Michelin Releases Centennial Guide to Germany
Just to show it isn’t all sausages, sauerkraut and tankards of beer quaffed by men wearing lederhosen, Michelin has been producing its guide to Germany for a whole century. To celebrate a hundred years of pointing Teutonic gourmands in the right direction, next year’s edition of the Michelin Guide Germany will, in German speaking markets, come complete with an extract of the original 1910 “Deutschland and Schweiz” guide. On top of this, one new two-star and 23 new one-star restaurants joined the list of fine-dining establishments in the 2010 guide. In all, the 1,440-page tome includes 1,515 restaurants and 4,332 hotels across all comfort and price categories. The centenary guide goes on sale November 13, 2009.
Continue ReadingDaewoo to Produce Home Brand Tyre
News from the SEMA show in the US indicates that South Korea’s Daewoo International wishes to bring its own home brand tyres to market. The company has developed its own tread patterns and owns the moulds and plates used in production, however the tyres will reportedly be manufactured in China by several manufacturers, including Triangle Tyre. The company is looking to distribute the range internationally.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Cut Leaks with Airtex
A new inner liner material developed by Yokohama Rubber is hoped to further improve the fuel saving properties of the company’s eco-tyre products. The ‘Airtex advances liner’ adheres to the inside of the tyre and features what Yokohama describes as a special resin, which when added to the conventional inner liner can “substantially reduce the volume of air naturally leaking from a tyre.” The material, says the Japanese manufacturer, is both highly impermeable and flexible. The company says that products employing Airtex have already been marketed in Japan, North America and some European countries, and the quest is now on to produce what Yokohama calls the ‘next generation Airtex’, a product that delivers near zero air leakage.
Continue ReadingDuPont Introduces Stronger, Lighter Kevlar
It’s been used as a reinforcement material in tyres for more than four decades, and now Kevlar has been tweaked to give it extra oomph. DuPont has introduced what it calls its DuPont Kevlar Advanced Performance (Kevlar AP) range of fibres – products that, despite a lighter weight, offer 15 per cent more strength than standard Kevlar fibres. The first cab off the rank in the new line-up is Kevlar K29 AP.
Continue ReadingUniroyal Launches RainMax 2 for MPVs
Uniroyal has launched a new tyre for MPVs and light vans - the RainMax 2. According to the company, the tread pattern on this new rain tyre has been completely re-developed to ensure “safe, economical performance on both wet and dry roads.” New design features centre on a 17 per cent shorter wet braking distance the than that of the previous model.
Continue ReadingSRI Increasing Tyre Prices in Global Markets
SRI Tire Trading Ltd. has announced that prices for its Dunlop, Falken, Sumitomo and Ohtsu brand tyres are increasing in numerous markets. The price increases take effect in November, however Sumitomo Rubber comments that the exact date will vary from country to country. The planned price increases apply to the passenger car, light commercial vehicle, truck and motorcycle tyre segments and will take place in Europe, North, Central and South America, Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Near and Middle East.
Continue ReadingAtturo Offers US Consumers Tariff Free Asian Value
The less atlas adroit amongst us, when hearing the name “Republic of China”, may think of Beijing, Shanghai or centres of tyre manufacture such as Qingdao. At this point we’d like to draw your attention to a small island moored alongside the world’s most populous nation. The aforementioned Republic of China is better known as Taiwan, and US consumers – and their wallets – will soon appreciate the distinction between the two similarly named countries. Following its international debut at September’s CITExpo exhibition, the Atturo tyre range is heading stateside and will be shown off in North America for the first time at SEMA 2009. And since the line-up is manufactured in Taiwan, it is exempt from the new US tariffs on Chinese made tyres.
Continue ReadingMomentive Releases Room Temperature Cure Elastomers
Global silicone producer Momentive Performance Materials has announced the launch of a new range of elastomer products that can be cured through exposure to ultraviolet light. Unlike traditional silicone elastomers (HCR), which are typically vulcanised with a peroxide catalyst cured by heat exposure, this UV-sensitive, platinum catalysed curing system allows curing to take place at room temperature. This will, says Momentive, lead to energy savings and increased extrusion speed while maintaining the silicone elastomers’ physical properties.
Continue ReadingFaulty TPMS Nut Leads to US Nissan Recall
Nissan will recall close to 150,000 cars in the US due to a fault in the vehicle’s tyre pressure monitoring system. A nut in the TPMS fitted to several Nissan models, including the Murano, Cube and the beautifully named Rogue (who, with 73,845 TPMS units to be recalled, is indeed the most roguish offender) is vulnerable to corrosion and cracking in areas where road salt is heavily used. This defect could lead to the nut falling out, causing the entire TMPS display unit to illuminate.
Continue ReadingEibach Releases 370Z Suspension Upgrade
The handling qualities of the latest Nissan 370Z have received a tweak from suspension specialist Eibach. The company’s new Pro-Kit spring upgrade lowers the car by up to 40mm, giving it what Eibach calls a more “aggressive” stance and allowing the factory alloys to better fill the wheel arches. However the kit is not all show and no go, notes Eibach; the 370Z’s new, lower centre of gravity endows it with sharper steering responses and far less body roll.
Continue ReadingChem-Trend Release Single Application Curing Envelope Treatment
Chem-Trend recently launched a single application curing envelope treatment aimed at the retreading industry. Mono-Lube 2006 is designed to increase curing envelope life, while providing “easy release from the cured tyre.” A typical life for a tyre retread curing envelope is 40 – 60 tyres, however according to the Chem-Trend Mono-Lube 2006 can extend life by between 33 to 100 per cent. In addition to providing good release from a cured tyre, it also provides good slip, enabling accurate positioning over the next, uncured tyre.
Continue ReadingImproved Tyre Paint From B&J
B&J Rocket's already-successful tyre paint has been improved and promises stronger coverage, faster drying times and a brilliant sheen. Additionally, it limits the risk of component separation during storage and it gives the colour a more pleasant smell. The Swiss company is constantly improving its product portfolio and does not make an exception when it comes to perfected products such as tyre colour.
Continue ReadingMichelin Publishes Rio Green Guide
For the first time, Michelin Maps & Guides is publishing a Green Guide to the main tourists sites in and around Rio de Janeiro, a city that is, notes the French firm, celebrated for its music, sun, beaches, Carnival and joie de vivre. The 288-page guide leads the reader through the labyrinth of streets in this city of more than 14 million people, a candidate city to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Continue ReadingInfinity Tyres’ ‘French Connection’ Prospering
Infinity Tyres’ French distribution partner, Fort Pneus, has announced that despite the current economic situation, sales of Infinity tyres have increased “substantially during the first half of the year.” In a recent internal newsletter, company representatives reported that Fort Pneus staff were presented with an Infinity brand plans for the future including details of “considerable investment in new product and sizes” Referring to his meeting with Al-Dobowi Group executive director Harjeev Kandhari, Frederic Breysse, director of Fort Pneus, commented: “The visit by Infinity was a huge success. There are exciting plans to grow the brand in France and we look forward to developing our partnership with them.”
Continue ReadingPirelli Recalls Pzero Corsa Tyres in US
In the US, Pirelli is recalling 1,680 Pirelli Pzero Corsa tyres, size 285/35 ZR19 (99Y) K1, manufactured between June 2007 and July 2009.
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