Tyreserve Throws Down The Gauntlet
Tyreserve is a new company aiming to create a big impression in the UK car fleet servicing market, which is reckoned to be worth around 200 million Pounds a year. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of national wholesaler Stapletons Tyre Services and is being launched at the beginning of April, backed up by an investment by Stapletons of two million Pounds. The fleet car market is extremely competitive, with the market leader being Kwik-Fit, followed by ATS Euromaster, FTM Tyrefit and National Tyres & Autocare. These first three have a market share of around 85% and, last year, Kwik-Fit acquired the shares of FTM. FTM is an association of independent retailers, banding together to provide a national fleet service and facilities. Tyreserve is aiming at FTM as its main target – when FTM was acquired by Kwik-Fit, there was some unease expressed by some independents, who wondered how this would affect the status quo. It promises to be an interesting time, with a new player entering the market and, presumably, the existing players determined to defend what they already hold. What makes it more interesting is that the main directors of Tyreserve were all working up until recently for Kwik-Fit Fleet. At least two names will need no introduction to the UK tyre trade – Managing Director David Goodyear and Network Director Charles Hespin.
Continue ReadingWinter Tyre Sales Stable In Germany
Sales of Winter Tyres for 2000 were in line with those for the previous year. Roughly 16 million winter tyres were supplied to dealers in Germany last season. 1999 was a record year with sales of 16.1 million winter tyres. However, the Continental Group has been successful in increasing its market share of that figure to around 33%.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Europe 2001 Preview
It is exhibition time once again in the UK, with Tyrexpo Europe 2001 being held in the Grand Hall at Olympia from March 14th to 16th. In terms of space, this is the largest-ever show in the events 23-year history. The exhibitor list underlines the shows growing internationalisation over recent years, with companies coming from (naturally, given the name of the show) western and eastern Europe, the USA and Canada and the Far East. Manufacturing tyres has become an increasingly global business, and so has wholesaling, with companies searching the globe for new sources of products and also for customers. Wholesalers are well represented at Tyrexpo. An industry not enjoying good times at the moment is that of retreading, especially for passenger car tyres. It is no surprise, therefore, that the number of retreaders taking space at the show is below that of previous events. However, the industry is not totally unrepresented, with machinery manufacturers and suppliers of consumables taking space. Two areas which are becoming more prominent are those of tyre recycling and internet trading. Legal moves such as the banning of tyres for landfill and the End of Life Vehicle Directive are concentrating industry minds on recycling, and there are tyre collectors and disposers among the exhibitors. Few doubt that the internet will have a growing effect on the tyre – and every other – business, and Tyrexpo Europe provides the opportunity for some of the companies offering internet trading to show what they can offer. Our preview gives a flavour of the variety of exhibitors by giving details of some of what is on show. TYRES & ACCESSORIES and our sister magazine NEUE REIFENZEITUNG, are sharing a stand and we look forward to seeing friends old and new.
Continue ReadingPoor Profits For Vredestein
Vredesteins profits for the year 2000 have fallen to only 200,000 Euro (compared with 10.4 million in 1999). High raw material costs and the disappointing sale of winter tyres were cited as the main reasons.
Continue Reading“Snowprox S950”: Toyo’s New Winter Tyre
At the beginning of April the presentation of Toyos new winter tyre, Snowprox S950, took place in Rovaniemi, Finland. The new product was already introduced to the market at the end of last year. The S950 covers the 55- up to the 40-series and has been released in 15 dimensions (from 185/55 R 15 up to 215/40 R 16). For the coming winter season five additional sizes in the 17-inch-sector and with a V speed index are planned.
Continue ReadingUltra High Performance Tyres
Ultra High Performance Tyres (uhp) are not only for super sports cars nor high performance marques, but also for the top models of volume car makers. They are the biggest customers of the European uhp tyre manufacturers nowadays. From the middle of the decade, uhp OE sales begin to slacken, but aftermarket sales continue to grow. At the moment the OE sector accounts for the majority of uhp tyre sales, but this will turn around in a couple of years. Nowadays, 16 tyres are usually the smallest in the uhp market; 17 and 18 increase, 19 and 20 are still comparatively rare. 55 and 50 series aspect ratios are the usual sizes, but tyres as low as 30 series can be fitted. Looking ahead, the V speed rating looks set to explode. In W/Y/Z speed ratings, the premium tyre manufacturers dominate, but for V-rated tyres, the not-so-well-known brands can get a slice of the cake. In 1999, sales of V, W, Y and Z-rated tyres in Western Europe were in excess of 20 million units and by 2005, this will be doubled. In volume terms, Germany will be the biggest market – even today, one in three uhp tyres sold in Europe is bought by a German. But Germany is the leader only on numbers sold; when it comes to uhp tyres as a percentage of the tyre market as a whole, last year this sector accounted for 30% of the German market. The leader in percentage terms was Switzerland, with 38%.
Continue ReadingMinicar-Segment Entered By Nissan
As announced in a press conference in Tokyo, car manufacturer Suzuki will supply 3,000 so called minicars a month to Nissan from 2002 onwards. With this agreement Nissan will enter the small car segment – with a maximum capacity of 660 cc – which already has a market share of 30 percent in Japan.
Continue ReadingNo Comment From Pirelli Group On Lucent
Pirellis cable and fibre optics firm has declined to comment on its position regarding a bid for Lucents fibre optic operation after the collapse of discussions on the proposed $23billion merger between Lucent and Alcatel.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire Announces Intent to Buy Hercules Retreading Assets
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced the intention, as of June 30, 2001, to purchase certain manufacturing assets used in Hercules retread operation and will soon begin to supply retread products to customers formerly served by Hercules. This purchase will significantly increase sales in the Oliver Retreading Systems and Products unit, which is a part of Coopers new commercial division. Also included in this sale are certain assets of the Cedco equipment division, which will benefit Oliver’s Salisbury equipment operation. The final price is subject to certain valuations at closing but will not exceed $8.5 million.
Continue ReadingTauzin Data Forwarded To Ford
Republican Senator Tauzins data on 11 replacement tyre models has been forwarded to Ford. Tauzin, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has asked Ford for a comprehensive explanation of how it decided which brands of tyres to use as replacements. He has also asked Ford to run rig tests on all replacement tyre brands before installing them. This follows Committee investigators claims that 11 of the replacement tyre models had higher damage and injury rates than the Firestone Wilderness ATs being replaced.
Continue ReadingApproval For Continental By Jaguar
Continental Tyres has gained approval for fitment of its ContiSportContact and CH95 tyres for the new Jaguar X-Type. The sizes are 225/45 R17 V (ContiSportContact) and 205/55 R16 (CH95).
Continue ReadingTruck Tyre Agreement Between Conti And Kings Road Tyres
Following the recent shake-up of its UK truck tyre operations, Continental has announced a strategic agreement with wholesaler Kings Road Tyres, whereby KRT will become the sole distributor of Uniroyal truck tyres in the UK and Ireland, effective September 1st. The new business will be separate from KRTs wholesale operation and will be called Uniroyal Truck Tyres. Uniroyal car and van tyres are unaffected by the agreement and will still be managed by Continental.
Continue ReadingRestructuring For Smartire Strategic Alliance
Smart tyre technology market leader Smartire has announced a restructuring of its strategic alliance with TRW. Elements of agreements entered into during the research and development process in 1998 will be cancelled. Smartire is to pay TRW $3.3 million (3.7 million Euro) in cash and debt in regard to the transaction. TRW will continue to hold a considerable equity in Smartire, but the restructuring of the alliance will allow both companies to fully pursue a wide range of global market opportunities.
Continue ReadingContinuing Satisfaction From Michelin In J. D. Power Study
In the US, The J.D. Power & Associates 2001 Replacement Tire and Retailer Customer Satisfaction Study has rated Michelin as the brand offering most customer satisfaction among both passenger vehicles and light truck owners. This is the tenth year of the study and Michelin has taken top spot for the last seven years (light trucks) and the past three years for passenger vehicles. Light trucks include pick-ups, SUVs and full-size vans, passenger vehicles, cars and compact vans. Customers mentioned reliability, durability , performance and handling above price.
Continue ReadingContinental Candidate For Takeover?
HelabaTrust (the investment and research subsidiary of Landesbank Thueringen-Hessen) believes that Continental could be a candidate for a takeover. Reasons given are the enormous debts of 3.6 bn Euro and the weak level of the shares.
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