Drag bike racing tribute for ‘The Cannon’
Lucas Oil has paid its respects to one of its sponsored racers and brand ambassadors who died in a road accident, last week. Chris Hannam, 57, a drag bike racing team manager and former Top Fuel rider was killed while on a motorcycling holiday in Spain. “He was our main sponsored drag bike rider for many years before moving into team management. He was a terrific ambassador for our brand and he was intensely proud of his association with Lucas Oil,” said sales and operations director Dan Morgan. “My sympathies go out to his brother Harry and partner Julie.
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Comline signs partnership with Luton Town Football Club
Comline Auto Parts, the automotive aftermarket parts brand, is thrilled to announce an exciting business partnership with its hometown club, Luton Town Football Club, for the 2023/24 Premier League season. As a brand that has been headquartered in Luton for almost two decades, Comline has clear connections to the town and to the wider Bedfordshire community. By becoming a business partner of The Hatters, Comline has further strengthened its commitment to the region, whilst embarking on a new initiative that will further enhance the reach and reputation of its brand.
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Streetwize Accessories joins IAAF membership
Supplier of automotive accessories, Streetwize Accessories, has joined the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) membership. Established in 1986, the Manchester-based company specialises in top-quality motor accessories for personal, leisure and professional use and has become a well-known name in the automotive sector.
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IAAF regional meetings to offer state-of-the-art member facility tours
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is taking its activity direct to its aftermarket membership with the arrangement of several regional meetings across England in mid-October. With the exclusive meetings providing members with insight into the Federation’s activity, IAAF is taking its message on the road, with hosts offering visitors a glimpse behind the scenes at their state-of-the-art facilities. Meetings are planned for Tuesday 10 October, Wednesday 11 October and Thursday 12 October at IAAF members Ring Automotive in Leeds, SMP Europe in Nottingham, and Hella in Banbury respectively.
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Garage Hive named Garage Management System of the Year
Garage Hive has been named Garage Management System of the Year at the Independent Garage Association’s (IGA) British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards 2023.
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Micheldever renews GT Radial, Runway tyre brand exclusive distribution agreement
Giti Tire, the manufacturer of the GT Radial and Runway tyre brands has signed another exclusive distribution agreement with UK wholesaler Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS). The new four-year deal, which covers passenger car, SUV, 4x4 and light truck tyre segments in the UK and Republic of Ireland replacement markets, will run until 2026. The partnership commenced in 2010, meaning the latest EDA will take the relationship between the companies to 16 years. MTS has agreed to continue the expansion of the GT Radial Performance Centres (GTPCs) dealer programme, while jointly promoting Runway across its larger independent network. The distributor will also remain closely involved in product development.
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DfT announces plans for red flashing lamps for roadside recovery, NTDA ‘delighted’
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to allow rear-facing red flashing lamps in order to make road-side recovery safer. As part of its ‘Plan for Drivers’, the government department said it would be: “Permitting red flashing lights for breakdown vehicles, helping to protect recovery drivers by making them more visible at the roadside”, adding: “This measure will apply to England, Scotland, and Wales.”
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How Michelin Connected Fleet ‘unlocks savings’ for its own fleet
Michelin has detailed the ways in which its Michelin Connected Fleet system has helped parent company Michelin cut harsh driving events by 25 per cent across the 54 vans operated by its Services and Solutions division in the UK. The company has achieved the savings after introducing the fleet management technologies it deploys for end-user fleets. In the initial six-month, technology is improving driver behaviour after reducing speeding events by 46 per cent, particularly in 30mph and 50mph zones, as well as cutting engine idling by 14 per cent. Over 12 months, the driving style changes are projected to help improve fuel efficiency by 5.8 per cent across the fleet, reducing CO2 emissions by 5.6 per cent per kilometre travelled.
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PartsInMotion.co.uk expands Schaeffler range
Online parts distributor, PartsInMotion.co.uk, has expanded its range of Schaeffler products, increasing the portfolio from 7,000 to 13,000 references. The company said the expansion would meet market demand for FAG steering and suspension references. Matt Gates, director at PartsInMotion.co.uk comments: “As the trend for more brand choice and availability continues, we strive to offer the best brands in the market to our customers.
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TyreSafe urges drivers to increase safety vigilance amidst Met Office yellow weather warnings
With wet autumn weather yielding treacherous driving conditions, road safety charity TyreSafe is urging drivers to remain diligent and prioritise safety on the road. The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for heavy rainfall mean roads can pose significant challenges for motorists, but quality tyres in good condition can significantly improve safety in deep water. A TyreSafe video, embedded below, demonstrates how well-maintained tyres can help avoid aquaplaning.
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Kirkby Tyres warehouse, mezzanine expansion enables increased stocks of ATV, turf tyres
Kirkby Tyres’ investment in additional warehousing space at its central site in Speke, Liverpool over the past couple of years was recently completed, further extending its specialist mezzanine flooring facilities. This increase in warehousing footprint brings its total mezzanine facilities to 30,000 sqft. The space has been designed specifically to hold ATV and lawn & turf products. The wholesaler told Tyrepress that this has allowed it to invest in an increasing number of specialist sizes and deeper stock levels. The warehouse expansion project also included several sustainability measures recently recognised by ISO 14001 certification.
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BA Bush & Son expands with Ipswich branch
Tyre retailer BA Bush & Son has expanded into a new county, opening a new commercial branch on the Bridge Trading Estate in Ipswich, Suffolk. As a result, the expanding company now has sites in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire (North, South and East Riding/ Humberside), County Durham, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The company also has sites in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire through its share of GT Wholesale.
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Kirkby Tyres collaborates with Agrovista to demonstrate in-field benefits of low tyre pressure
Kirkby Tyres collaborated with leading agronomists Agrovista earlier in the year, attending its Lamport AgX open day on 3-5 July with its Gallileo CupWheel technology. Lamport AgX is a major resource that looks at many aspects of soil health, including demonstrations and trials. The open day presented an opportunity to meet with farmers and introduce the innovative technology, whilst answering questions from attendees.
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Shioiri leaves Yokohama Europe presidency
After three-and-a-half years as chairman of Yokohama Europe, Hiroyuki Shioiri will leave his European responsibilities on 1 November 2023 in order to return to Japan and become “Officer, Head of Corporate Planning Div., Head of Corporate Planning Dept.” Tyres & Accessories understands that Shioiri’s successor will be named on 9 October and that the change doesn’t impact Yokohama Europe chief executive Gregorio Borgo’s role.
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New warehouse, new tyre brand supporting MTS’s wholesale strategy
Bleak economic circumstances generally create brand strategy complications within tyre distribution. Drivers’ demand for lower priced tyres as cost-of-living pressures hit their pockets can alter the dynamics at play in wholesalers’ exclusive brand offerings, which are often pitched as premiumised products with additional benefits that make paying more than a budget price worthwhile. Yet down markets are also a time to build for the future, sowing seeds that will yield benefits when the outlook brightens. In the case of Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), a new-build warehouse in Scotland to support its business growth north of the border and a newly added exclusive distribution deal with Petlas are two ways in which the company is building for the future and managing the current market situation. Tyres & Accessories asked Graham Mitchell, MTS wholesale director, about its exclusive brands, which also include parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ Falken Tyres, General Tire, and GT Radial, as well as the development of its warehouse in Bellshill, Scotland.
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