and ice driving environments.
Continue Reading![£7 million fraud suit brought against Vaculug’s former owners](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Royal_Court2.jpg)
£7 million fraud suit brought against Vaculug’s former owners
Grantham Capital Ltd, which bought well-known independent retreader Vaculug Traction Tyres 18 months ago, filed a £7.2 million fraud action against Vaculug’s former owners on 16 January 2020.
Continue Reading![German Fintyre Group almost completely in bankruptcy](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Fintyre-Group-Logo_tb.jpg)
German Fintyre Group almost completely in bankruptcy
Just a few days after bankruptcy proceedings were initiated by Reifen Krieg GmbH, several other companies under the umbrella of the German Fintyre Group are now bankrupt, including almost all of the companies relevant to the operating business.
Continue Reading![UPS orders 10,000 Arrival electric trucks](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/UPS-Arrival-van.png)
UPS orders 10,000 Arrival electric trucks
Logistics giant UPS has ordered 10,000 purpose-built electric vehicles from Arrival in an order worth “hundreds of millions of Euros” as part of its global project to transition to a zero emissions fleet. These vehicles will be rolled out in the UK, Europe and North America from 2020 to 2024 with the company having an option to purchase a further 10,000 models. UPS’s venture capital arm also announced an investment in Arrival of an undisclosed sum.
Continue Reading![Michelin grows tyre contract with Huntapac Produce](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Michelin-Effitires-Huntapac-Produce-1000x667.jpg)
Michelin grows tyre contract with Huntapac Produce
Michelin has renewed a five-year tyre contract with one of the largest vegetable and salad producers in the UK. Preston-based Huntapac Produce signed the Effitires agreement following a competitive tender which pitched the manufacturer against rival brands. Michelin will continue to fit X Multi regional tyres across the firm’s fleet of more than 190 commercial vehicle assets, which includes 64 trucks, 62 refrigerated trailers, 55 bulk tipping trailers, three curtainsiders and two low loaders.
Continue Reading![MotorEasy acquires Motokiki tyre price comparison site](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/motokiki-results.png)
MotorEasy acquires Motokiki tyre price comparison site
Motoring services website, MotorEasy has acquired tyre price comparison site Motokiki. The acquisition represents the latest addition to MotorEasy’s portfolio of motoring products, which includes insurances, fixed-price repairs, MOTs and servicing, and car leasing. Motokiki was launched in quarter four of 2018, backed by £3 million of equity investment from Maven Capital Partners and the Development Bank of Wales. It entered administration just under a year later, following the resignation of co-founder and CEO Debra Williams. MotorEasy’s announcement claims that Motokiki is “the only independent tyre comparison website”, but a recent Tyrepress survey of the UK market found eight current tyre comparison websites with a variety of approaches, including the independent user review site TyreReviews.co.uk, and Tyrepress’s sister site WhatTyre.com, which uses professional tyre reviews and experienced editors to rank tyres with its Tyrescore system.
Continue Reading![More SKUs available: Inter-Sprint increases warehouse capacity](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Inter-Sprint-warehouse-sml.jpg)
More SKUs available: Inter-Sprint increases warehouse capacity
Tyre and wheel wholesaler Inter-Sprint Group has expanded the warehouse capacity at its main site in Moerdijk, the Netherlands. With the opening of a further 38,000 square metres of warehousing, Inter-Sprint has been able to increase the number of SKUs it stocks by at least ten per cent – more than 17,000 SKUs are now centrally stored at its distribution centre in Moerdijk.
Continue Reading![Lex Autolease selects Kwik Fit for ‘record’ supply agreement](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Kwik-Fit-technician-sml-e1585651126677.jpg)
Lex Autolease selects Kwik Fit for ‘record’ supply agreement
Kwik Fit has announced the agreement of a major deal with Lex Autolease, the UK’s biggest vehicle contract hire and leasing provider. The six-year agreement covers tyre and associated services and is the largest deal by value and forecast tyre volume that Kwik Fit has ever secured with a major contract hire and leasing company.
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