Data driven fleet tyre selection: What fleets need to know in “The Evolving Tyre Landscape”
At the end of October i247 published a white paper highlighting what fleets need to know in “The Evolving Tyre Landscape”. Tyres & Accessories got in touch with i247 Group director of Tyres, David Legg, and learnt how his company deploys a data-driven approach to tyre selection.
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Backing the right sustainability horse
In recent years market observers have worn out the word unprecedented, but 2023 was another year of significant developments. From the ongoing impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and the continuing challenges of pandemic-related disruption to the transformation and rationalisation of European manufacturing that has followed in its wake, several stories have run and run because of their multi-faceted repercussions for the whole tyre business. In short, for some it was a good year. But for many, it has been a challenging 12 months – not least for those in the manufacturing side of the tyre business (see pages 28, 30 and 41 for more on that).
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Straightset upgrades Helensburgh Toyota’s Workshop
At the start of 2023, Toyota GB approached Straightset with a challenge: take an old but high-performing dealership in Scotland and completely overhaul its equipment and workshop space to create a service fit for the future. Helensburgh sits on the Firth of Clyde, near Dumbarton, and its Toyota garage has faithfully served the community for some 45 years. However, it was looking dated, with poor use of space, uneven floors and tired staff facilities. The time had come for a major makeover.
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Klarius offers new-to-range aftermarket exhausts
The first step in successful product development is a deep understanding of market trends, according to exhaust-maker Klarius. By reviewing various makes and models, companies can ensure their product catalogues reflect the most current and demanded aftermarket needs. This strategic approach enables the development and launch of products at the best possible time, meeting market demands precisely when needed.
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Spectacular growth in UK van mileage
A review of the van sector has revealed incredible growth. Over the past decade, the UK has experienced a staggering 35 per cent increase in van traffic, resulting in a record-breaking 57.5 billion vehicle miles travelled by vans in 2022. For context, that’s like circling the globe an astounding 2.3 million times, or once every 15 seconds. Research conducted by Go.Compare Van Insurance shows that the average van owner travels 12,500 miles over the year, emphasising van drivers significant role in the country’s transportation network. The study raises questions about the impact this record-breaking mileage has on the condition of the average van.
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Energy costs too high – Versalis closing UK plant
Versalis has decided to permanently close its Grangemouth chemicals plant in Scotland due to a significant downturn in demand for elastomers. This announcement came a month after Petroineos, owner of the Grangemouth oil refinery, confirmed it would cease operations in 2025.
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The importance of the UK tyre retreading sector to sustainability
During this year’s National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) Tyre Industry Conference, Phil Robinson, Marangoni senior country manager for UK, ROI and UAE gave an impassioned and illuminating presentation on the subject of “The importance of retreading to sustainability”, which highlighted both the pressures and the opportunities associated with retreading. The word “sustainability” has become something of a by-word in the tyre business during 2023, which makes it all the more important that we take heed of what that term means.
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i247 Group reports rise in dangerous van tyre wear
i247 Group reports that it is seeing a rise in very low tyre treads on vans. The Poole-based company reports that it is seeing an increase in light commercial vehicles vans with under two millimetres of tyre tread depth – a rise of 10 per cent over the last five years, from 30 per cent in 2019 to 40 per cent in 2023. There has also been a rising number of tyre defects leading to MOT failures on Class 5 vehicles – such as minibuses with 13 or more seats as well as ambulances.
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New Hamaton EU-Pro Truck 1.0 TPMS sensor
Hamaton’s new EU-Pro Truck 1.0 is an aftermarket or OE-R universal programmable TPMS sensor that provides a cost-effective solution to replacing heavy-duty vehicle Original Equipment (OE) sensors, and is designed to fit seamlessly into existing truck, bus or trailers’ tyre changing and maintenance procedures.
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Strike action at TMD Friction’s Hartlepool brake plant
Unite members at TMD Friction’s Hartlepool brake factory are staging strike action early in 2024 over “low levels of pay being offered by their employer”. Nearly 150 members of the Unite trade union will down tools. An initial wave of five days of action begins on Tuesday 2 January, but the union hasn’t ruled out further strikes.
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Pneumatic tyres still the future: Growing tyre business during transition to EV
With much talk of the impact of electric vehicles and rapid tyre technology developments, Tyres & Accessories recently interviewed Stapleton’s Tyre Services managing director, Andy Fern. As well as considering the main trends that have impacted the tyre market in 2023, the discussion also considers which factors will continue to influence the market’s ongoing direction in future.
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Bush Tyres Spalding’s Stefan Busby wins Pirelli Performance Centre Technician of the Year 2023
Stefan Busby who works at the Bush Tyres branch in Spalding branch has been named Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) Technician of the Year 2023. Busby won after the list of around 50 entrants was whittled down to three finalists. The final was held at the Burton Pirelli Performance Centre on Wednesday 13 December.
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Everton and Davanti ambassadors thank hospital staff
Everton Ambassadors Graham Stuart and Ian Snodin helped to spread Christmas cheer at two local NHS hospitals by thanking staff for their efforts. Accompanied by the Club’s Official Tyre Partner, Davanti Tyres, the trophy-winning former Blues duo paid a visit to the hard-working nurses at Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust and Ormskirk General Hospital, armed with hundreds of mince pies.
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ADAS trends to note in 2024
Technology within vehicles and tools is constantly evolving, so with this in mind Tyres & Accessories recently connected with Phil Peace, managing director of Repairify, to find what trends readers should be aware of.
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Government revokes alloy wheel anti-dumping measure
The UK government has accepted a Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) recommendation to vary anti-dumping duties on aluminium road wheels (alloy wheels) from China. In its analysis, the TRA determined that “while the imports of one-piece cast alloy wheels are not damaging the UK’s alloy wheel manufacturing industry, imports of forged one-piece and multi-piece alloy wheels and parts of alloy wheels could cause damage”. The TRA therefore recommended in February to split the measure into two categories – firstly to keep the tariffs on the category of forged one-piece and multi-piece alloy wheels and parts of alloy wheels for five years; and secondly, to remove tariffs on the category of one-piece cast alloy wheels from China.
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