Service From Vredestein
With its Tyre Information Center, Vredestein is offering a special service for tyre specialists. Under the e-mail address info@vredestein.com, the service provides speedy and competent answers to technical questions regarding tyres.
Continue ReadingLatest News From Kwik-Fit
Kwik-Fit has been trialling a new, three-stage car care concept at a site in Edinburgh, offering motorists a service beyond that of a standard fast-fit operation. Fault diagnosis and mechanical rectification are available on the same site, as well as the usual fast-fit services. The concept is ready to roll out at selected locations in the UK and could transfer to mainland Europe. Five years qgo, Kwik-Fit launched its insurance scheme for motorists. Originally planned only as a telemarketing operation, the idea to offer insurance was an afterthought, which it was hoped would offset some of the costs. Read how the operation has grown to become the biggust outbound call centre in the insurance industry, plus a significant contributor to group profits.
Continue ReadingAnnouncement Secures Future Of Nissan Plant In UK
Nissan has made the decision to build its new Micra model at its Sunderland, UK, factory, rather than France, following approval of a 40 million Pound grant. The news is expected to secure 500 jobs at the plant and has been welcomed by the Government as evidence of Nissans long-term commitment to the north east. It is thought that Nissan will demand that, in the future, more of its component suppliers for cars made at Sunderland submit invoices in Euro rather than Sterling.
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 ReadingPAX To Be Offered As Option On Renault Scénic
It is expected to be confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show that Renault is to be the first manufacturer to offer Michelins PAX system as an option on a high-volume production vehicle – from the middle of this year, PAX will be available as an option on the Renault Scénic. The tyre on the PAX system will be called SPACITY, and a version of the Alpin winter tyre will be available later on in the year.
Continue ReadingWheel Market UK
The alloy wheel market in the UK is nothing like the size of , say, that in Germany, and reliable estimates of its size are hard to come by, although one educated guess is £500 m at wholesale prices. Reasons for the comparatively small market are manifold, varying from the way cars are sold in the UK to the effect of the large company car/fleet sector, which accounts for over half of new car sales. Fleet buyers do not welcome anything which increases costs, and alloy wheels fall into this category. Despite this drawback, the UK alloy wheel market is growing, due largely to increasing fitment in the OE sector. In the aftermarket, it is those who have disposable income to spend and who are fashion conscious that buy alloys and, as with most other fashion accessories, this means the young. As with other fashions, there are labels which are in and others which lack street cred and, again as with other fashions, the successful designs spawn many imitations. So, in order to stay ahead of the pack, the leading design labels have to introduce new designs – to reinvent the wheel.
Continue ReadingRenewed Tyre Deal For Bridgestone/Firestone UK
Bridgestone/Firestone UK has renewed its four-year deal to exclusively supply logistics company Hays Logistics UK with new and retreaded tyres. Hays operates a fleet of two thousand vehicles and trailers and the deal is worth around 1 million Pounds a year. Service will be provided by the Truck Point network of independent tyre dealers.
Continue ReadingTyre Offer Pulls In The Crowds For Kwik-Fit
Kwik-Fit GB has resumed its press advertising campaign, offering four tyres from 60 Pounds (two for 35 Pounds), excluding valve and balance. For certain H-rated sizes, four tyres are available for 100 Pounds. Over the Easter week, a record number of customers visited the groups centres and 21 centres recorded their best-ever week for sales.
Continue ReadingAbout Turn For Bridgestone/Firestone As It Re-hires Workers
There are reports that, in the USA, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. will be re-engaging 330 of the 700 workers who the company laid off recently from its Oklahoma City factory. The plant manufactures passenger car tyres and the latest move is in response to a need to increase output because of rising sales.
Continue Reading20 Inch Goodyears on 2002 Dodge
Dodge has launched its first 20-inch wheel package on the 2002 Dodge Ram. The Sport-truck models feature 20-inch Eagle touring performance tyres and 20-inch Wrangler light truck tyres. Goodyears Doug Calaman said the firms engineers had worked closely with Dodge to develop the Eagle LS P275/55R20 touring tyres for the 4x2 truck – P275/60R20 are featured on the 4x4 truck. The 20-inch wheels allow the Dodge trucks to offer the largest-in-class braking system.
Continue ReadingGoodyear And The Dunlop Acquisition
A comprehensive article in TYRES & ACCESSORIES (We were hoping for architects, but so far we have only seen cost-cutters) commented critically on the Goodyear acquisition of both the Dunlop activities in Europe and North America and the joint venture with Sumitomo in Japan, with all their particular opportunities and consequences. While Goodyears CEO Sam Gibara accepted that the facts had been reported correctly, he did not agree with much of the analysis. At the Goodyear head office in Akron, Ohio around Easter time, he gave a detailed and exclusive interview, in which he explained the reasons for, and the background to, the acquisition and the joint venture. Furthermore, Gibara was forthcoming about why cooperation with Dunlop is so important that he is even willing to accept a temporary interference in the balance sheet.
Continue ReadingTyre Hearing Claims Disputed By Goodyear
Goodyear has disputed data cited at the congressional hearing into the Ford/Firestone dispute. The company claims to have submitted its own safety data and is questioning the committees interpretation of the data they have already received. According to Goodyear the Ford data of damage claims of five parts per million is based on a Ford standard and that a damage claim does not reflect a defect. Goodyear added that the use of relevant data and comparisons by the committee will remedy any consumer confusion of fears.
Continue ReadingSmuggled Tyres Hurt Ethiopian Economy
Tyres smuggled into Ethiopia through the port of Djibouti cost the Government 64 m. Birr (8.8 m Euro) in lost import duty every year. The illegal trade has affected the Addis tyre factory, which has cut production and laid off workers. Losses incurred by the factory and importers are estimated at 196 m Birr (26.98 m Euro). The problem is a serious one: Berhanu Mewa, President of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, warned that failure to control the smuggling would cripple the countrys economy.
Continue ReadingNew presidents For Goodyear Chemical And Engineered Products
Tim Toppen, former president of Goodyear Chemical, has been named as president, Goodyear Engineered Products. This follows the sudden death of Tave Mallamaci, president of GEP since August last year. Toppen has been with Goodyear since 1978. His replacement as president of Goodyear Chemical is Jonathan Rich, who was director of chemical R&D, and who joined the tyre company last September. Both moves are effective immediately.
Continue ReadingNew Customer For Tirex Recycled Rubber
Canadian company Tirex has announced that Animat Inc. of Quebec has placed an order for recycled rubber to produce rubber mats. The order runs initially for a year and is for a monthly minimum of 100,000 lbs of Rutextm, the recycled rubber product produced by Tirexs cryogenic tyre recycling technology.
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