Canadian Successes For Goodyear
Every year, Canadian automotive journalists carry out a series of driving tests, after which they name their car of the year in various categories. In the 2001 awards, 10 out of 15 car and truck category winners were fitted with Goodyear tyres. Wayne Barnes, president and CEO of Goodyear Canada, said that the results underline the way the company works closely with OEMs to achieve better vehicle performance.
Continue ReadingNew High-Performance Tyre From Continental
Recently in Barcelona the tyre manufacturer Continental introduced its new ultra high performance tyre ContiSportContact 2 to the press. And just like its predecessor, ContiSportContact 1, of the ContiPremiumContact important aspects of the new tyre have been created according to nature, as both the new, highly efficient tyre tread mixture and the bionic shape have been modelled on nature. Geert Roik, leader of the passenger car tyre development, explains, that it was the first time that a tyre has been prepared following the design of a spiders web, which is both elastic yet firm. The shape has been modelled on a cat’s paw. However, it has always to be remembered that however high the engine performance, its output will be transmitted to the ground over a contact area of a size of four-postcards. The constant improvement of the power transmission over these four small areas in order to adjust it to existing or intended vehicles, develops the tyre engineer’s skills. According to the manufacturer, the ContiSportContact 2 will be a sport tyre, developed on the latest state-of-the-art basis and designed for existing and future high-performance vehicles. According to Dirk Gentgen, Continental’s marketing director for passenger car tyres in Europe, a durable and increasing market is developing because increasingly, tuning and fashion will not stop at tyre selection. Many car drivers think that wide and fashionable tyres as well as fashionable rims are necessary for a sports car to be beautiful. Gentgen is stating the target: In this segment we want to decisively increase our market share in the coming years.
Continue ReadingHeavy Fines For Scrap Tyre Abuse
In January, two men pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates court to charges relating to the illegal dumping of scrap tyres in a case brought by the Environment Agency. The two men were fined a total of £12,250 and ordered to pay costs of £5,500.
Continue ReadingTyre Pressure Sensors To Be Standard On New Explorers
Ford has announced that tyre pressure sensors, which alert the driver when a tyre loses pressure, will be fitted as standard on its 2002 Explorer SUV and on other models from 2005. The company says that fitting the sensors is merely one element of a series of improvements and safety features on the vehicle.
Continue ReadingTanzanian Government Restricts Import Of Tyres
The Tanzanian Government has restricted the import of tyres in a protectionist measure. A spokesman said that businessmen have been taking advantage of consumer ignorance by importing cheap, sub-standard products and also used tyres, which is illegal. This has threatened the countrys only domestic tyre factory, General Tyre (EA), which has been unable to sell all of its annual production of around 330,000 tyres.
Continue Reading2000 Figures From Michelin
Michelin has released sales and market details for the year 2000. Consolidated net sales rose 11.9% to 15.396 bn Euro (1999: 13.763 bn). Growth in the 4th quarter was slower than the previous nine months. For the year, European V/Z car tyre sales rose 41.6% in a market which grew by 13.3%. European truck tyre sales rose 1.7% in a flat market. In the USA, 4x4 and light truck sales rose 27.7%. Financial results will be made public on 27 February.
Continue ReadingDivestment For Pacific Dunlop
Pacific Dunlop has announced it is to withdraw proposals to split its business into two independent publicly listed companies. The company told the Australian Stock Exchange it has decided to explore options to divest elements of the business and has appointed Deutsche Bank AG to assist. A profit warning for the second half to June 2001 was released, expecting profit to be up to 30 per cent lower than first half results.
Continue ReadingNew Tyre Introduced by Cooper
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company introduces its newest addition to its line of tyres – the Lifeliner Touring SLE (Sport Luxury Edition). The product offers optimized tread compound to balance wear and wet/winter traction. It is equipped with optimized bead contour, as well, for a more uniform fit to the rim and an improved ride quality. Offset shoulder slots bvreak up tire pitch harmonics, allowing for a more quiet ride. The Touring SLE is offered in three separate speed ratings: T, H and V.
Continue ReadingNew Technology Tyre For Concorde From Michelin
Following the tragic Concorde crash last summer, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) approached tyre manufacturers to see if any research was on-going to improve the resistance of tyres to damage by foreign objects. In Paris, Michelin unveiled its response, the radial NZG. NZG, which stands for near zero growth is described as the latest innovation in radial technology. It uses a high-modulus reinforcement material which is lighter and offers higher damage resistance. The tyre was tested by running over a 30 cm blade both at taxiing and take-off speeds and the tyre suffered no damage.
Continue ReadingChanges At Tenneco Automotive
Richard J. Sloan (62), executive vice president and md of Tenneco Automotives European operations, is to retire in mid June. He will be succeeded by Hari N. Nair (41), senior vice president and md, Tenneco Automotive International Group. Nairs replacement is Timothy R. Donovan (45), senior vice president and general counsel.
Continue ReadingTerrible News For Continental In The US
According to an article in the Washington Post, the tyre General Ameri 550 s will be subject to more claims due to tread separations than Firestone. As well as General, some other brands are under the microscope on the NHTSA-list, and their identity has not yet been revealed. It is expected that further explanations will be issued this week. A spokesman for Continental denied the accusation and said the NHTSA statement would be misleading. Ford did not comment.
Continue ReadingPhilip J. Ringo To Head New Global E-Commerce Marketplace
RubberNetwork.com, LLC, a global electronic purchasing and procurement marketplace created by nine leading companies in the tire and rubber industry, has named Philip J. Ringo Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the companys Board of Managers.
Continue ReadingGM Picks Bridgestone/Firestone As Supplier Of The Year
Good news for Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. in North America. GM has chosen the tyre manufacturer once again as their tyre supplier of the year and underlined the quality and performance of these tyres.
Continue ReadingNew Managing Director For TecCom
TecCom (Munich), an internet wholesale platform for automotive accessories, has a new Managing Director. Jürgen Buchert (44) has worked as Sales Director for Western and Eastern Europe in the automotive aftermarket division of Bosch for the past five years. At the moment 21 European automotive part manufacturers – among them tyre producer Continental – support TecCom.
Continue ReadingNon-Rubber Tyres From Goodyear In Three Years?
A partnership has been formed in the US between Goodyear and Nevada-based Amerityre to manufacture polyurethane tyres, which Goodyear says could be on the market in three to four years. Amerityre already produces urethane tyres for bicycles, lawn and garden equipment and has produced four sets of prototypes, which it has fitted to pick-ups and other vehicles. CEO Richard Steinke says that the tyres have been driven for 2,000 miles with 30 holes in each tyre. Rick Vannan, Goodyear director of advance product and process technology, says that any product will require two years of internal testing and, if urethane replaced rubber completely, 10-15 years to convert factories.
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