Arrest Made Following Stockport Tyre Fire
A 16-year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a blaze that destroyed a tyre business in Stockport. The fire at AL Tyres, in Sheffield Street, Heaton Norris was lit some time shortly after 8pm on the evening of October 12, and during the course of the evening around 60 firefighters were engaged in containing and extinguishing the blaze.
Continue Reading50,000 Tyres On Fire In County Londonderry
Up to 50,000 tyres reportedly caught fire at the Campsie Industrial Estate in Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland at 22:00 on Sunday 5 October. News sources say more than 70 fire-fighters are attending at the scene and residents have been told to keep their windows closed. Local resident John Lamberton sent tyrepress.com the video and photo images alongside this story, having become aware of what he thought were fireworks late on Sunday night. Meanwhile, Cambridgeshire fire-fighters report that another fire, which has been burning at Murfitt Industries, near Littleport since August is likely to burn out this week. This fire began on 21 August. Customers told Tyres & Accessories that despite the fire they haven’t noticed any interruption of service.
Continue ReadingOnline Tyre Sales Still a Mid Range Market
With 70 per cent of us now having access to the Internet, and consumers making an average of 2.1 virtual purchases a month, maintaining the right online presence is as important as ever. According to the 2009 Oxford Internet Survey, the two most common online activities are researching product purchases and actually buying them (about 80 per cent of web users having done each). However with a multitude of distractions out there in cyberspace, tyre businesses have developed complex e-marketing strategies designed to lure customers to their sites with low prices, before up-selling them onto more expensive products. Some of the clearest evidence to date shows that the Internet is an increasingly competitive mid-range market, not a budget bargain basement as some say. Comparing online price monitoring data with the results of market research conducted by Encircle Marketing shows that national fast fits continue to be the most expensive places to buy, with tyres costing £86.22 between January and August 2009. No surprises there. The fact that tyres are cheapest at pure e-tailers (£65.91) on average, won’t surprise many either. In fact, with the exception of average prices at autocentres rising to meet those at car dealerships (£78.68 and £79.18 respectively) the pattern is pretty much the same as it was last year.
Continue ReadingEDIWheel eBusiness Standard Comes to the UK
In the five years Tyres & Accessories/Tyrepress.com has been publishing a dedicated e-Commerce feature, one of the most common themes has been the real need for an integrated approach to selling tyres online. Now this need is being answered with the introduction of the EDIWheel eBusiness standard into the UK, linking and automating the whole approach from stock availability through to invoicing. The online tyre market is estimated to occupy a 4 per cent market share across Europe, however, the true potential for eBusiness in the UK tyre industry is yet to be fully realised for two main reasons. Firstly the amount of ordering websites that are not integrated with the dealer’s order processing systems or processes. And secondly, the absence of an agreed industry wide eBusiness standard for core business processes such as ordering and invoicing. According to the group of collaborating tyre manufacturers involved, these issues are being addressed by key members of the tyre industry with EDIWheel (Electronic Data Interchange Wheel – wheel representing the distribution cycle and not a physical wheel) eBusiness standard which enables the automation of stock availability checking, ordering, order confirmation, dispatch advice and invoicing. Specifically, a forum hosted by TIF about EDIWheel for tyre manufacturers, software developers, dealers and wholesalers has been scheduled for mid-November.
Continue ReadingThe Market is Ripe for Korean Tyre Makers
2009 could be a breakthrough year for the Korean tyremakers. A collection of circumstances (some clearly the result of famed Far Eastern forward planning, and others distinctly more fortuitous), mean Kumho, Hankook and Nexen have found themselves poised to sell increasing numbers of replacement tyres in the UK and Europe. In addition, their successful efforts in the OE department – ironically helped along by the shaky macro-economic environment – mean this perfect storm of variables could leave the Korean manufacturers in an even stronger position when the dust settles. In the UK, a market where mid-range and economy tyres make up around 60 per cent of unit sales, official figures show that 4.7 million passenger car tyres of South Korean origin were imported last year. However, this cannot be the complete total because it only includes tyres imported from factories actually situated in South Korea. Owing to the fact that all three have significant manufacturing presences in China, and tyres often enter the market by “indirect routes,” it is likely the true total is a lot more.
Continue ReadingNexen to Invest 1 Trillion Won in New South Korea Factory
Nexen Tire is planning to invest 1 trillion won (£526 million; 572 million euros; $829 million) in a new factory in South Korea. The move is seen as a way of ramping up production in anticipation of a 6 per cent annual growth of global tyre demand. The new plant, which will be located in Gyeongnam Province, southeast of Seoul, would be the world's largest to produce tyres for passenger vehicles and light trucks, according to the company. The investment, which is scheduled to be made by 2017, will double the company’s existing annual output from its other China and South Korea plants to 60 million units and place it among the world's top 10 tyre makers, the company said in a statement. Nexen shares rose 1.35 per cent to 6,020 won by 0248 GMT 28 September 2009 following the news.
Continue Reading![BMTR Celebrates 90 Years, But is it the Oldest Tyre Dealer in the UK?](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/BTMR.jpg)
BMTR Celebrates 90 Years, But is it the Oldest Tyre Dealer in the UK?
Although recent years have been challenging for the UK automotive industry, Birmingham remains a city steeped in automotive heritage. And, in the midst of some high profile casualties in recent years, BMTR says it is going from strength to strength and this year celebrates its 90th anniversary. The company clearly has some history, but is it the oldest in Britain? In order to find out, and in celebration of BMTR’s 90th anniversary, Pirelli Tyres UK exclusively through Tyres & Accessories is offering a case (that’s 12 bottles) of fine wine to any tyre dealer or wholesaler that can prove they are the oldest in the business.
Continue ReadingBandvulc Aims to Double Fulda’s UK Truck Tyre Share
Bandvulc Group, the Devon-based retreading and fleet servicing operation, is aiming to significantly increase Fulda brand truck tyre sales in the UK. Speaking at the company’s Fulda-brand launch event at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground yesterday (17 September), Bandvulc managing director Patrick O’Connell explained that the company has already equalled the Goodyear Dunlop group brand’s 2008 UK sales volume. Starting as they mean to go on, the company reported that it has already transferred the Tesco fleet's doubledeck OE onto Fulda new tyres.
Continue ReadingKingpin Tyre Fire Expected To Burn All Week
Fire crews have been tackling flames, thick smoke and fumes and piles of burning material at the premises of Kingpin Tyre in Wem, Shropshire, since Tuesday. Firefighters said several mounds of “waste rubber,” covering an area of around 60 metres had caught fire. A report in the Whitchurch Herald said that plumes of black smoke could be seen up to 20 miles away as 200 tonnes of rubber went up in smoke and that firefighters expect to battle the blaze and control smouldering material for the best part of a week.
Continue Reading6% Rise in August Registrations Could Help Korean Tyre Manufacturers
The latest SMMT figures reveal there was 6 per cent rise in new car registrations in August 2009, with the monthly total growing to 67,006 units. The second successive month of growth in new car registrations is widely attributed to the success of the government’s scrappage initiative, with August’s figures building on on a 2.4 per cent gain in July. As you might expect in light of the scrappage scheme, private purchases of small cars grew particularly strongly with this type of sale accounting for 35,694 (53.3 per cent) of August’s sales, compared to 23,717 (37.5 per cent). However, the recent growth disguises the fact that sales are still 15 per cent off the 78,800 total monthly market average between 1999 and 2008. Ford and Vauxhall continued to dominate sales in August, however it is the surprise success of the Korean car manufacturers that has the potential to re-shape the UK car parc. And as these car manufacturers are almost exclusively supplied by Korean tyre makers, there is also likely to be a positive effect on Korean tyre sales in the UK.
Continue ReadingBlackcircles.com Aims to Grow Network 30%
Blackcircles.com is aiming to increase its garage network by 30 per cent by the end of 2009, adding as many as 400 garages. Announcing the news the company vowed to help independent garages “fight back”, saying it offers “additional revenue, customer footfall and national marketing, helping [independents] compete with major high street brands.”
Continue Reading![Kwik-Fit Gains Presidential Support in Viral Video](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Obama-Tyre.jpg)
Kwik-Fit Gains Presidential Support in Viral Video
Tyre change by Presidential decree… the man in America’s top job pauses from world affairs to discuss a topic of true importance. Of course, its just a bit of fun from Kwik-Fit, but the viral film of President Obama does deliver a message worth listening to. The viral video, titled “Obama calls for tyre change”, was produced by advertising agency DDB London.
Continue ReadingSuperbrands Survey Acknowledges Top Industry Marques
Superbrands has released its 2009 Superbrands and Business Superbrands survey results, and several familiar names appear in the respective top 500 lists this year. Tyre manufacturer Michelin appears in the 88th spot and Pirelli at number 154. The trio of tyre Superbrands is rounded off by Dunlop, occupying the 265th position this year. Business Superbrands – which began in 1995 – lists the UK’s strongest business-to-business brands as voted for by independent experts on the Business Superbrands Council and more than 1,500 individual business professionals from across the country. Our three tyre Superbrands were also present in this category – Michelin in eighth spot, Pirelli at number 20 and Dunlop at 53. They are joined by Bridgestone in the 54th spot and Snap-on Tools at 193.
Continue ReadingReynolds Logistics Becomes Latest Michelin PPK Partner
Michelin has added another pence per kilometre (PPK) partner to its UK portfolio through signing a three-year contract with petrochemical transport specialist Reynolds Logistics. As part of the deal the Reynolds fleet of 44 tonne Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units and 18 to 26 tonne Axor rigids will be fitted with a range of XZE2+ / XDE2+ tyres, as wear dictates, whilst its Magyar tankers will receive XTE2 and XTE3 trailer tyres. “With a fleet covering more than three million kilometres a year delivering bulk lubricants, safety is of paramount importance,” commented Ian Williams, fleet operations manager at Reynolds Logistics.
Continue ReadingBlackcircles.com Adds to Management Team
Blackcircles.com has appointed two new senior managers as part of the company’s ongoing expansion plans. The Peebles-based business has recruited Alan Littlewood as head of network and supply and Peter Nowell as head of commercial operations. The appointments follow the announcement of a major partnership deal with the RAC, enabling Blackcircles.com to sell tyres directly to the motoring club’s seven million members through a new venture, RAC Tyres. Peter Nowell will be responsible for developing mutually beneficial relationships with Blackcircles.com’s suppliers. He has previously held senior marketing roles at both Kwik-Fit and ATS Euromaster. Alan Littlewood joins Blackcircles.com from car dealership operator Pendragon Plc. His role will be to expand the company’s network of franchised garages and develop its servicing offer through its partnership with Unipart.
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