Indian Tyre Industry Threatened By Imports
The Indian tyre manufacturing industry may be under threat from cheap imports from China. The lifting of trade restrictions with China has already created trading problems for many of Indias smaller industries. Presently imports from China form only 2.87% of Indias imports, but the arrival of cheap, mass produced products from China has indicated the lack of preparedness of Indian industry to meet the new competition. Tyre manufacturing has been highlighted as a potential victim as businesses move from manufacturing to importing.
Continue ReadingBRV Meeting In Weimar – “The Future Used To Be Better”
The BRV invited its members to attend its annual meeting in Weimar, historically one of the most famous cities in Eastern Germany. BRV President Ludwig did not have only good things to talk about, as he believes that margins will fall even further and the tyre trade cannot afford more pressure on margins. He mentioned Michelin and Goodyear as brands sold to car dealers at prices which are unrealistic and, due to the fact that tyre dealers have not been successful in the fast-fit field, President Ludwig urged tyre manufacturers to give tyre dealers better buying prices than car dealers. The association also expressed concern that tyre manufacturers might establish direct selling contacts with big fleets.
Continue ReadingBusiness As Usual In South Africa – Ford And Bridgestone
In South Africa, Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone have announced that the split between the two companies in the USA will not affect their 50-year relationship. Ford SAs director of corporate affairs Craig von Essen said that the recall problem was a matter for the US companies and that, as far as the South African company was concerned, it was business as usual. Bridgestone supplies South African companies with ATX and R45 Wilderness tyres, manufactured locally. As well as Ford SA, it supplies tyres to BMW SA, Toyota SA and Nissan SA.
Continue ReadingRubber Producers Plan To Cut Output
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia – the worlds three biggest rubber producers – have agreed to cut natural rubber production by 4 per cent next year in an attempt to increase prices. However, traders are sceptical of the chances of success, saying that many rubber producers are small, private businesses which would be difficult to control.
Continue ReadingTough Time For Ford And Firestone At Congressional Hearing
Ford chief Jacques Nasser faced some tough questioning at yesterdays Congressional hearing into the Firestone tyre/Ford Explorer situation. Billy Tauzin, from Louisiana, revealed that one of the brands of tyre being used to replace the Firestones had a failure record nearly 25 times worse than the Wilderness. Nasser said that, if this was correct then well act on it. Tauzin also criticised BF Incs John Lampe of attempting to shift the blame on to Ford.
Continue ReadingWind Of Change At Goodyear
Changing climatic conditions are leading Goodyear engineers to develop tyres with greater levels of grip on wet surfaces. Precipitation levels in North America have risen dramatically in recent years, with figures climbing by as much as 15% in the US/Canadian border states. Elsewhere, storm levels have increased and seven hurricanes are expected this year. Goodyears chief engineer, Bill Egan says, Greater levels of grip on rain-slick roads can be engineered on the computer for real world conditions. Improving a tyres wet-traction capabilities is vital in these times of changing weather patterns.
Continue ReadingSecond Quarter Loss for Ford
Ford posted a second quarter loss of $752 million. Excluding a $201million charge attributable to the restructuring of Mazda Motor Corporation, the trading loss stands at $551 million. The cost of replacing the 13 million Firestone tyres more than accounts for that loss. The after tax expense of the tyre recall is expected to amount to $2.1billion. Our decision in May to replace 13 million potentially unsafe Firestone tires was an unprecedented action, said Jacques Nasser, president and CEO. Although were disappointed it resulted in a second quarter loss, it was the right thing to do for the safety and trust of our customers.
Continue ReadingGerman Tyre Components Factory To Close
It has been announced that the former Kleber tyre factory at St. Ingbert in Germany will close at the end of June next year. The factory began making tyres in 1970 and ceased tyre production in 1994. Since then it has manufactured tyre components such as textile fabrics and rubber mixings. 200 jobs will be lost and the closure is part of the Michelin Groups on-going restructuring programme to improve competitiveness.
Continue ReadingNow Pirelli Approved For Jaguar X-Type
Pirelli P6000 Powergy and PZero Asimmetrico tyres have been approved for five models of Jaguars new X-Type compact sport saloon, for the European markets. The tyres chosen are 205/55 R16 91V (Powergy) and 225/45 ZR 17 91Y (PZero Asimmetrico), and the contract continues a relationship that began in 1985. Recently, Pirellis Wheel and Tyre Assembly Division, which started operations in 1999 to supply Jaguars car plants in Coventry and Castle Bromwich, recently produced its one millionth wheel and tyre assembly during a production run of PZero tyres for X-Type.
Continue ReadingOE Success For Hankook
Ford has chosen Hankook as the single supplier of tyres for the F-150 pick-up in the USA. The tyre sizes are 235/70R17 and 235/75R17. The first shipments will start in a few months and expected volume is to be around 600,000 tyres. Hankook is also hoping to win an OE order from Volkswagen: The possible tyre size could be 205/45R16 to be offered as an option by Volkswagen.
Continue ReadingA Question Of Grip: The Conti Winter-Roadshow 2001
Time has come for German car drivers to renew their acquaintance with the cold season. Using their annual country-wide winter roadshows, Continental’s experts are explaining the aim and object of winter tyres with their better grip on low temperature roads. Because of a special compound – in contrast to summer tyres –they are made as flexible as possible for road temperatures below seven degrees, in order to produce enough grip when starting, braking or cornering. This flexibility ensures the necessary traction of the tread on asphalt, snow and ice. There are more and more car drivers who realise that adapting to winter tyres has more advantages than merely better grip; a view which is supported by constantly rising sales figures over recent years. Whereas in 1997 30 million of these winter specialists were sold all over Europe, demand rose to 37 million last year. In some European countries even more winter than summer tyres have been sold so far. Thus, last year’s winter tyre market share was about 40% in Germany, 59% in Austria, 57% in Switzerland and 61% in Sweden. About 16 million winter tyres were sold in Germany alone last year. The reason for this demand is the increasing number of new cars with their more powerful engine performance. The trend towards higher performance cars causes the consumer to order winter tyres designed for speeds over 190 km/h. Another reason: car drivers want fun when driving even in the winter, as long as road and weather conditions are appropriate. If possible, they choose tyres of the same size and speed rating as their summer tyres. Also, research by Continental reveals that fun-driving in winter need not be more expensive. Winter tyres will cost about 0,20 Euro each day in use.
Continue ReadingRoadSnoop Launched By Nokian
Nokian Tyres is preparing to launch RoadSnoop, its first generation tyre pressure and temperature monitor. The sensor is battery powered and is mounted in the tyre at tyre changing and operates instantaneously upon turning the key in the ignition. It sends signals to a dashboard mounted monitor. Deliveries are expected at the beginning of March 2002.
Continue ReadingTARRC Seminar
The Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) has been deeply involved for the past two years in an EU-funded CRAFT project, the aim of which is to achieve better assessment of new tyre casing integrity in order to increase the number of tyres retreaded in Europe. TARRC hosted a seminar to discuss the impact of existing and proposed regulations on retreaders and some findings from the CRAFT project. The reason for the CRAFT project was based on a concern by retreaders that the quality of some new tyre casings was decreasing, with the danger that the industry could be deprived of its basic raw material. Principal research objectives included the development of new tests in order to predict the retreadability of new tyres, the establishment of a best practice drum test and a league table of tyre brands, rated according to their retreadability. The project will be finished this year. In investigating retreadability, TARRC tested a number of tyres in accordance with Regulation 54, the standard against which new tyres are tested. Under this standard, tyres are drum tested for 47 hours. The results were extremely surprising and indicate that either Regulation 54 is deeply flawed, or that the tyre industry has a problem. Testing 295/80 R22.5 M-rated tyres, the results showed a failure rate among new tyres of 20.8%. The new tyre manufacturers usually carry out their own tests and their failure rates are nothing like this figure, which begs the question why is there such a disparity between manufacturers’ results and the findings from TARRC? Under the new retreading Regulation 109, tyres are chosen and tested at random by an outside agency. Is there any independent validation of the in-house testing of new tyres? A proposal was made that new tyre manufacturers and retreaders cooperate in a programme of cross-testing new tyres in order to try and solve this apparent anomaly. Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen.
Continue ReadingUS Customer Survey Rates Goodyear
A customer survey conducted by US mail order tyre and wheel retailer Tire Rack has placed Goodyear tyres top in two categories. The Aquatred 3 came first in the all-season category and the Regatta was top of the standard touring section. Goodyear said the results were slightly surprising, as the company does not supply Tire Rack directly with tyres.
Continue ReadingPartnership Between Point-S And Bridgestone
The German cooperation organisation Point-S and Bridgestone-Firestone are working more, and closer, together than in the past. Point-S is evidently reducing volumes with Pirelli and Michelin, which are the biggest suppliers to the fast-growing Viborg group.
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