wTyre Update
The team at Tyres & Accessories is pleasantly surprised by the level of interest expressed in the experimental ‘wTyre’, news of which we reported on April 1. We hope you enjoyed our April Fools’ joke for 2009, and thank you for your readership of our (mostly) serious tyre industry news!
Continue Reading‘9’ Proving a Lucky Number for CITExpo
In China much significance is attached to numbers, and nine is considered the luckiest of all single-digit numerals. So September 9, 2009, or 09-09-09, is not only an easy to remember date, it is also a very fortuitous one. The organiser of the CITExpo exhibition in Shanghai, Reliable International Exhibition Services, certainly hopes this will prove to be the case – this year the tyre show opens on this date. So far so good: According to Reliable International Exhibition Services, exhibitor registrations for the seventh edition of CITExpo are continuing to keep pace with expectations and are not showing signs of being affected by the recent crisis. Although worldwide demand for tyre related products has declined since last year, both returning and new CITExpo exhibitors have, says Reliable, expressed a desire in meeting potential buyers at the exhibition and see this as a way of avoiding the affects of shrinking market demand. As of March, 70 per cent of floor space had already been booked by more than 200 exhibitors, a more than at this time last year.
Continue ReadingEuropean Car Sales Point to Success of Scrappage Schemes
A number of European car markets are fairing better on the back of cash incentives given for the scrapping of old vehicles when purchasing a new one. Governments in Germany, France, Italy and Spain are offering have already commenced such programmes, and the results so far are positive: In Germany, more than 848,000 people have signed up for the country’s “Abwrackprämie”, or scrapping premium with February car sales increasing 21 per cent, and in March French car registrations rose 8.1 per cent year-on-year to 204,095.
Continue ReadingYokohama’s Salem, US Factory Receives ‘Forever Forest’ Treatment
A tree-planting day will be held at Yokohama Tire’s Salem factory in the US state of Virginia as part of the company’s “Forever Forest” project. On April 4, company employees and volunteers from the local community are set to plant 2,000 trees, thereby helping to offset the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions. The assembled team will be guided in their activities by Japanese ecologist, 2006 Blue Planet prizewinner Akira Miyawaki.
Continue ReadingAutumn Release for Timberland Recycled Tyre Footwear
Last November Tyres & Accessories reported on plans by footwear manufacturer Timberland to launch two footwear ranges featuring soles made containing rubber from discarded tyres. These ranges, says Timberland, will be released in Autumn 2009, and the company expects to manufacture more than 200,000 pairs of shoes containing tyre rubber outsoles.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Reports on ‘Turbulent’ 2008
In publishing the Trelleborg Group’s 2008 annual report, company president and CEO Peter Nilsson has commented that Trelleborg faces major challenges, but it can draw strength from its enhanced market positions. “2008 was a turbulent year in many ways,” said Nilsson. “An economic slowdown was anticipated by many, but nobody could foresee how rapid it would be. Following a favourable trend in the first three quarters of 2008, the downturn in the fourth quarter was dramatic.
Continue ReadingBITS Presents Regal and Roadstone Private Brands
Tyre wholesaler BITS ships its private brands Regal – manufactured in South Africa by Dunlop Tyres at its plants in Durban and Ladysmith – and Roadstone – made in Korea by the Nexen Tyre Corporation – from the company’s seven depots across the UK. Each brand contains a wide range of patterns for a number of applications: Regal has a UHP product, a TR-rated passenger tyre and a van tyre, while the Roadstone range features many off-road options, in addition to its road-going tyres. Dunlop Tyres in South Africa, manufacturer of the Regal brand, is part of the Apollo Group, the Indian Manufacturer. BITS says that the whole range meets the E-Marking, DOT and INMETRO ratings. The flagship of the range is the Premium Comfort, which aims for quiet performance alongside superior handling. The Regal stable also includes a van tyre manufactured with a “Shield” breaker, which provides improved puncture resistance and offers long tread life. The range is completed by the RST 220 manufactured in TR rating and offering excellent wet and dry handling and long mileage. Regal can be ordered exclusively from the sole UK distributor, BITS.
Continue ReadingNAPA Launches Rebate Program for Brakes
In May, NAPA Brakes will launch a rebate program supported by a nationwide campaign for its Adaptive One brake pads and The Perfect Brake Job. Adaptive One pads have been engineered to offer superior stopping power, low noise and low dusting attributes. Adaptive One is tailored for any driving style, and boasts excellent coverage for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs, according to NAPA During the month of May, consumers can get The Perfect Brake Job – a combination of the correct premium parts and the correct repair procedures – for less, with a mail-in rebate. Those who have brake service at any participating auto repair facility with qualifying Adaptive One and Ultra Premium brake parts can get up to $90 cash back on a four-wheel brake job. Do-it-yourselfers who purchase qualifying Adaptive One or Ultra Premium brake parts at any NAPA Auto Parts store can get up to a $70 rebate on a four-wheel brake job. Media support for Adaptive One will include radio ads in 150 markets and satellite outlets; syndicated “Bob and Tom” voiced spots; USA Today color ads; Google ads; and FoxSports.com Fantasy MLB league advertising. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingJDI Appoints EuroVent Sales Rep
JohnDow Industries recently announced the appointment of Jeff Casey of JKC Associates as its newest manufacturer’s representative for the EuroVent product line. JKC, located in Powder Springs, Georgia, will represent EV in the states of Georgia and Alabama. Casey has been in the rep agency business over 25 years and in the Atlanta market since 1990. EuroVent, a brand of JDI, is a manufacturer of cost-effective solutions for removing toxic exhaust fumes from auto repair facilities and dealership service departments. EV is the largest supplier of “rail type” vehicle exhaust systems in the United States, according to JDI. Compared to traditional overhead and in-ground systems, the EuroVent Vehicle Exhaust Extraction system offers limitless flexibility, maximum efficiency, minimal operating costs, ease of use, and reduced installation time. EV’s rugged aluminum rail design is virtually maintenance-free and creates a clean, modern, and professional image for any service department, JDI said. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingContiBusinessCouncil Boosts Tyre Maker’s Plans
Continental Tire North America’s ContiBusinessCouncil, formed in 2004 to serve as a liaison between the company and its dealers, recently met in Huntington Beach, California, in conjunction with Continental’s launch of the new ExtremeContact tyre lines. “The feedback we receive from the Council has been an integral part of our strategy-building as well as our decision-making processes,” said Andreas Gerstenberger, executive vice president of sales and marketing for CTNA. “The council meets once a year, and also actively contributes throughout the year, and its suggestions have driven many of the key initiatives that Continental has executed and will implement in the future.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingGoodyear Announces New Brand Manager Michelle Fisher
On 1 April Goodyear Dunlop UK introduced its new Goodyear brand manager, Michelle Fisher. She will take over from Ben Crawley, who will now move into the position of business account manager, working on key strategic accounts, including KwikFit, for the company. Crawley has been with the company for seven years, three of which he spent in the brand manager slot. Fisher, formerly Goodyear Dunlop’s market research intelligence manager, moves into the role following her first year with the company. Before joining the Goodyear Dunlop organisation Fisher, who has a BA Joint Honours degree in French and Business Studies, worked for Schneider Electric followed by the roles of market research executive and prospect relationship marketing executive at Aga Consumer Products.
Continue ReadingExperimental Tyre Design Proves Excellent in Wet Conditions
Following four years’ of development South Korean company Teong Kim Enterprises has announced the successful testing of a new tyre design that it says “significantly improves” performance in wet conditions. During a press conference in Seoul on April 1, company representatives outlined the fundamental technology used in the experimental ‘wTyre’, and the potential benefits tyre manufacturers may reap from it.
Continue ReadingYokohama Reports Strong Start to 2009 Redline Time Attack Series
Three first-places finishes reflected a successful start for Yokohama Tire Corporation’s sponsorship of the 2009 Redline Time Attack series during the March 28-29 season-opener at Buttonwillow Raceway in the US state of California. The series, which features purpose-built 600-horsepower race cars and highly tuned street-legal vehicles, awards points and names winners based on which driver achieves the fastest lap time during competition. Winners in Yokohama Tire-shod cars included: Billy Johnson, Unlimited RWD Class, FX Motorsports Acura NSX (on Yokohama Advan A005 slicks), 1:45.516, a new RWD and Unlimited RWD record and besting defending champion and this year’s runner up by more than 2 seconds (1:47.992).
Continue ReadingDunlop Gets a Grip on Supersport Tyre Market With Qualifier II
The supersport market has become an increasingly demanding place, comments Dunlop. And increasingly powerful motorcycles with superior performance abilities require tyres than can meet the growing demands placed upon them while remaining practical for every day rider. The company’s replacement to its Qualifier range – logically named the Qualifier II – is claimed to do just this.
Continue ReadingContiTech Power Transmission Belts: Brand Products Give Certainty
Car maintenance has once again become a priority in the minds of vehicle owners because cars are being kept longer as a result of current economic conditions. And consumers are also paying more attention to prices at auto repair shops. Anyone trying to save on quality when buying power transmission belts, however, must expect to incur high follow-up costs in the event of belt failure - a warning the sales staff at repair shops should give to their customers. The qualities of a drive belt are not immediately evident just by looking at the product. Only by the brand name will the fitter know for sure that he is using a quality product, stresses Markus Pirsch, head of Marketing Service for the automotive aftermarket at the ContiTech Power Transmission Group. Drive belts made by ContiTech for the automotive aftermarket comply with OE standards, giving shop fitters the certainty and confidence that their customers will also benefit from the features of these products.
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