Multiseason – Firestone’s first all-season tyre
Visitors to Bridgestone’s stand at the Geneva motor show would have seen Firestone branded products nestled alongside their Bridgestone cousins for the first time in many years. Amongst the Firestone range shown in Switzerland was the brand’s first all-season tyre, the Multiseason.
Continue ReadingContinental, Nokian strong performers in Russian tyre test; Bridgestone in last place
Although sitting near the bottom of the size pecking order, a fair number of vehicles still arrive in Russian showrooms fitted with 14-inch rims. Therefore the latest issue of motoring magazine Za Rulem has opted to evaluate tyres for this smaller wheel size. Using a Lada Priora as test vehicle, the publication evaluated 11 size 185/60 R 14 tyres from European and Asian manufacturers at the AvtoVaz proving ground in Togliatti, Russia. Top honours in the test went to Continental’s ContiPremiumContact 5.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Retreading Systems extends Ringtread trailer range
Marangoni Retreading Systems has introduced the new RZ Fe 100 pattern, completing its range of Ringtread trailer rings. The new product is designed to meet the demands of this selective market, with high mileage and low fuel consumption characteristics; the Fe part of the product name stands for “fuel economy”.
Continue ReadingHankook wins design award for SmartFlex AH31all-season truck tyre
Hankook has been awarded an iF Design Award for its all-season truck tyre SmartFlex AH31. Incorporating advanced design and technology to improve performance, Hankook’s SmartFlex AH31 line-up will be extended significantly in 2015. The tyre will be displayed at the CV Show in April.
Continue ReadingCoach and Bus tyre features punching above segment’s weight
When we consider the truck and bus market it can be easy to downgrade the importance of the latter half of the equation. According to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Factbook, there were 89,374 buses (including coaches) on the UK’s roads last year, equating to 13.6 per cent of the UK heavy commercial vehicle parc (i.e. not including van-sized vehicles) and 0.2 per cent of the total vehicle parc. Compared with 568,993 trucks (86.4 per cent of the CV parc), the people transportation segment of the CV market is clearly the junior partner. New bus registrations have made a strong start to 2015 (see textbox), but are still relatively small beer.
Continue ReadingHankook UK bus and truck tyre market leader in 2014
In September Tyres & Accessories published a truck tyre market analysis suggesting there has been a massive shift in UK truck tyre market share distribution in the five years since the last time we did a study of this kind. In short, we found that the market is no longer the three-horse race it was in 2009 when Bridgestone and Michelin were fairly evenly matched ahead of Hankook in third place. Instead it looked like it had become a five-horse race, with Hankook and Goodyear Dunlop duking it out at the top. Of course, we have to be conscious that this all refers to sales volume data (tyre unit sales) as opposed to sales values (and the pound notes tell a wholly different story), however the overall point remains extremely pertinent to understanding what is going in the market.
Continue ReadingRingtons opts for Michelin winter tyres after trial
Tea company Ringtons, a proud family business steeped in history, is adapting its tyre policy to ensure it can continue to deliver to customers across the UK on time, every time. The Newcastle-based firm will progressively roll out a Michelin winter tyre policy for its fleet of 220 VW Caddy commercials, following a trial during winter 2014/15 which demonstrated a clear improvement in mobility throughout the colder weather.
Continue ReadingInternational Tyre Colloquium comes to UK’s Surrey University
Following events in Delft, Berlin and Vienna in previous years, this year the fourth International Tyre Colloquium will be held from 20 to 21 April 2015 at the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. The 4th Tyre Colloquium – an event that only runs every few years – will focus on topics related to modelling of tyres […]
Continue ReadingIndependent Scandinavian tyre dealers a focus for new Iceland Tyres range
Iceland has already lent its name to a supermarket chain specialising in frozen products, and now the northerly island is also associated with a brand of tyres aimed at Nordic markets. The newly-launched Iceland Tyres brand is promoted as delivering “safe driving in rough Nordic winter conditions.” Two products are currently listed in the Iceland Tyres portfolio – the non-studded Iceland Snow, which will be available this year in seven sizes for 15 and 16-inch rim diameters (with a further nine sizes for 14 to 17-inch rim diameters planned for next year), and the studded Iceland Ice, which will be released in a similar range of sizes.
Continue ReadingGoodyear, Nokian joint winners in SUV tyre test
The Autobild family of publications includes titles for various specific automotive niches. Auto Bild Allrad caters to the 4x4/SUV segment, and its most recent issue included a test of 11 size 215/65 R16 tyres. A Volkswagen Tiguan served as test vehicle.
Continue ReadingTrax wheel weights fitted on new Jaguar XE
The new Jaguar XE, the so-called “baby” Jag series, will be fitted with Trax steel adhesive balance weights. With the launch scheduled for May, XE target sales are 100,000 cars a year. According to the wheel weight manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover has been fitting Trax steel adhesive weights for some years and the new Jaguar […]
Continue ReadingMichelin OE on Ford Focus Electric
In addition to being fitted with Michelin Energy Saver tyres, the 2015 Ford Focus Electric will also come with Michelin Guides pre-loaded onto its SYNC2 in-car connectivity system. According to the tyre maker, every Ford Focus Electric that rolls off the production line will be fitted with 215/55 R 17 Michelin Energy Saver tyres. In […]
Continue ReadingDamage guarantee for Michelin X Works now available
Michelin is introducing a new, free guarantee for X Works tyres used in worksite supply activities. The Michelin X Works Damage Guarantee is available for both original equipment and replacement market tyres and Michelin says that once the tyres are registered through its trucks.michelin.eu website, it will issue a refund (via a dealer-issued credit) for damage that occurs in the everyday activities of freight carriers performing deliveries to construction sites.
Continue ReadingHankook Ventus S1 evo the victor in performance tyre test
Auto Bild Sportscars has voted the Hankook Ventus S1 evo winner of its latest summer tyre test. The German publication evaluated seven 19-inch tyres on a BMW M4 configured for 255/35 at the front and 275/35 R19Y on the rear axle.
Continue ReadingBehind the Geolandar H/T G056
Where the new tyre fits in Yokohama’s European 4X4/SUV thinking At the start of March Yokohama announced plans to launch a new 4X4/SUV tyre – called the Geolandar H/T G056 – in Europe this summer. The Geolandar H/T G056 will be available in 25 sizes ranging from 15 to 20-inch diameters, completing the Yokohama line-up […]
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