![Yokohama SUV tyre receives ‘world’s most prestigious design award’](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Geolandar_G058-scaled-e1616166710159.jpg)
Yokohama SUV tyre receives ‘world’s most prestigious design award’
Yokohama’s Geolandar CV G058, a grand touring tyre for crossover SUVs, was among the winners at the recent Chicago Athenaeum 2020 Good Design Awards. The award-winning tyre is part of Yokohama’s Geolandar range of tyres for 4x4s, SUVs and crossover vehicles. Established in 1950, The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, is the world’s oldest and most prestigious worldwide design award. Organised by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, candidate products are judged by experts who evaluate them from diverse perspectives, including design, use of new technologies, materials and function.
Continue Reading![General Tire recalls 612 passenger vehicle tyres in the UK](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/59_QWJzdHJhY3QgYmFja2dyb3VuZCB3aXRoIGVhcnRoLmpwZw-scaled-e1602237450291.jpg)
General Tire recalls 612 passenger vehicle tyres in the UK
General Tire has announced a voluntary exchange programme involving a maximum of 612 passenger vehicle tyres that were produced at the company’s Mt. Vernon, Illinois plant and sold in the UK replacement tyre market. The affected tyres are specific DOT and mould numbers of these products: General Tire Grabber AT³ LT235/85 R16; General Tire Grabber X³ LT265/70 R17. Affected tyres will be replaced free of charge.
Continue Reading![Halfords buys Universal Tyres and Autocentres for £15 million](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/timandrew_HME_AGA4688-scaled.jpg)
Halfords buys Universal Tyres and Autocentres for £15 million
Halfords has extended its reach into the UK tyre retail space with the acquisition of Universal Tyre and Autocentres for £15 million. Kent-based Universal has 20 garages and 89 commercial vans operating in the South East and on the east coast of the UK. Universal also operates 1 warehouse/head office and from 5 other sites. The company specialises in the supply and fit of tyres for a wide range of vehicles, from cars to commercial and agricultural vehicles. Universal branches also offer general car maintenance and repairs such as brakes, servicing and MOT.
Continue Reading![MTS offers new SUV tyre line-up for 2021](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MST2018-scaled.jpg)
MTS offers new SUV tyre line-up for 2021
Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) reports that it is offers a “gripping” SUV proposition for retail customers in 2021, with a range of new products available to its tyre retailer network. According to the company, MTS supplies SUV tyres to over 6,000 customers, including a national network of over 250 independent 4x4 and SUV tyre specialists. Changes include new upgraded patterns, helping to bolster MTS’s range of SUV tyres – for both for on and off-road usage.
Continue Reading![NFDA ‘disappointed’ at Plug-in Grant cut](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tlo_biz83a-scaled-e1602237521703.jpg)
NFDA ‘disappointed’ at Plug-in Grant cut
Commenting on the government’s decision to cut the Plug-in Grant for electric vehicles, Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle dealers in the UK, said: “The decision to cut the Plug-in Car Grant and Van & Truck Grant is extremely disappointing as it risks undermining the progress the UK has been making towards a zero-emission market in line with the 2030/2035 deadline set by the Government.
Continue Reading![Torque From The Top – Gary Oliver of Grouptyre](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Gary-Oliver-picture-e1616072581890.png)
Torque From The Top – Gary Oliver of Grouptyre
Welcome to the first of a new series of articles, in which leading executives give their insights into matters affecting today’s tyre industry. We begin the series with Gary Oliver; Chairman of Grouptyre, the national network of independent wholesalers. In the article we discuss the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the business, new automotive innovations and long-term trends, and current attitudes towards tyre distribution. Torque from the Top is a regularly feature in the print edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not a subscriber? No problem, click here to become one.
Continue Reading![Reg Bond (1943 – 2021)](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/RegBond-e1615996967777.jpeg)
Reg Bond (1943 – 2021)
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Reg Bond on 15 March 2021, at the age of 77. Reg had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010 and had been battling it ever since, ultimately succumbing to complications from the illness. It is testament to Reg’s character that he fought so long and so hard against the tumour. Reg was the founder of tyre wholesaler Bond International and was the driving force behind it becoming a well-respected and successful independent business and one of the largest tyre wholesalers in the UK. Reg was the Chairman of the business, set up in 1966, until his death and was actively involved in the business for over 50 years, although he had handed over the day-to-day running of the business to his sons Greg and Charlie. Over the years the company has grown from a one-man band to its current size, where it employs over 450 people and sells more than 5 million tyres a year. Reg was immensely proud of the strides that Greg and Charlie had made in recent years in taking the business forward. He delighted in the fact that his sons and his business, continued to challenge the competition as he has done and always encouraged that sort of healthy competition.
Continue Reading![British tyre industry upgrades to new tyre labelling system](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TIF-labelling.png)
British tyre industry upgrades to new tyre labelling system
On 1 May 2021 new tyre labelling rules take effect across Europe. Now, the Tyre Industry Federation (TIF – the umbrella body for UK tyre associations BTMA, ITMA and NTDA) has published details of its proactive response to the rules and specifically to their implementation in the post-Brexit environment. In short, cross-industry cooperation means the latest information will be available for the market from 1 May. The UK government Department for Transport (DfT) has welcomed the tyre industry’s approach to the implementation of the new tyre labelling regulations since the solution allows the continued flow of labelling information to consumers despite initial regulatory differences between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Continue Reading![Murray Walker – Formula 1 commentary and ex-Dunlop legend dies](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MurrayWalker-e1615810411234.jpg)
Murray Walker – Formula 1 commentary and ex-Dunlop legend dies
Murray Walker, whose voice became virtually synonymous with Formula One, has died aged 97. Walker commented on his first Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1949 and became a full-time F1 commentator in 1978, a position he held for the next 23 years. Such was the esteem in which Walker is held within the Formula One fraternity, a constellation of racing stars have celebrated his life. Following the news of Walker’s death, which was announced over the weekend of 13 and 14 March 2021, seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton summed up their words: “The iconic voice of our sport and a great man, thank you for all you did, you will never be forgotten”.
Continue Reading![Digraph joins the ATR network](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/diagraph.jpg)
Digraph joins the ATR network
ATR International AG, one of the world’s largest international trade cooperations for automotive spare parts, has won a new shareholder in the United Kingdom. The German-based company reports that Nottinghamshire-based Digraph Transport Supplies Ltd. Joined the network at the start of this year.
Continue Reading![Endyke Tyres uses tyre art to support education project](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Endyke.jpg)
Endyke Tyres uses tyre art to support education project
For many children, this week was the first back at school this year. Hull-based Endyke Tyres wanted to celebrate with the children (and no-doubt their parents), so they collaborated with Michelin in the production of some wonderful “tyre art”.
Continue Reading![Combined MOT and service rates soar in February](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3f6f3a5e-d2b1-6ad4-ec67-df31345c53b1.jpg)
Combined MOT and service rates soar in February
More motorists are booking joint MOT and service procedures and MOT failures rates are expected to increase, according to service and repair shops. Indeed, demand for combined MOT and service procedures increased almost 50 per cent last month (48%), according to BookMyGarage.com. Meanwhile, MOT-only bookings were down in February compared with February 2020
Continue Reading![BFGoodrich OE on re-engineered Hilux AT35](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/006-01-BFGoodrich-Arctic-Trucks-1200x768-1.jpg)
BFGoodrich OE on re-engineered Hilux AT35
Arctic Trucks is an authorised converter of off-road vehicles, and its latest offering is the Toyota Hilux AT35, which has been specially developed to handle the most challenging landscapes with ease. The re-engineered vehicle is fitted with BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyres – the company’s toughest on/off road fitment – as original equipment, in size LT315/70 R17.
Continue Reading![Hillhead postponed until 2022](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Hillhead-crowd-scaled.jpg)
Hillhead postponed until 2022
The organisers of the UK’s leading OTR equipment and tyre event have put back the Hillhead show for 12 months, following a review of the government roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions announced on 22 February. The QMJ Group has made the decision to postpone Hillhead by 12 months. Hillhead event director Richard Bradbury explained:
Continue Reading![Ten Consecutive Cups for Continental Tyres and Women’s Football](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/conti-womens-football-sml.jpg)
Ten Consecutive Cups for Continental Tyres and Women’s Football
Continental Tyres and The FA will this week celebrate the decade milestone of continued support for Women’s Football in England, with the tenth consecutive FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final. Continental first signed as a founding partner of the Women’s Super League with the inaugural competition in 2011.
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