Pirelli launches Connesso integrated tyre sensor, app, cloud system
While some firms used the Geneva Motor Show platform to communicate their vision for the future, Pirelli has launched some futuristic technology now in its Pirell Connesso system. In short, Pirelli Connesso is an integrated sensor, receiver, cloud and app platform that is designed to give motorists the most in-depth and near real-time status and service integration that has yet been offered.
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New Porsche 911 GT3 launched with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres
Four in every five new Porsche 911 GT3s will be fitted with specially-developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N1 ultra-high-performance tyres, in 245/35 ZR20 front and 305/30 ZR20 rear sizes. The road-legal track tyre is a specially modified version developed as part of the ongoing technical partnership of the German car maker and Michelin – designated by the N1 marking. Compared to its N0 marked predecessor, Michelin says the Pilot Sport Cup 2 N1 offers improved lap times and stability, as well as more sporty handling. The new 911 GT3 was launched by Porsche at the Geneva Motor Show.
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Aston Martin Valkyrie to fit Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 as original equipment tyre
The Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar will roll on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres in 265/35ZR20 front and 325/30ZR21 rear sizes. Michelin said the tyre “blurs the line between motorsport and road tyres”, as the latest generation of road-legal track tyres designed for UHP cars that are used on road and track. The Valkyrie’s high-power, high-downforce, low-weight philosophy represents Aston Martin’s attempt to redefine the limits of road car performance, and will put “unprecedented demands on its tyres”.
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Falken Motorsport adds BMW to Porsche at Nürburgring 24H
Falken will line up on the Nürburgring Nordschliefe grid with two premium German racing cars for the first time, adding a BMW M6 GT3 to the Porsche 911 GT3 R (Type 991), which debuted at the 2016 event. Falken’s Porsche was the fastest in the 24 hour race, finishing in ninth place overall. Falken will enter both cars in various VLN endurance races as well as the Green Hell event; the team says competing with two different but current GT3 vehicle marques is unusual, but confirms the depth of experience of Falken’s tyre engineers and the wide-ranging performance of the tyres. Falken’s long-term partner, Schnabl Engineering, will supervise and support the two vehicles throughout the season.
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Geneva Motor Show: Goodyear unveils ‘smart’ concept tyre
Another first from Goodyear – following on from the Eagle 360 concept tyre presented a year ago, at this year’s Geneva Motor Show the tyre maker has revealed what it says is the first concept tyre to be powered by artificial intelligence and capable of sensing, deciding, transforming and interacting.
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PSA acquires Opel/Vauxhall
In a deal designed to make PSA Group the second largest carmaker in Europe, the Peugeot-Citreon brand owner has bought GM’s long-term lossmaking Opel and Vauxhall brands and production bases for 2.2 billion euros. This figure includes a joint venture with BNP Paribas on the GM Europe auto financing operations (valuing these transactions at 1.3 billion euros and 0.9 billion, respectively). But what does it mean for the tyre sector?
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Aiming for the top 10: Sailun developing five-year plan to climb global rankings
At the beginning of November Sailun Jinyu International (SJI) appointed Gareth Passmore as its president for Europe. He replaced Martin West, who has been appointed global president of the SJI Speciality Tire Group. Passmore, who started on 1 December 2016, is now responsible for all operations throughout Europe across all of the Sailun Jinyu Group brand portfolio – Sailun, Jinyu, Black Lion and Rovelo. Passmore brings with him over 25 years of tyre industry experience, including time with Continental, Apollo (in South Africa) and latterly with Sumitomo Rubber Industries where he headed up the Falken brand’s European export operations. During a recent brand and winter tyre product demonstration event in Sweden, Tyres & Accessories caught up with Passmore and at the same time we were introduced to Sailun’s ambitious goal of becoming a top 10 tyre manufacturer in the years to come.
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Giti Tire will unveil 20 Giti commercial vehicle tyres at CV Show 2017
Giti Tire will unveil the first phase of its Giti branded truck and bus portfolio at the CV Show 2017. In total 20 patterns will make their European debut. The introduction of the Giti brand to European commercial vehicle markets was announced at Reifen 2016 last May. The manufacturer will present the products between 25 and 27 April on stand 4G20 at the Birmingham NEC.
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Technotrac: Hankook Tire opens own winter test facility in Finland
With a decisive snip, more than a year’s work was officially complete. Four representatives from Hankook Tire’s global and European operations, suitably rugged up for the occasion, were on hand to open a facility that extends the tyre maker’s aim of self-contained development and manufacture of tyres for European markets. The inauguration of the ‘Technotrac’ facility gives Hankook Tire a permanent home alongside one of the world’s best-known winter test grounds, something that Ho-Youl Pae is very proud of.
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Continental and Bandvulc management comment on integration process
It is no secret that Continental and Bandvulc have been working together for decades. So it was also no surprise to learn that the subject of a possible takeover arose as long as 12 years ago. However, the round of talks that resulted in the sale agreement were instigated by Bandvulc managing director Patrick O’Connell during a meeting at the CV show in 2013. In the two or so years that followed the two firms say they grew together before a final deal was completed in July 2016.
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Many solid performers in ADAC summer tyre test
For this year’s summer tyre test, German motoring organisation ADAC, together with its Austrian and Swiss partners, evaluated a total of 31 tyre models – 16 size 195/65 R15 91V tyres were fitted to a VW Golf for testing, while 15 size 215/65 R16 98H products were evaluated using a VW Tiguan. Most tests were performed by ADAC personnel at facilities owned by Bridgestone and Continental.
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GfK: SUV sales drive UK tyre market post-Brexit
GfK reports that 2016 was a successful year for tyre manufacturers in the UK. This is said to have been driven by “the increasing number of SUVs on the road”, which naturally does its part to improve product mix. To be specific, according to GfK, 4x4 tyre sales leapt up 18 per cent in terms of units sold year-on-year. However, taking the year as a whole (including other passenger vehicle fitments), last year GfK’s Panel Market GB was flat.
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Bridgestone offers new licence to commercial tyre technicians
Bridgestone has become the first tyre manufacturer to offer the Society of Operations Engineers’ (SOE) Commercial Tyre Technician Licence to employees of fleets across the UK. The company said the licence would raise standards and improve uniformity in the commercial tyre industry. Attaining the licence requires the completion of three practical assessments and an online test. It aims to regulate the industry and provide best practice with an approved standard that everyone can aspire to achieve. The licence is currently being rolled out, and Bridgestone UK development trainers Phil Thirsk and Paul Turner passed rigorous tests in October to become qualified assessors.
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MWSD brings latest Xbrite+ forged aluminium wheels to European market
The European market distributor of Wheels India’s forged aluminium wheels, Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) has launched the next generation Xbrite+. The new product has benefitted from Wheels India’s upgraded multi-million pound production facility; in the advanced production process a polished Xlite forged aluminium wheel goes through several automated treatment stages to permeate the metal deeper.
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Falken to reveal race car, electric vehicle tyre at Geneva Motor Show
Falken will show its most energy-efficient tyre to date for electric and hybrid vehicles and launch its 2017 race car when the Sumitomo brand exhibits for the first time at the Geneva International Motor Show on 7-19 March 2017 (Hall 6, Booth 6238, Palexpo).
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