Bridgestone temporarily closes, slows tyre production at European factories
Bridgestone EMIA will either temporarily close or reduce production plants across its European manufacturing network in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its Béthune plant in France and the Bari plant in Italy will be closed until 6 April.
Continue ReadingAlliance 321 Plus tyre for backhoes & compact wheel loaders
Alliance Tire Group (ATG) has introduced a new range of heavy-duty tyres for backhoes and compact wheel loaders. It’s called the Alliance 321 Plus, and this R-4 cross-ply tyre range is now available in nine sizes.
Continue ReadingMichelin wins back fuel tanker fleet policy within two years
Newton Abbot-based heating oil and fuel specialist Heltor has returned to a full Michelin tyre policy across its fleet of more than 50 commercial vehicles. Michelin states that the move comes less than two years after switching to a competing premium tyre brand. Following the move, Heltor closely monitored the performance of the new tyres against existing Michelin fitments within the fleet and was able to track the precise tyre cost per kilometre between the two brands.
Continue ReadingFirst Line introduces new water pump
First Line has recently introduced a replacement water pump with an electric valve to accommodate a range of VAG vehicles equipped with stop/start technology that have this specialised component fitted as standard. The pump, with the First Line reference FWP2352V, fits Audi A1, A3, A4, A5 and Q3, Seat Leon, Škoda Octavia, VW Passat, Golf, Tiguan and Transporter 1.6TD and 2.0TD 2012 applications.
Continue ReadingEAG appoints ex-Suplex expert to assist after it becomes brand’s exclusive UK distributor
Excel Automotive Group (EAG) has recruited Sam Cotterill to its team, brought in, initially, to assist Suplex’s relocation to its new and exclusive distributor. After five years at the coil spring specialist, developing the relationship between brand and customer, the company sees Cotterill as “the perfect person to be the conduit between the two brands.”
Continue ReadingGet a grip – Auto Bild Sportscar tests 10 tyres
Tyre choice is a “decisive factor” determining a vehicle’s dynamic qualities, comments Auto Bild Sportscars in the preamble to its latest comparative test.The performance motoring magazine stresses that this is particularly the case when choosing the right rubber for performance cars. We see this in its 2020 summer tyre test, in which Auto Bild Sportscars looks at ten size 245/35 R19 (front axle) and 265/35 R 19 (rear) tyres that cover a range of prices and performance levels.
Continue ReadingSRI’s microscope analysis has potential for new breed of highly efficient tyres
A new technique to observe and analyse individual materials within tyre rubber offers “enormous potential” for the development of high-performance tyres with unprecedented levels of efficiency and wear resistance, engineers at Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) and Ibaraki University claim.
Continue ReadingNokian launches next-generation winter truck tyre
Sales of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck E winter tyre and compatible Noktop Hakkapeliitta E retreading materials have exceeded a million units during their decade or so on the market. But all good things come to an end, and it is time to make way for an improved product. Nokian Tyres is introducing the Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck E2 as a “true next-generation drive axle tyre for extreme winter conditions.”
Continue ReadingHella video displays wiper blade quality
Hella has released a video showing the quality control and test procedures its wiper blades go through to ensure they are able to deliver the day-to-day performance in the face of harsh weather conditions.
Continue ReadingWorld first wheel security system on display at CV show
Wheely-Safe will be showcasing its award-winning wheel security and tyre pressure monitoring system at the Commercial Vehicle Show (28 April – 30 April 2020), on the back of winning four major industry titles in 2019, including the Transport Technology of the Year at the National Technology Awards.
Continue ReadingWinter grip & sporty performance – Nokian Snowproof P
Nokian Tyres is launching a successor to its Nokian WR A4. It calls this new addition to its cold-weather portfolio the Nokian Snowproof P and describes it is a “sporty and modern combination of high-performance handling and reliable winter grip.”
Continue Reading‘Fast riding made easy’ – Tyre test win for Dunlop ScootSmart
Dunlop is very happy with Scooter & Sport magazine’s decision to name its ScootSmart overall winner in its test of five tyre brands. In its January/February magazine (Issue 1/2020), the German publication fitted the size 120/70-15 front and 140/70-14 rear tyres to a Honda Forza 300 and evaluated them with a focus on dry and wet grip and handling.
Continue ReadingSiemens partners in Michelin’s MaRCoPoLo upgrade
Michelin commissioned a test bed specifically for truck tyres at its Ladoux production site in France back in 2000, its Machine de Recherche en Comportement Poids-Lourd – or MaRCoPoLo, for short. When deciding to modernise this facility 16 years later, the tyre maker chose Siemens as a partner for updating the automation and process control […]
Continue ReadingDeveloping cleaner tyres – ZF launches abrasion tester
Studies show the tyre/road abrasion caused by vehicles in motion contributes to microplastic and fine dust pollution, making this an issue our industry will increasingly have to consider in future. ZF Test Systems believes its new unit for testing tyre abrasion will enable tyre manufacturers to optimise their development programmes and offer cleaner tyres.
Continue ReadingNeroForce the exclusive European distributor of Robbins curing envelopes
NeroForce has become the exclusive European distributor of American curing envelope brand, Robbins. Apart from its wide TBR range, Robbins is a global market leader in OTR envelopes.
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