Another Recall For Firestone
After last years disaster, Firestone is now making a voluntary recall of 98,000 Firehawk GTA-02 tyres. The size is P205/55 R16 and the tyres were mostly fitted as OE on Nissan Altima sedans in the USA. The problem is an over-wide steel belt which could lead to cracking at the shoulder – the design has since been modified. Both Bridgestone/Firestone and Nissan stress that the move is purely precautionary and that there have been no tread separations, accidents or claims associated with the tyre.
Continue ReadingBoom In Alloy Wheel Original Equipment
Car makers in a lot of markets grieve over significant reductions in new car registrations. One should not forget that, for most suppliers, from whom parts are needed for the production of cars, the consequences are negative also. But not for manufacturers of light alloy wheels: a flood of special car editions and generally growing fitment rates – in comparison with steel wheels – means that the European aluminium wheel manufacturers are selling all that they can produce. New facilities are even having to be built. The aluminium wheel in original equipment changes from a part which raises the value of a car to standard fitment, even for middle class vehicles. In spite of these favourable conditions, the sector is under pressure. The middle-class structured alloy wheel manufacturers cannot resist the downward trend of prices, caused by the car manufacturers. This is especially so because the purchase of this product happens more and more on a global scale. Besides this, the number of possible oe suppliers of cast aluminium wheels is still enormous. A process of consolidation (as in other segments supplying oe) has not happened, until now.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Europe Review
This years Tyrexpo show was held only a matter of weeks before a rival exhibition, being run alongside an already-successful aftermarket exhibition. It would be naïve to believe that the existence of two shows so close together has had anything but an adverse effect on both events, and the fear was that the tyre industry would be the loser if we had two bad shows. The total number of visitors to Tyrexpo Europe was a disappointment, but many of the exhibitors expressed themselves satisfied with the quality of visitors. Opinions were polarised – some were happy, others not, some said that the UK needs a dedicated tyre show, others were not so sure. One thing on which all were agreed is that we cannot afford the same two-exhibition situation in two years time. Our review covers exhibitors reactions – warts and all.
Continue ReadingWilliams-BMW Successful Because Of Michelin Tyres
Formula 1 Champion Michael Schumacher believes that the secret of the Williams-BMW team lies in the Michelin tyres. Michelin seems to have done a good job so that Williams-BMW has become competitive, the Ferrari driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport, during team testing in Mugello. I would have thought that Bridgestones advantage would have lasted longer, said the German, who has Bridgestone tyres on his Ferrari, whereas brother Ralf uses Michelin tyres on the Williams-BMW.
Continue ReadingExpansion Of Production For Goodyear, Michelin
In the wake of the Firestone recall, Michelin says it has tripled tyre production in the USA as well as shipping thousands of tyres from Europe. A special customer service centre is handling 8,000 calls a day. Goodyear plans to provide more than half of the tyres replaced because of the recall and has increased production of Ford-approved tyres tenfold. The company has increased shipments to 9,000 outlets, including company-owned stores, independent tyre retailers and Ford dealers.
Continue ReadingNew Danish point S Members
Danish group Dek Ringen, with 31 members and 35 outlets, has joined the European point S network. The cooperation already had 700 outlets in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and The Netherlands. The European Tyre Coordination Committee (ETC) coordinates all activities of point S members across Europe.
Continue ReadingSUVs Come Under Fire In The USA
It is not only the Ford Explorer that might show a tendency to rollover in critical situations; the US Consumer Report has revealed through its own tests that the Mitsubishi Mondero (known in Europe as the Pajero) shows a tendency to lift two wheels in critical situations. That, according to the magazine, is not acceptable and is a safety problem. Mitsubishi denies that there is any safety problem at all.
Continue ReadingQuarterly Dividend From Goodyear
Directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents a share. The dividend is payable September 17, to shareholders of record August 17. The payout represents an annual rate of $1.20 per share.
Continue ReadingTyre Monitoring Proposals Made
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new federal standards for the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems in passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. The first option requires that the driver be warned when the pressure in one or more tyres, up to a total of four, has fallen to 20% or more below the recommended cold inflation pressure, or a minimum pressure specified in the new standards. The second option is that the warning is given when the pressure in one or more tyres, up to a total of three, falls below 25% of the recommended cold inflation pressure, or a minimum pressure specified in the new standards. These US recommendations are bound to give impetus to the marketing and development of tyre pressure monitoring systems throughout the market.
Continue ReadingMcLaren Considering Changing Tyres
Although happy with the performance of Bridgestone tyres, McLaren are said to be considering switching to Michelin next season. The Michelins have performed well for competing team Williams, but are said to need further development. McLaren feel that any improvement in performance from the Michelins could put them at an advantage against arch-rivals Ferrari.
Continue ReadingVietnamese Truck Tyre Production Begins at Casumina
The Vietnamese Southern Rubber Company has begun production of truck tyres on a new production facility using Japanese technology. The first week’s production in August totalled 1,000 tyres. The quality of the tyres produced is claimed to equal that of imported tyres from Korea and India. The Vietnamese tyres are 25 per cent cheaper than the imported brands. Production will build to around 10,000 tyres per month, going some way to alleviating the shortfall in supply of tyres. The country needs 500,000 tyres every year but currently supply is limited to 200,000 units.
Continue ReadingDonations From Bridgestone/Firestone Too
Bridgestone/Firestone has donated 100,000 US Dollars (108,178 Euro) to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Customers can also make donations.
Continue ReadingAsian Auto Industry “Faces Continuing Stagnation” – Report
A report from automotive industry consultant Autopolis suggests that the Asian auto sector is half-way through a decade of stagnation. Sales this year will be flat and predictions for next year are for sales outside Japan to fall by 7 per cent and production to drop 8 per cent as exports decline. Chief Economist Graeme Maxton forecasts that it will take until 2005 for the market to return to 1996 levels. He says that there are some bright spots, with opportunities in China and India but the rest of the region is just vegetating.
Continue ReadingGibara Claims Pirelli Comment “Misrepresented”
In an interview with the German magazine Wirtschafts-Woche, Goodyear CEO Sam Gibara is reported as saying that Pirelli would make a good fit for Goodyear, if the Italian company was planning to sell all its tyre interests, rather than merely its truck tyre business. A subsequent statement from Goodyear says that Gibaras comments were misrepresented and that he did not say that Goodyear was interested in acquiring any of the Italian manufacturers business.
Continue ReadingMore And More E-Commerce In The Tyre Business
Late – at least compared with other businesses – but not too late, the tyre industry and trade have realised the importance and the possibilities of e-commerce and for todays business. But this late discovery is not really a surprise because automotive and related companies are naturally not so closely related to the topic as, for example, the electronics or the communications businesses. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that a study by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), carried out in co-operation with KPMG Consulting, reveals a lower interest among companies in the automotive sector – again only in comparison with other businesses – to expand their e-business activities, although in the meantime the internet is becoming more and more accepted in the tyre business. Two or three years ago there were only a few investing in this new media. But since last year, the number of tyre and wheel related online shops or portal sites is constantly growing. And even the tyre manufacturers themselves are investing more and more in internet facilities. Details can be found in NEUE REIFENZEITUNG’s e-commerce feature in January.
Continue Reading