Michelin to Cut Production at North American Plants
In a move to reduce inventory at some of its facilities, Michelin North America is reducing production of selected product lines. The company has described these cuts, which will affect five North American plants, as coming “in response to the unprecedented deterioration in market conditions.” Market demand is down tremendously, said Michelin spokeswoman Lynn Mann. Consumers are being very careful in their purchases. Theyre driving fewer miles. As fewer goods are shipped, commercial truckers are driving fewer miles.
Continue ReadingBKT Bringing New OTR, Forestry Ranges to Tyrexpo Asia
BKT is the flagship business of India’s Siyaram Poddar Group, an organisation with a turnover in excess of US$ 550 million. In the 2007/08 financial year BKT itself enjoyed sales of more than $250 million, and the company has set itself an impressive goal – “Our vision is to obtain global leadership in off highway tyre solutions,” Arvind Poddar – vice chairman and managing director, Siyaram Poddar Group, told Tyres & Accessories.
Continue ReadingKenda Offers a Unique Driving Experience
In a world where performance, safety and superiority rule, Kenda says it is marking itself out from the crowd. The Taiwanese manufacturer reports that it has for some time focused on reducing tyre noise, and its low noise tyres are now successfully marketed in many global markets – clear favourites amongst millions of commuters, adds Kenda. The automotive industry allows little or no room for mistakes and substandard quality levels, the company comments, and says it should therefore come as no surprise that Kenda puts safety, innovation and reliability at the core of its operation.
Continue ReadingPirelli Confirms Carlisle Cutbacks
In a statement released February 4, Pirelli has confirmed plans to reduce the working week of employees at its Carlisle plant until the end of April. “The full impact of the global economic slowdown is being felt by many businesses in and connected to the car industry who have introduced long term lay offs and reduced working weeks,” the company said. Local media had previously reported that the 40-hour working week would be reduced to 32 hours per week.
Continue ReadingMichelin Energy Saver Sole OE on New Yaris 1.0
Future models of the Toyota Yaris 1.0 litre will be shipped with only one type of tyre – Michelin’s Energy Saver. The French manufacturer says that the decision follows close research and development cooperation between it and Toyota in order to obtain the balanced performance the vehicle manufacturer was seeking. Michelin adds that innovative solutions were introduced for the rubber compound, a material that integrates new forms of silica, as well as for tyre design and production processes.
Continue ReadingSealey Launch 2009 Catalogue
March 1st sees the launch of Sealeys 740-page 2009 catalogue. It is Sealeys biggest and best catalogue yet, with 850 new products. Spring is the ideal time to update your workshop tools and equipment. Whether it’s Jacking & Lifting, Lighting & Power or Vehicle Service, all 21 sections have remained the same but have been re-ordered for ease of use. The Sealey catalogue is free and can be obtained from local Sealey stockists or direct from the company.
Continue ReadingEncircle Now Offering Two-Wheel Market Data
Market research specialists, Encircle Marketing, are now offering motorbike tyre data. The company, which was founded a little over a year ago, has quickly built a reputation for providing fast, accurate and actionable data to some of Britain’s leading tyre businesses. Now, in addition to the already popular passenger car and online tyre sales reports, joint founders Jason Cunningham and David Myers have decided to create another market specific product, this time aimed at the two-wheel segment. Tyres & Accessories recently met the management at the company’s new offices in Doncaster and found out more about the data they offer. The new motorbike tyre survey covers two key areas sell-out pricing, which measures the sell-out prices actually charged by consumers; and selling way – research on the argumentations used to sell different brands at the point of sale. Initially the company plans to make over 700 mystery calls a month across the various channels and regions that make up the market. In order to make the research as effective as possible, Encircle have hired mystery callers based upon their specific knowledge of the motorcycle sector (meaning they are bikers themselves) with a range of regional accents to minimise the risk of detection by centre staff.
Continue ReadingFitch Ratings Downgrades Continental AG
On 4 February Fitch Ratings downgraded Continental AG’s Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) and senior unsecured credit ratings to BB from BB+. The Short-term IDR was affirmed at B. At the same time the Long-term IDR and senior unsecured ratings have been removed from Rating Watch Negative (RWN). According to a release issued by the agency, “the Outlook on the long-term IDR is negative” and the downgrade reflects “rapidly weakening auto markets amid the severe global recession which could further negatively impact Continentals…plan for swift de-leveraging.” The rating action also reportedly takes into account Fitchs “increasing concerns” about the deteriorating credit quality of the groups major shareholder, Schaeffler Group KG. Fitch also noted Continentals plan to separate its rubber business, including the relatively stable and cash-generative tyre business, into a separate entity.
Continue ReadingDakar Podium for Toyo-shod Independent Gordon
Robby Gordon achieved the impressive feat of taking his independent Team Dakar USA to the top of the Open category and third place overall in the 2009 Dakar Rally, beating off challenges from several manufacturer teams. In gaining third place, his was also the fastest two wheel drive vehicle on show. Gordon uses 37x13.5R17 open Country M/T tires on his Monster Energy H3 Hummer. Despite an increased restrictor plate, his H3 Hummer was able to keep up with the factory cars in all but the very fastest sections, something that the grip qualities of the Toyo rubber contributed towards, says the manufacturer. Gordon and Toyo have vowed to return in 2010 to attempt to reach the top step of the podium, which – considering the millions spent by the works teams – would be some achievement.
Continue ReadingConti Urges European Adoption of 10% Deviation TPMS
The European Commission has ruled that tyre pressure monitoring systems are to be a mandatory on all new vehicles as of 2012. With this deadline only three years away, Continental is urging the adoption of systems that give precise measurements and alert drivers as soon as even slight levels of underinflation are detected. About 90 per cent of all tyre defects are attributable to a slow leak in tyre pressure, comments Conti spokesman Alexander Lührs. He adds that one third of cars on the road in Continental’s home market of Germany have at least one underinflated tyre, and this problem is mirrored throughout Europe. If the tyres on each of these vehicles were correctly inflated, vehicle running costs in Europe alone could be reduced by £3.1 billion a year. Vehicle braking distances would also decrease.
Continue ReadingTurkey’s Brisa to Start Production Suspension
Brisa has announced to the stock exchange that it will suspend production in Turkey for a week starting tomorrow (5 February, 2009) following a slowdown in domestic and foreign demand. The company is a joint venture between Sabanci Holding and Bridgestone.
Continue ReadingSchwing Recommends Michelin X One
Thanks to Michelin X One tyres, concrete mixer trucks operated by Schwing-Stetter in the US can now hold an additional 560 pounds (254 kilogrammes) of concrete with each load. A single X One tyre can replace dual tyres on a commercial vehicle, thus reducing the vehicle’s overall weight. With Michelin X One tyres, our customers can realise a savings of more than 500 pounds of vehicle weight, said Bill Bigot, director of Schwing America’s Mixer Division. This will allow them to deliver more concrete on the truck, making them more productive and more profitable. Customers are thrilled with the fact they can carry that last half yard of concrete essentially for free with the use of the X One tyres and our light-weight drum.
Continue ReadingPirelli Carlisle Employees Working 20% Less Until April
It appears that workers at Pirelli’s factory in Carlisle are facing a further reduction to their workload. According to the local News & Star newspaper, a new arrangement begins on February 9, under which employees that normally work 40 hours in the week will be asked to work only 32 per week until April 1. An official statement on the issue is still being approved by the company’s head office in Milan, Italy, the paper added.
Continue ReadingThe Greatest Drift of All
The relatively new motorsport known as drifting, whose championships have been reported on these web pages recently, is about to get its own track days thanks to Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire. Emerging from its origins as an underground recreation, drifting is now described by the track’s administrators as “a mainstream art-form,” boasting its own championships, computer games and dedicated Scalextric set. Thanks to Santa Pod, becoming a drifting virtuoso, or at least being able to hold your car in a controlled slide, has become a much more attainable goal. Learning to drift can be quite tricky and expensive, particularly when a learner gets it wrong. Santa Pod states, “Drift competitions require a pretty high standard before you can enter, most drift-schools add a considerable cost, and neither the local constabulary nor your local Tesco will appreciate you doing it on their turf.”
Continue ReadingMicheldever Releases New General Grabber AT2 Fitment
The General Grabber AT2 is now available in 255/65R17, a standard size fitment for the hugely popular Nissan Navara pick-ups. This upgrade from standard road patterns reportedly delivers “strong off road performance whilst retaining perfect road manners for a very important 4x4 vehicle,” according to the wholesaler. The H-rated tyre has a load index of 110.
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