Michelin Challenge Design Announces 2009 Competition Theme
On January 15 Michelin announced the 2009 theme for its global vehicle design competition, the Michelin Challenge Design (MCD). As part of the latest competition, the French tyremaker is asking entrants to explore the future of transportation and share their vision of Americas Next Iconic Vehicle. Designers this year are asked to render unique vehicle concepts that demonstrate emotional appeal, design courage and technical execution when reviewed by a jury of transportation industry professionals, whose names will be announced later in 2008. Additional consideration will be given to entries with attributes that benefit safety and the environment and include a separate rendering of the tyre and wheel component assembly.
Continue ReadingPearls of the Orient
The thirty-fifth edition of the now iconic Pirelli Calendar – the first ever to be photographed in Asia – has been unveiled in Shanghai. Set entirely in China’s largest city, the calendar uses as a backdrop the picturesque streets of the old French Concession, the splendid gardens of the former British Legation, the mysterious and sensual atmosphere of forbidden China, the convulsive Nanjing Road and the characteristic tea houses. In each of the twenty-three portraits in this latest calendar (two for each month, except August) Pirelli aims to recount “the pomp of ancient China, with its splendour and the colours in which the Oriental myth of female beauty - perfection, purity, grace – is searched out.” Popular Chinese actress Maggie Cheung, featured in the 2008 calendar, explains this beauty: Very often I find Western people seem to go for the more cliché Chinese faces: long hair, slanted eyes. All that has changed I think. Many Chinese women are graceful; I think we have an inner grace thats more rare than you find in the West.”
Continue ReadingNankang Shows Off New Rubber at CITExpo
The 5th China International Tire Expo – CITExpo 2007 to you and me – welcomed a number of well-known first time exhibitors. Amongst this group of companies making their debut appearance at CITExpo was Taiwan’s Nankang Rubber Tire, a company with a growing international reputation. Through wholesalers such as Kirkby in the UK and De Klok in Germany and the Benelux countries, the Nankang brand, along with the Sonar range also produced by Nankang Rubber Tire, has found its place as an option for purchasers seeking affordable rubber for their vehicle.
Continue ReadingIIRC 2007 Discusses Raw Material Crunch
The 2007 India International Rubber Conference & Expo focused on the raw material crunch facing tyres and attracted more than 600 delegates, including 75 overseas delegates. At the exhibition that ran in parallel, 90 stalls were installed by different organizations related to rubber and allied industry. JK Tyre also exhibited racing and rally cars for the viewers along with vintage cars. There conference featured seven plenary sessions in all, 12 technical sessions and two workshops on ‘Importance of Testing and Standardization of Chemical.’ In total 83 papers were presented at the conference. Discussion topics included:
Continue ReadingMarathon Runners to Follow in Goodyear’s Tyre Tracks
In the US Goodyear is taking the promotion of its tyres to the streets – literally. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on November 12 announced it is to hold the distinction of being the Official Tire of the 2007 Philadelphia Marathon. As part of the agreement, Goodyear will have the marathon’s blue line that leads runners through the races 26.2 miles painted in the pattern of the companys signature TripleTred Technology tread pattern. This is believed to be the first occasion in the history of road racing that a marathon line has featured a branded design. The pattern will be seen by the 15,000 runners and more than 100,000 spectators anticipated to be in attendance on race day, November 18. The tread line will be laid down via a six-foot tall replica Fortera TripleTred tyre, which will roll the line out over the entire course. During the two nights leading into the marathon, the replica Goodyear tyre will paint the patterned blue line in a biodegradable, all natural vegetable-based latex paint. Philadelphia mayor John F. Street will begin the line painting in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during a press conference on November 15.
Continue ReadingNew Coach Tyre Superior, Claims Michelin
An all-new tyre specifically designed for use on coaches has been released by Michelin. Known as the Michelin X Coach XZ, the new addition to the tyremaker’s coach line-up has been designed to meet the difficult challenge of improving three sometimes diametrically opposed criteria – mileage, safety and comfort – and Michelin believes it has succeeded in doing so. The X Coach XZ can be mounted on both front and rear axles, and is intended for use on motorways and other major roads. Michelin report it has optimised the tyre’s tread pattern, enabling it to deliver 15 per cent higher mileage that the tyre it replaces, the XZA 2 Energy. The tread is 2mm deeper than that of its predecessor, a total tread rubber depth of 15mm, and is also 10mm wider. Of equal importance is Michelin’s assertion that the X Coach XZ is capable of delivering a longer working lifespan while maintaining superior levels of performance in other areas, most notably safety.
Continue ReadingAuto Express Awards Goodyear HydraGrip ‘Best Buy’ in Tyre Test
The Goodyear HydraGrip has been awarded ‘Best Buy’ in the family car tyre market after winning the UK’s biggest independent comparison test of tyre performance and safety. Auto Express, Britain’s biggest selling motoring weekly magazine, today revealed the results of its comprehensive test of 16 tyre brands. The test compared stopping distances, handling, grip, fuel consumption, in car-noise levels and prices to determine the champion in the highly competitive family car tyre market. The test featured one of the biggest selling tyre sizes (215/55VR16) fitted to a Volkswagen Passat.
Continue ReadingMichelin Rubber for Green Friendly Concept Car
At the upcoming Frankfurt show Citroen will display a concept car with a strong all-round environmental flavour. The vehicle is intended to demonstrate that cars needn’t be complex, expensive or ecologically wasteful to produce, and even the tyres get the green stamp of approval. The rubber featured on the Citroen C-Cactus, a car based upon the C-4, is recycled. Produced by Michelin, the low-profile 21-inch tyres are not only environmentally friendly in terms of their use of recycled materials – they also provide low rolling resistance, a quality that leads to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The non-tyre parts of the C-Cactus have also been given the treatment. Power is provided by a diesel-electric hybrid unit consisting of a 70bhp diesel engine and a 30bhp electric motor, which combined deliver an exceedingly frugal 83mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of just 78g/km. The car’s top speed of 93mph may be sniffed at by some yet it is sufficient to earn a speeding ticket on any UK road or motorway, and for low speed city driving an electric only mode provides zero emission running.
Continue ReadingNHTSA Administrator to Speak at TIA Breakfast
(Akron/Tire Review) NHSTA Deputy Administrator Jim Ports will be a featured speaker during TIA’s Breakfast With the President, set for Tuesday, Oct. 30, during the upcoming SEMA Show. The event will start at 6:45 a.m. at Caesars Palace. “We are looking forward to the Deputy Administrator discussing the many NHTSA regulated issues that affect the tire industry,” said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield. “This is a tremendous opportunity to meet one-on-one with Ports. NHTSA’s regulations have far-reaching effects on most aspects of our business.” Tickets for the event, which include the Tire Industry Hall of Fame induction and speeches by outgoing TIA President Paul Hyatt and incoming president Peggy Fisher are $35 and are available online at www.tireindustry.org/events.asp.
Continue ReadingBlack Belt
When asked how an Italian company ended up with English sounding name, the team at Butler reply that the moniker its founders agreed upon back in 1988 expresses one of their goals – to take a different and better approach to client service. And from their premises near the supercar mecca of Modena the company set out not only to provide a high level of service, but also to manufacture workshop equipment they hoped would turn upside-down a number of established ideas about the design and construction of these machines. Nearly twenty years later Butler still adheres to these principles. The company’s acquisition by the Sa.Mi.Ro. Group in February 2006 has strengthened Butler’s position in the global equipment market and enabled it to continue offering customers a wide range of Italian manufactured equipment. This commitment to retaining production locally and within the Sa.Mi.Ro. Group has been reinforced by the construction of new a new purpose-built 20,000 square metre facility – more than double the size of the existing premises - in the nearby town of Rolo. Butler will transfer its operations to the Rolo site in the first half of 2008.
Continue ReadingUS Companies Asked to Provide Details of Recalled Tyres
As a follow up measure to the US recall of tyres made by the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., the NHTSA has asked 14 manufacturers and importers, including the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., for information about imports received from the Chinese tyremaker. This action has been made necessary by the disclosure that companies other than Foreign Tire Sales may potentially have sold tyres manufactured to the same standard as those currently subject to recall. In a letter sent to the NHTSA on July 2 Foreign Tire Sales stated: “Though FTS is not in possession of the information as to how many tyres others may have imported or sold in the United States, FTS understands that numerous tyres may have been imported by these other dealers using the same date codes and model numbers as FTS.” Cooper Tire held an offtake agreement for the supply of truck tyres with Hangzhou Zhongce, and is thus likely to inform the NHTSA that it did not import light commercial vehicle tyres from the Chinese manufacturer. Goodyear, who reportedly entered into an agreement with the manufacturer in 2006, has not commented regarding their communication with the NHTSA.
Continue ReadingDelphi Release New Brake Catalogue
Delphi has launched a new catalogue for 2007 covering its full range of brake pads, shoes, discs, drums and fitting accessories for the independent aftermarket. The catalogue contains details of more than 3600 part numbers including 400 parts which are new to range. Delphi’s extensive offering provides coverage of over 95 per cent of the European vehicle parc. Following customer feedback into the design of the catalogue, the latest version boasts a number of new features designed to make it easier for customers to identify the right part first time. In the main vehicle application section of the catalogue, thumbnail sized illustrations of both pads and shoes are shown at the end of each double page spread. Full size illustrations of pads have been retained within the catalogue and appear towards the rear.
Continue Reading“ESC Saves Lives!”
According to the European Commission Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, every year more than 40,000 people die and over one million are injured in motor vehicle accidents within the European Union, with loss of vehicle control identified as the main cause of accidents involving serious injury or death. As a result the European Commission is putting its weight behind a campaign to highlight the necessity to fit vehicles with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems, launching a Europe-wide ‘Choose ESC!’ campaign at the Bridgestone European Testing ground near Rome on 8th May 2007. Commission vice-president Günter Verheugen, Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Policy, said: “The benefits of ESC are undisputed. In line with the CARS 21 programme, we are preparing the obligatory installation of ESC into new passenger cars via international harmonisation. Until it becomes mandatory, the voluntary choice of ESC is more than welcome.” The CARS 21 group, established in 2005 and comprised of experts from industry, government and other leading groups, has adopted a 10-year “roadmap” to make the EU’s car industry cleaner, safer and more competitive through the adoption of applicable legislation.
Continue ReadingBrityrex 2007 Hugely Successful – Hofmann Megaplan
Wheel & tyre equipment specialists Hofmann Megaplan enjoyed another successful show at this years Brityrex exhibition. The company believes this year’s event to be every bit as good as the 2005 exhibition, which Managing Director James Boon labelled at the time as the best show he had ever attended. “Brityrex 2005 was a hard act to follow for us, but the move to Manchester this year and all the improvements that went with it means that without doubt 2007 will prove to be even better both in terms of immediate sales and long term projects,” commented Mr. Boon. “I think it’s a huge disappointment that this show doesn’t get more support from the tyre manufacturers, and the effort put in by everybody else really and truthfully puts them to shame for not supporting such an event. That said, the quality of visitor and atmosphere of the new venue ensured we had another great exhibition, and I think the organisers deserve some real praise for putting on a fantastic, well organised and high profile exhibition despite two years of negativity from many within the industry”.
Continue ReadingToyo Commits to 2008 Motor Show
Toyo Tyre UK has become the first tyre manufacturer to confirm its presence at next year’s British International Motor Show. The company has secured what it calls a ‘highly visible’ 120 square metre location at London’s dockside ExCeL complex, and plans to use the July 2008 event as an opportunity to pursue a wider target market. “We’ve worked hard with events and print media for the last five years to become the tyre of choice for driving enthusiasts and racers, but now we need to expand our output to attract the important ‘middle’ market,” explained Toyo’s European strategy and planning manager, Mike Rignall. “The Motor Show is a valuable platform to showcase our entire product range and to help us develop a relationship with new customers who may not know what the Toyo brand stands for.” The tyremaker is planning an impressively featured stand complete with VIP area, interactive displays and show cars.
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