How Easy Is It To Buy On-Line?
The Internet, we are told, will revolutionise our working and private lives. Many companies trumpet the fact that they have websites, but what happens if you want to purchase a tyre over the Internet? Our article sets out to do just that, with mixed results. Some companies were easier to find than others, while the ease of ordering tyres on-line varied considerably. Some of our findings might surprise you.
Continue ReadingCourt Decision Welcomed By Ford And Firestone
In the US, a federal judge turned down lawyers requests to order a recall of Ford Explorers and Firestone tyres. The judge ruled that only the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the authority to order such a recall. Bridgestone/Firestone has already indicated that it would fight any such order from the NHTSA in the courts. In a rare moment of unanimity, both Ford and BF Inc. welcomed the judges decision.
Continue ReadingNew Forest Tyre by Nokian
Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian is expanding its range of forest tyres with the new Forest King E, which is designed to meet the demands of the OE- and aftermarket segments. The tyre has been developed for forest machinery up to a maximum weight of 14 tons and is available in sizes 700/45-22.5, 600/55 -26.5 and 700/50-26.5. For heavier machines, Nokian manufactures the new PR-20-tyres, which are available in sizes 600/55-26.5 and 700/50-26.5.
Continue ReadingNew VP Of Corporate Research At Goodyear
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed John Lawrence (58) as vice president for corporate research. Formerly director of materials science, Lawrence replaces recently-retired Richard Steichen. Lawrence joined Goodyear in 1970 as a senior research chemist.
Continue Reading40-Month Strike Settled At Titan Tire
The 40-month long strike by United Steelworkers of America against the Titan Tire Corporation at its Des Moines plant has been settled, with union members approving a labour agreement effective up to the year 2006. Maurice Taylor Jr., president and CEO of Titan International, said the company will now focus on growth and returning to pre-strike profit levels.
Continue Reading2,000 Jobs Cut By Michelin North America
Michelin North America has announced that it will cut 2,000 of its 26,500 workforce. The cuts will target the whole company, not just specific job classifications, and will be spread across not just the 23 plants but the whole company. Most will be achieved through normal losses and voluntary redundancies. Michelin wants to trim $75m in annual costs beyond the already announced $125m, and does not want to wait until the weak North American market begins to improve but rather to develop lean structures and create the ability to react to the market independently, whether the market improves or not.
Continue ReadingOfftake Agreement Between Nokian And Russian Producer
Nokian Tyres has entered into negotiations to start tyre manufacturing in Russia as soon as possible. The possible partner has not been named.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Recommend Michelin Shares As A “Buy”
Cheaper oil prices and the result of the Firestone recall in the US make Michelin shares a buy, according to analysts from the Deutsche Bank. Despite weakening demand in the US - the worlds biggest tyre market – Michelin is gaining market share and selling more tyres than ever. Market observers believe that it will be possible to obtain better prices for tyres in the region of 3 to 5 per cent.
Continue ReadingTyreserve 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.
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