Serbia expansion means more European made/sold tyres for Cooper
At present, Cooper Tire & Rubber operates eight plants in the Americas, Asia and Europe, and production from all three regions is sold on the European market. However the company believes its value proposition can be strengthened by increasing the proportion of European-made tyres sold here.
Continue ReadingFirst delivery of largest agri tyre
Measuring 2.32 metres in diameter – that’s 7 feet and 7 inches for those of you reading this in imperial – the new 850/75R42 Firestone DT23 is the world’s largest agricultural tyre. The first delivery of this giant was recently made to a farm in Denmark.
Continue Reading‘Terminator’ polymer – hasta la vista to tyre damage?
The London-based Royal Society of Chemistry writes that scientists in Spain have reported the first self-healing polymer that spontaneously repairs itself without any intervention. Although the material – dubbed the ‘Terminator’ after the shape-shifting terminator seen in the franchise’s second film – is some time away from commercial release, it may be suited to a wide array of applications, including in tyres.
Continue ReadingConti says interest in harbour range high
According to Continental, the habour tyre range it unveiled at the TOC Container Supply Chain Europe exhibition in Rotterdam in July has struck a chord with port operators. The company claims that more than half the respondents to a recent survey plan to purchase or recommend the newly-released range.
Continue ReadingNew port range a taste of Conti’s expansion strategy
Over the last decade or so Continental has focused heavily on its automotive businesses, and with an annual turnover of 32.76 billion euros it today ranks as the world’s third largest automotive supplier (behind Denso and Robert Bosch). But now the pendulum is swinging the other way. During a recent press conference, Nikolai Setzer outlined the company’s current strategy of investing into non-automotive areas in order to balance Continental’s footprint. The Tire division head also said investment is being undertaken to reduce vulnerability to automotive sector downturns.
Continue ReadingTweel named a top new product
It isn’t currently available on this side of the pond, but in the US Michelin’s Tweel has been available for almost a year and is expanding its collection of accolades. In April the airless tyre won a Silver Edison Award and now it has been named one of the 2013 contractors’ top 40 new products by publication Equipment Today.
Continue ReadingNew sizes added to Michelin earthmover range
Michelin has added a pair of new sizes to both its XTXL and XADN+ line-ups. The first of these has been bolstered by two 25-inch fitments, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25. These complement the existing 33-inch sizes in the XTXL range of underground mining tyres. The two XADN+ new additions are also 25-inch fitments, 23.5R25 and 26.5R25. These join the 29.5R25 quarry tyre introduced last year.
Continue ReadingCooper’s new flagship outperforms predecessor ‘in every area’
The United Kingdom is Cooper Tire’s strongest European market. The company holds a 7 to 7.5 per cent of the consumer market here, thanks largely to healthy 4x4 tyre sales. Market share on the other side of the English Channel and in the PCR segment is more modest, however, and Jeff Schumacher would like to see this change. Schumacher, who took on the role of Cooper Tire Europe’s managing director and vice-president at the start of this year, aims to increase combined market share for all Cooper brands to five per cent across Europe. To achieve this, the company has opened a new branch office in Russia, is increasing market penetration in France and Germany and signing on new brand ambassadors. Furthermore, in September Cooper unveiled a new range-topping passenger car tyre, the Zeon CS Sport.
Continue ReadingPrepare for winter with Unipart Group's TTC
Winter is a dangerous time to be on the roads even for the most experienced of drivers. However, TTC, the truck and trailer component distribution arm of the Unipart Group, says it has the essential winter products and tips to help you stay safe. The company advises that, before you drive, you should ensure that you have the essential winter products in case you get caught in the snow. Some of the products that TTC offer include: high visibility jackets, rock salt, and traditional brown rock salt for winter de-icing, heavy duty snow shovels - both small and large, salt bins in 110ltr and 130ltr sizes and snow chains.
Continue ReadingNew Nokian winter tyre for SUVs
New for this winter is the Nokian WR SUV 3; a rugged, high-performance winter tyre, with ultimate snow grip thanks to snow claws, for all-round use on SUVs. The Nokian WR SUV 3 feels at home in the varying European winter conditions, and it has excellent winter grip and driving response for SUVs. Its Snow Claws bite firmly into the snow and the tyre effectively resists slush planing and aquaplaning and can cope with all of the surprises that winter may have in store. It rolls lightly and retains its balance on snow, slush, and dry roads alike.
Continue ReadingPress accolades for Nokian winter tyres
Nokian winter tyres performed well in the winter tyre tests of key German car magazines like "Auto Bild", "auto motor sport" and "AUTOStraßenverkehr" and were declared the best winter tyre. The test winners from Nokian Tyres received top ratings of "exemplary", "highly recommended" and "very good", thus proving their excellent driving safety and their low fuel consumption.
Continue ReadingBrembo launches light-weight brake disc concept
Brembo has developed a 10-15 per cent lighter brake disc, designed to offer reduced fuel consumption and less environmental impact. The new light-weight brake disc, conceived by Daimler AG in partnership with Brembo, has reportedly allowed the company to launch a product with “absolutely innovative characteristics”.
Continue ReadingMichelin OE for hybrid Porsche
Michelin’s tyre supply and co-development relationship with Porsche dates back to 1961, and this long joint history continues with the French manufacturer’s selection as sole tyre supplier to Porsche’s new hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder. The 918-specific Sport Cup 2 will be fitted in size 265/35-ZR20 at the front and size 325/30-ZR21 on the rear.
Continue ReadingNew GT Radial all-position, mixed-service CV tyre launched
Giti Tire has launched its new non-directional, all-position commercial vehicle tyre, the GAM831. Available in 295/80R22.5, the tyre extends the GT Radial mixed service offering, as the tyre has been developed for on and off road applications. It features a robust tread pattern and casing construction, with an extra reinforced sidewall to offer increased performance, even wear and good mileage in the most arduous terrain conditions.
Continue ReadingHankook announces UHP Ventus S1 evo² SUV tyre
Hankook has become the latest tyre manufacturer to tune a new product to the lucrative ultra-high performance sports utility vehicle segment, with a newly developed SUV version of its flagship Ventus S1 evo2. The new tyre will be brought to the European market in spring 2014, and will be available in 30 sizes between 17 and 22 inches. The Ventus S1 evo2 SUV will be manufactured mainly in the company's state-of-the-art factory in Hungary, Hankook added.
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