NTDA Names 2007 TAFF Award Winners
On Wednesday 2, alongside the Brityrex International exhibition, the NTDA named the 2007 TAFF award winners. Michelin took best single company result of the night, winning two awards. But Bridgestone, Vellco, Apaseal and Group Tyre were also celebrating success in categories including production innovation, wholesaler of the year and tyre and aftermarket equipment supplier of the year. The awards were presented during a glittering ceremony at Manchester’s Palace Hotel, which featured well-known stand-up comic Stan Boardman. The Tyre and Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards, which are sponsored by Renault UK, are the NTDA’s own awards which were established in 2005 to reward excellence from industry suppliers and, in that short time, they have firmly established themselves as the premier awards for the UK Tyre Industry. The 2007 TAFF awards included categories for Tyre Manufacturer, National Wholesaler, Tyre and Aftermarket Equipment Supplier, Product Innovation and a special award for Industry Advertising Campaigns. A special category covering scrap tyre disposal, collecting and recycling is entitled the Environmental Award.
Continue ReadingMichelin Embarks on Truck-Side Adverting Campaign
The Michelin Man is being featured in a new high profile advertising campaign on the side of trucks within the Great Bear Distribution fleet, which are used to deliver more than three million Michelin tyres across the UK. Promoting the message “Michelin, for performance that lasts,” the brightly coloured graphics show a 6ft high Michelin Man running alongside a car tyre, and links with the return of the Michelin Man in 2007 to television advertising. The first stage of the campaign sees the graphics fitted to 22 new Mercedes-Benz Atego rigids, plus a further 50 demountable box bodies. Before the end of the year, they will be joined by a further eight new Ategos and 40 demountable box bodies.
Continue ReadingMichelin Man Gets More ‘Socially Responsible’ in New Ads
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America is launching a new, “multi-tier” marketing campaign in television, radio, print and online media. The company’s “A Better Way Forward” slogan will be featured on an interactive Web site, a 30-second TV spot called “Workshop,” and a new print ad called “Flex,” which will emphasize the strength and endurance of Michelin tyres. The interactive Web site is located at www.michelinman.com/forward. In the new ads, Bibendum – otherwise known as the Michelin Man – has become “a modern, socially responsible icon,” said Michelin. For example, a 1905 advertisement depicts the Michelin Man with cigar to lips in a French wrestling-style leopard loincloth. Now, a smoke-free, slimmed-down Michelin Man enhances roads and parks as alternatives to sending scrap tyres to landfills. He is shown in the new TV commercial installing recycled rubber material in a childrens playground.
Continue ReadingMaxxis Gets Extreme Series Sponsorship
(Akron/Tire Review) Expanding its presence in various motorsport series, Maxxis has signed on as title sponsor of the XRRA extreme off-road racing series. The Maxxis XRRA series combines elements of rock crawling with off-road racing.
Continue ReadingDisposal of Fly-Tipped Casings Costs Kwik-Fit £250,000 a Year
The good turn-out at what was only the second TRA Forum at the end of January demonstrated that the subject of tyre recovery and reprocessing is still a priority for the tyre industry. The 2007 day-forum featured seminars on “Scamps and scams – at the sharp end”, “The new TRA certificate”, “Tyre recovery and the retailer”, and “Supporting the Responsible Recycler Scheme” – not to mention the announcement that new officers had been elected to the TRA board.
Continue ReadingMichelin Man Slims Down
Bibendum, Michelin’s iconic rubber ringed logo, must have joined a slimming club after Christmas because, according to Michelin UK marketing manager, Thierry Rudloff, future images of him will depict him as a shadow of his former sell. In years gone by Bib was depicted as a roly-poly, cigarette smoking, glass eating character. But no more. When Michelin launches a new multi-million-pound marketing campaign next month Bidendum’s image will be ‘refreshed.’
Continue ReadingAutomechanika Coming to Canada
Automechanika, a leading international brand of automotive parts and service trade shows, will join forces with CarFixWORLD to make its debut in the Canadian marketplace. This event will be presented jointly by Messe Frankfurt, producer of what will now be a dozen Automechanika shows across the globe, and Business Information Group, publisher of over 90 media products in Canada.
Continue ReadingPirelli Display Points to Changing Preferences
While most people visit motor shows to admire the latest and greatest from the world’s carmakers, those whose taste extends to tyres can also catch a glimpse of where the tyre world is heading. For example, observant onlookers admiring Jaguar’s C-XF concept vehicle at the Detroit show may notice that the spectacular mid-sized saloon does not just sit on any old rubber - the Jaguar’s large diameter wheels are complemented by 21-inch monsters from Pirelli.
Continue ReadingTwenty Million Needed to Restore Danubiana’s Fortunes
Gelu Tofan, one of Romania’s most prominent businessmen during the last decade, and the tyre manufacturer he controls, Danubiana, are facing significant financial problems. The tyremaker’s lack of funds has reached such a serious level that it has had to cease all activity, endangering the company’s distribution activity and the security of its employees.
Continue ReadingRecord Breaking Rubber
Combine a handful of the world’s best sports cars, a dozen leading tuners and a stretch of test circuit, and you have a recipe for breaking records, as was discovered recently at the Nardo test circuit in Southern Italy.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Tyres Cooperates With Octane Media
A unique partnership with publisher Octane Media Ltd at the recent Classic Car Show held at Birmingham’s NEC, signalled Marangoni’s commitment to the UK historic vehicle movement, now worth £3.2 billion annually. The publisher’s stand featured both Octane and MG Enthusiast Magazine, with the MGF project car – the subject of a free-to-enter Prize Draw competition - shod with Marangoni Zeta Linea tyres.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Tyre Wins Science Accolade
An innovative tyre from Goodyear, with elements such as carbon fibre and DuPont(TM) KEVLAR(R) inside, has been named one of the 100 Most Innovative Products of the Year by Popular Science magazine in the USA. The Goodyear Eagle(R) featuring ResponsEdge Technology(TM) leads the list of products named to Popular Sciences Best of Whats New in the Automotive Technology category. The tyre is featured in a special section of the December issue.
Continue ReadingSEMA Show 2006: Cooper Now Part of Need For Speed Game Series
(Las Vegas/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced a partnership with Electronic Arts on the latest version of EA’s popular Need for Speed video game series. Cooper will have an in-game presence in the form of decals, branded billboards and storefronts in the new Need For Speed Carbon game. Additionally, the Cooper Zeon 2XS will be prominently featured in the game’s only drift track. Need for Speed Carbon, which features both city street and canyon racing, is available worldwide as of 1 November.
Continue ReadingCooper Announces Champ Atlantic Deal at SEMA
Cooper has given details of a new motorsports partnership with the Champ Car Atlantic Series. “The Cooper/Champ Atlantic partnership is mutually beneficial. We have conducted extensive testing with the newly-designed Swift 016.a chassis and have been able to provide a tyre that allows for the best possible setup for optimal performance of both the car and tyre. The Cooper Tire racing slick allows for more adjustments in the mid-range, giving teams and drivers more scope overall. We are confident that the tyres will meet and exceed the teams’ expectations, resulting in high level competitive racing,” said Julian Baldwin, as vice president, European Operations, and managing director, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe.
Continue ReadingWomen Receive Safety Advice at First Stop Dealership
Female drivers in Rugby are receiving hands-on advice to improve their safety as potentially vulnerable motorists. Technicians at First Stop dealership TW Tyres are sharing their expertise at Driver Awareness Evenings run in association with Bridgestone. The course covers basic car mechanics and maintenance, and aims to educate women on what to do should they get into trouble whilst driving alone. “We’re covering everyday scenarios like how to change a tyre, how to check the tyre tread depth and pressure, and how to check oil levels and water levels – things we all really ought to know, but often don’t,” said Nathalie Furner, general manager of TW Tyres.
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