Bridgestone Previews the Australian Grand Prix
The 2009 season of Formula One looks set to usher in a new era for the sport, with rule changes aplenty, a newly-formed and perhaps, dare we say, competitive team for perennial underachiever Jensen Button and – most interestingly in this writer’s opinion – the return of slick tyres from Bridgestone’s Potenza brand for the first time in over eleven years. It is the tyres that are at least partially responsible for the radically overhauled cars this year, which are sure to catch the eye. The latest aerodynamic regulations, designed to reduce downforce, mean that the cars look very different from their counterparts of twelve months ago. Round one of the 2009 World Championship gets under way with the ING Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on 29 March. Since slick tyres require a new method of marking to designate between compounds, as the previous method of painting one of the grooves with a white line no longer applies, Bridgestone has used the opportunity of launching a new system to show its continued support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign by marking the softer of the two dry compounds available for each race with green sidewall markings. The now renamed “wet” tyre (formerly “extreme” tyre) will also feature a green line in a central groove. As before, two compounds of tyre will be available for every grand prix, with the requirement that both are used in the race. In a change from the previous allocation philosophy employed for the past two seasons, Bridgestone will now bring non-consecutive allocations to most events. For the Australian Grand Prix the medium and super soft tyres have been selected from the range of hard, medium, soft and super soft.
Continue ReadingCarlsson Produces “World’s Lightest 21″ Wheel”
German company Carlsson has produced what it claims is the worlds lightest 21 alloy wheel, the 1/5 Evo Ultra Light. Weighing only 10.8kg, the wheel is 40 per cent lighter than any other cast 21 wheel, says Carlsson. This weight reduction was achieved by applying forged technology, whereby the material is so strongly densified that there are no traces of air pores in the aluminium. At the same weight load, this allows a thinner wall, compared to usual rims, resulting in improved handling and driving pleasure.
Continue ReadingNew Range Of Wheels From Wolfrace
Wolfrace has launched a new wheel range – called GB3 – with a new wheel called Racer. Available in three sizes (7.0x16, 7.5x17 and 8.0x18), Racer is a black, 10-spoke design and five of these spokes, along with the rim, are machined and then finished with a durable lacquer. The GB3 range will consist of five wheels and Wolfrace is offering a three-year warranty on four of these and the fifth, which is a chrome wheel, will be covered by a two-year warranty. This extended warranty has been made possible, says Wolfrace, by a combination of uncompromising quality control standards and up-to-the-minute manufacturing techniques, achieving German TÜV certification in the process.
Continue ReadingThink Signs Up Dutch EV Deal
Electric vehicle manufacturer Think has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deliver up to 500 TH!NK city electric-powered vehicles this year to ElmoNet, a subsidiary of Mobility Service Netherlands. With the Dutch Parliament calling for the rapid introduction of EVs (electric vehicles), the Minister of Transport, Mr. Camiel Eurlings, earlier this year announced a fund of 10 million Euros to be made available to support the large scale, early introduction of electric mobility. Ambitious visions and concrete measures are required to make the Netherlands the most important experimental garden for electric mobility says Marjan Minnesma, Director of Urgenda. Urgenda is an active foundation that aims to transform the Netherlands into a model for sustainable development.
Continue ReadingPlimsoll Reports Suggest Acquisition “Opportunity”
Plimsoll analysts have announced a new report suggesting that the UK tyres, exhausts and batteries industry is rife with opportunity, despite a record number of companies losing money, and overall business values plummeting to the extent that almost half are now worth less than half their value of 12 months ago. The new study suggests that the current economic downturn represents “one of the biggest opportunities in a generation, if you have the courage and the capital.” The study rates each of the UK’s leading 1,000 tyres, exhausts and batteries companies on their acquisition attractiveness, finding 103 companies “ripe for the picking” based on a combined scoring system incorporating overall financial strength, ownership, valuation and future potential. These 103 companies are all privately owned, yet are showing a serious deterioration in the financial performance. Given the reluctance of the banks to lend more, their time, money and options are running out.
Continue ReadingContinental Launches Commercial ‘Revolution’
Continental Tire North America plans to “improve the product, service and training offerings to commercial vehicle tyre customers” though its new Continental Revolution program. The new project was launched this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Part of the program was the launch of five new medium truck radials (see separate story), and “new programs designed to reduce overall driving cost and a new state-of-the-art mobile classroom,” CTNA officials said. Named the Untamed Innovation Tour, CTNAs new 83-foot mobile tyre information centre featuring product samples, rolling resistance demonstrations, a movie theatre, driving games and touch-screen explanations of Continental tyre technologies, according to the company.(Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingReports: Denman Needs Government Money or Will Close
Denman Tire says it will be forced to close its doors if it does not get government bailout dollars or purchase contracts, according to news reports out of Youngstown, Ohio. The Youngstown Vindicator reported this morning that Denman president Sandy Pensler said the federal government will pay one way or another, either by giving aid or paying unemployment benefits to affected workers. Denman Tire has one plant and is based in Leavittsburg, Ohio, near Youngstown, and produces industrial and small OTR tires. Denman, according to reports, claims its needs an infusion of $3 million by the end of 2009 to buy new equipment or it will be forced to shut down. Denman recently laid off 85 workers, which Pensler was quoted as saying would return to work if the 90-year-old company gets needed capital. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingNorbar’s New Wrenches
Norbar has enhanced its range of torque wrenches with the addition of two brand new TruTorque models ideally suited to tough environments. The new models increase the TruTorque range of wrenches from 1N.m to 300 N.m and encompass outstanding durability. Philip Brodey, Sales & Marketing Director of Norbar, said: This development provides our customers with even greater reliability, resilience and range of choice. The Trutorque is accurate to +/– 3 per cent of reading, which exceeds all international standards. And, as each wrench is supplied with a coded calibration certificate it makes compliance and traceability an exact science. We believe our design team has produced the best tool for UK and World markets at a very competitive price.
Continue ReadingUnipart Automotive Launches Apprentice Scheme
In the wake of Gordon Brown’s announcement to increase the number of apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds, Unipart Automotive is launching an apprentice scheme across its Unipart Car Care Centre network from September 2009. Funded by the Learning & Skills Council, the programme will enable apprentices to benefit from skills training and continuous professional development, ensuring motorists receive the highest standards of service from the independent garage sector. The three-year training course will provide successful students with both ATA and NVQ Level 3 qualifications. Apprentices will go through a strict selection process to ensure the most promising candidates are selected. In addition to the structured programme, those who are chosen for the Unipart course will also learn about the importance of using OE matching quality parts, garage accreditation and customer service, as well as elements of the industry renowned Unipart Way to give them tools to help with the day to day running of a workshop. With on-the-job training at Unipart Car Care Centres, the apprentices will be provided with Unipart-branded clothing, protective equipment and specific tools along the way.
Continue ReadingGrouptyre Provides 4×4 Response Wales with Maxxis Tyre Trial
A newly-launched volunteer organisation that works alongside Emergency Planning officers and provides logistical support to the emergency services, local authorities and GPs in the event of severe weather conditions and emergency situations, is considering switching its vehicle fleet to Maxxis 4x4 tyres. 4x4 Response Wales is currently trialling the Maxxis Bravo all-terrain tyre after Grouptyre, the country’s leading independent tyre wholesaler and exclusive distributor of Maxxis 4x4 tyres in the UK, agreed to supply a test set of tyres for evaluation purposes. “Our members are currently using a variety of tyres…but we have heard good things about Maxxis and, pending a positive evaluation, we are seriously contemplating switching,” says 4x4 Response Wales co-ordinator Mark Margetts. “Since our team of volunteers use and maintain their own vehicles, they are very interested in a brand of tyre which is robust, absolutely reliable and affordable, and we are most grateful to Grouptyre for giving us this opportunity to see just what Maxxis can do.”
Continue ReadingHiQ Makes £100,000 Breast Cancer Care Pledge
HiQ is aiming to raise £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care as part of a new partnership agreement between the tyre retail chain and the charity. HiQ made its ambitious pledge at the British Touring Car Championship media launch on 19 March, where the charity officially met franchisees and company bosses for the first time. Dozens of fundraising activities will be organised throughout the year to coincide with the BTCC calendar, and fast fitters across the HiQ network will be encouraged to take part in as many events as possible to swell the coffers at Breast Cancer Care. HiQ has set the £100,000 target, which will be achieved if every centre around the network can raise £500 during the course of the year. Marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said the charity was the perfect fit for HiQ, as it reached out to a family audience: “We are all extremely excited with Project Pink and the opportunities that exist with Breast Cancer Care. We think the charity fits perfectly with what we are trying to achieve at HiQ. Not only is the charity close to all of our hearts, but no fast fit company reaches into the family market to help remove the intimidation associated with the fast fit sector.”
Continue ReadingGoodyear Announces 26th North American Highway Hero
Goodyear has announced the winner of its 26th Goodyear North American Highway Hero Award, honouring Colorado truck driver Jorge Orozco Sanchez. He saved the lives of two young girls after a horrific highway accident last October. The announcement was made at a special awards banquet during the Mid-America Trucking Show. Alongside the award, he also received a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque and a specially designed ring. An independent owner-operator, Orozco Sanchez was hauling grain on Oct. 28, 2008 on Highway 392, north of Greeley, CO, when an SUV suddenly crossed the centre line and crashed head-on into his tractor-trailer rig. After impact, the truck pushed the SUV backward down the road for about 200 feet. As the vehicles stopped moving, a shaken Orozco Sanchez quickly jumped from his cab and went to the other vehicle. There, with flames already beginning to surround the vehicles, he saw two girls, strapped into their car seats and crying, and a woman up front who was not moving. Working with a passer-by who used a fire extinguisher to fight back the flames, Orozco Sanchez used his knowledge of child car seats - he has two young children - to rescue the two girls. One of the youngsters was extracted quickly, but the fire was getting bigger and the smoke was so thick he had trouble seeing into the vehicle. He was finally able to remove the other girl, then the trucks saddle fuel tanks ruptured and exploded, creating an inferno. The 27-year-old mother died in the crash. Orozco Sanchez sustained burns on his arms from the rescue and was taken to a nearby hospital. The fire reduced the cab and the SUV to rubble, also burning the side of a nearby building.
Continue ReadingTIF: UK Tyre Replacement Market Over 34-35 million Units
The Tyre Industry Federation has announced that its estimates put the UK replacement car tyre market at well over 30 million units. The new figures, which include 4x4 and light van tyres, represent the first time an official estimate has been as high as 30 million units annually. The TIF data is based on figures contributed by the tyre manufacturer associations and the Tyre Wholesalers Group of the National Tyre Distributors Association. These indicate that sales into the UK market totalled 29.7 million units in 2007, before imports, retreads and part-worn tyres.
Continue ReadingBlack Ice Alloys Introduces New “Marauder”
Black Ice Alloys has announced the presence of a new wheel in its range. The aggressively-named “B4 – Marauder” features a black and chrome finish with six chrome spokes raised up against six black spokes. The Marauder has fitments for most Truck/SUV and passenger vehicles, and is available in 22x8.5 and 20x8.5 sizes. Black Ice states that “consumer demand for custom finishes on aftermarket wheels [is] at an all-time high,” and the B4 is clearly an attempt to create a visually impressive fitment. The contrasting black and chrome appearance, says the company, is “sure to draw in customers from all demographics.” The company also stresses the durability of its black paint and chrome finish, saying that “it will not separate from the wheel.”
Continue ReadingMayfield Back at Del-Nat…as President
Well-traveled tyre executive Jim Mayfield has been named president of Del-Nat Tire Corp., returning to the company he once served as marketing vice president. Mayfield took over for Ed Fabrizio, who left the private brander last December without explanation. Mayfield was marketing vice president for Del-Nat from 2004 to 2006, and subsequently held posts with Stamford Tyres and most recently with Yokohama Tire Corp. Prior to joining Del-Nat in 2004, Mayfield held marketing and sales management posts with Continental Tire North America and Michelin North America. Dick Erickson, Del-Nat chairman, said, Jim’s level of knowledge in our industry combined with an intimate understanding of our company makes him the right choice to lead Del-Nat to future growth and success. (Tire Review/Akron)
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