Conti 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 ReadingKenda Supplying Iran’s Largest Carmaker
Kenda has reported the commencement of an OE agreement with Iran’s largest car producer, the Saipa group. Since November 2008, the Taiwanese manufacturer’s tyres have been fitted as original equipment on Kia Pride models built by Saipa under licence. The vehicle, fitted with Kenda’s KR23-Komet Plus tyre in size 165/65R13, is sold in a number of export markets, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela, Yemen, Uzbekistan.
Continue ReadingIn Tyres & Accessories, February 2009:
Tyrexpo Asia Preview
Tyre Collection, Recycling and Disposal
Preview: Tyrexpo Asia 2009 It’s not just an excuse for a spot of sightseeing and the opportunity for some authentic and delicious Asian food…with the Asian tyre industry and market developing at an astonishing rate, those wishing to participate in this region in a serious way really do need to be where the action is. In late March the Tyrexpo Asia exhibition returns to Singapore, this time round joined by the IRSG’s World Rubber Summit. And with the exhibitor list for the 7th Singapore show already topping 120 as of last December, Tyrexpo Asia is, as Paul Farrant, from exhibition organiser ECI, an opportunity to “deliver much-needed vitality and innovation into the global market”. Next month’s Tyres & Accessories presents a preview of the upcoming show. Old Tyres Never Die… Regardless of how asymmetric a tyre’s tread is, its green contribution or how many compounds are squeezed into the mix, sooner or later it is going to be removed from the rim and flipped onto the scrap pile. But what for the motorist is the end of the story is for the tyre itself the beginning of a new journey that will see it put to other uses. Follow your old tyres into the ‘afterlife’ in February when we feature the growing sector that deals with tyre collection, recycling and disposal.
Continue ReadingGoodyear ‘Aggressively’ Responding to the 2009 Market Environment
At the JP Morgan High Yield Conference on February 3, Goodyear Tire & Rubber discussed industry conditions during the final quarter of 2008 as well as the corresponding production cuts it undertook during the period. It is widely known that the economic slowdown is having a considerable impact on consumer demand and industry volume, said Goodyear executive vice president and chief financial officer Darren R. Wells. Fourth quarter industry volumes were well below expected levels, prompting a significant increase to our production cuts that now extend across all business units. Wells said that Goodyear is responding ‘aggressively’ to the 2009 environment with additional cost savings and inventory reductions. We continue to adjust production to reduce inventory levels and to keep pace with the lower demand environment. The company plans to announce a series of new actions on its full-year conference call, scheduled to be held on February 18.
Continue ReadingTeijin Reorganises High Performance Fibers Business Group
Tyre cord manufacturer Teijin Ltd. has announced the reorganisation of its High Performance Fibers Business Group into two new groups, to be named the Aramid Fibers Business Group and Carbon Fibers Business Group. As of April 1, 2009 these two groups will separately handle business related to aramid fibres and carbon fibres, increasing the number of business groups operated by Teijin to eight.
Continue ReadingAftermarket Show Review: Toyo
Acknowledging the problems faced by the motorsport and high-performance sectors, Toyo’s stand displayed the company’s commitment to two of its most important markets. In erecting an imposing stand, Toyo was clearly aiming to make an impact at January’s Autosport International Aftermarket Show, hosted by Birmingham’s NEC. Toyo’s determination to make their presence felt was exemplified by the attitude of Sarah Clavey, Toyo UK’s senior marketing executive: “At a time when uncertainty prevails, we were determined to show our commitment to grass roots motorsport and to showcase our range of tyres for 2009. We know that Autosport delivers our classic target audience and we wanted to put on a show that all visitors would remember. Our stand was much larger than in previous years and was designed to deliver impact”. In addition to highlighting its involvement in more than 15 motorsport championships - covering hill climb, drag racing and modified production among numerous other series - the Japanese brand put on head-turning performances via their interactive stage shows. Over the four days they were delighted to be able to engage with many of the show’s 79,000 enthusiastic visitors. The motive behind this vibrant, interactive format was to attract and involve new enthusiasts and to bring the Toyo brand to life amongst one of its primary target markets.
Continue ReadingMichelin Launches American Le Mans Green X Challenge
Michelin announced today that it would become the title sponsor of the “Michelin Green X Challenge,” supporting its stated commitment to a cleaner, more fuel-efficient race series. Beginning at the 2009 ALMS season opener in Sebring, the award will be presented at each race to one prototype and one GT team demonstrating the best overall performance, fuel efficiency and least environmental impact throughout the length of the race. “Stretching fuel in competition wins races. Lowering fuel consumption for consumers stretches wallets at a time when saving money and saving the planet are both top concerns,” said Scott Clark, COO, Michelin Americas Small Tires. “Providing support to the American Le Mans Series through the Michelin Green X Challenge is a natural fit for us and together with our partners, we can help encourage teams and manufacturers to demonstrate a cleaner, more fuel-efficient way to race, while maintaining performance and the spirit of competition.”
Continue ReadingGoodyear Recalling Mis-Labeled Tyres
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is recalling certain Goodyear Eagle RS-A tyres, size P235/55R18 99V, manufactured during the week of 7 January, 2008. According to NHTSA, the tyres fail to conform to FMVSS 139 labeling requirements because they don’t have the correct tyre identification number displayed. The correct TIN appears on one sidewall, but not on the other. Goodyear will replace the recalled tyres for free, and will notify customers. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingMichelin Winter Tyre Recall Update
Michelin North America’s recall of 597 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 ZP winter tyres in size 225/50 R17 94H sold in the U.S. came because of a sidewall labeling issue. The mis-labeling was because the letters “DOT” are missing from both sidewalls of the affected tyres. The recall only applies to tyres containing DOT TIN identification code “6U0A 5JEX” and DOT TIN date codes between 3806 and 2308 inclusive. “These tyres meet all performance criteria, but we must recall the affected tyres because they were produced without the required letters ‘DOT’ on the sidewall of the tyre.” said Francois Jacquin, passenger and light truck replacement tyre quality director for Michelin North America. “The issue has been corrected and consumers who purchased the affected tyres will receive new tyres that have the required ‘DOT’ letters free of charge.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingPack a Sub-Zero Survival Kit, Warns Kwik-Fit
The Met Office reports that the snow experienced across parts of the UK yesterday was the heaviest to have fallen in 18 years. With perhaps a whole generation of motorists therefore unaccustomed to conditions of this type, Kwik-Fit has issued timely advice to motorists, telling those who must continue using the roads in times of heavy snow to pack a ‘sub-zero survival kit’, in case they are stranded or face lengthy delays. This warning comes in light of research from the automotive retailer, which found that motorists fail to carry the most basic of survival items, even in the most treacherous conditions. Indeed, even though a survey has indicated that more than a quarter of British motorists have been stranded by the roadside in wintry conditions, the majority lacked basic sub-zero survival items in their car.
Continue ReadingYHI Offers a Comprehensive Range of Automotive Products
For the YHI Group, Tyrexpo Asia is a hometown show. Although the distributor and manufacturer boasts subsidiaries and associated companies in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE and Italy, the Group’s activities are directed from Singapore. From humble beginnings as a sole proprietorship in 1948, YHI has grown to become a mainboard-listed company on the Singapore stock exchange and a recognised distributor of high quality automotive and industrial products and a quality manufacturer of after-market alloy wheels. The tyre brands YHI distribute include Yokohama, JK Tyre, Achilles and its own brand, Neuton.
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