More Production Cuts From Goodyear
In the US, Goodyear says that it will reduce tyre production this month and next, due to weak demand for new cars and trucks. Cuts will be made across the board with no layoffs or shutdowns planned. The reduction follows a second quarter cut in production of six million tyres, despite increased demand as a result of the Firestone recall. Shares in Goodyear fell 20 cents at the news.
Continue ReadingMore Firestone Tyres To Be Replaced
The US Government has asked Firestone to recall another 3.5 million tyres. Shigeo Watanabe, president of Bridgestone stressed that this was not a recall, but a replacement programme as Bridgestone Firestone had not admitted any defects. The tyres being exchanged are P235/75R15 and P255/70R16 fitted to Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs up to 1998.
Continue ReadingWarnair From Dunlop Is Standard In The New Mini
The new Mini will be equipped with Warnair as a standard feature. Dunlops tyre pressure warning system notifies the driver if a tyre loses more than 30 per cent of its air. Approval of the system for the Mini represents the first time that Dunlops Warnair has been included as standard equipment for a model in the small car sector. Since the introduction of Warnair in August 1997, 500,000 such tyre pressure monitoring systems have been installed worldwide. In addition, Dunlop is offering 26 additional sizes of the SP Winter Sport M3 which was developed for all categories. The tyre is now available in diameters from 13-19 inches.
Continue ReadingFormula One: McLaren On Michelin Tyres
McLaren International and Michelin today announced that they have entered into a long term agreement for the supply of tyres to the West McLaren Mercedes Formula One racing team with effect from 2002. In 1984 this successful pairing claimed 17 race wins and both the constructors and drivers world championship.
Continue ReadingCanadian 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 ReadingFleet Contract For Bridgestone/Firestone UK
Bridgestone/Firestone UK has won the contract for the sole supply of tyres to the BRS commercial vehicle rental fleet. The fleet consists of around 3,000 vehicles, ranging from 3.5 tonnes to 44-tonne tractor units and will now follow a policy of using Bridgestone new and retread tyres. The three-year contract was won against fierce competition and it is the first time that BRS has used a single tyre supplier. The contract will be serviced through Truck Point, the 220-depot organisation of independent tyre dealers established by Bridgestone/Firestone UK.
Continue ReadingGoing Down In The USA: Continental General
The US business of the German group is in trouble. In the 4th quarter Continental General suffered an operating loss of 17 million Euro, making an operating profit for the whole year of 12 million Euro. This is around 50 million Euro worse than in 1999, which was itself a bad year. Turnover for the year as a whole rose by 18 per cent, helped by the Firestone tyre recall. The question remains whether the US arm of the German tyre manufacturer is too small to be successful in the worlds biggest market?
Continue ReadingAgreement Between Ford/Goodyear To Speed Tires to Consumers
Ford and Goodyear made arrangements to allow Ford customers to obtain Ford-approved replacements for Firestone Wilderness AT tires at no charge to the customer. In addition, the tire manufacturer is making arrangements to ensure adequate availability of Goodyear tires at Ford and Mercury dealerships through its own network of independent tire dealers and Goodyear company-owned stores. Goodyear has increased tire production significantly at seven North American manufacturing plants to make tires available for use in the replacement program.
Continue ReadingVRG-Partners Meet In Berlin
In his post as Managing Director, Klaus Dieter Heymann gave his last presentation of the cooperation VRG in Berlin. Theo Pecher will succeed him shortly, but will continue to consult with Heymann for a while. Klaus Heymann will officially retire at the next shareholders meeting. In seven years, Heymann has managed to convert the nearly unknown cooperation into an important factor within the specialised tyre trade. According to him, last year VRG was once again very successful and is consequently following the route of expansion. Thus, he can confirm that there are more partners to join the cooperation this year, as negotiations will terminate soon. Heymann gave a critical but not a dull view of the specialised tyre trade. Successful companies like ATU should not be the subject of complaints, and the successful development of other companies from associated sectors (for example Pit Stop) should be acknowledged, too. This makes it even more important to be joined together in a strong group, as the time for individual fighters is over in a fiercely competitive market.
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