National Tyres and Autocare board approves leases for 10 new branches
National Tyres and Autocare will expand its network by 10 branches over the next year. Launching at the start of July, and projected to finish in early 2017, this expansion phase will include new branches in London, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, South Wales and the South West. These branches will join the existing network of 241 branch locations operating throughout the UK. National added that 14 further sites are currently “in the pipeline”. The network is the UK’s third largest; the latest expansion will demonstrate its sharpest growth in locations for five years.
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Artificial intelligence at the heart of Bridgestone tyre making system
A new method of assembling tyres that promises to improve quality and productivity while eliminating the risk of human error has been introduced within a Bridgestone Corporation plant in Japan. The tyre maker has announced the installation of the new Examation system at its flagship Hikone passenger car tyre production site. But what is Examation?
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Bridgestone DriveGuard wins Auto Express award
Bridgestone’s DriveGuard run-flat tyre has been crowned Auto Express Product of the Year 2016. The touring tyre has been recognised for extending run-flat technology to cars previously unable to fit such products. The tyre became available in the UK in April following its January launch in Monaco.
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HPTC opening brings Industry 4.0 to Continental’s tyre production
Back when Continental’s facility in Korbach, Germany celebrated its centenary in 2007, most people assumed the site’s best days were already behind it. At the time, the company aimed to relocate a greater proportion of its production to lower cost countries, and the onset of the financial crisis a year or so later did nothing to increase the attractiveness of locations such as Korbach. Therefore it came as a surprise when Continental announced a €45 million investment to set up a “factory within a factory” at the Korbach plant. On 7 June this facility, the High Performance Technology Center (HPTC), entered operation.
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Hutchinson dominates Supersport, Superstock Isle Of Man TT races on Metzeler
Ian Hutchinson won the Supersport and Superstock categories on Metzeler’s road legal Metzeler Racetec RR tyres, developed through past road racing seasons. The tyre manufacturer’s products were fitted to the whole podium in both races, but it was Hutchinson’s imperious form that led to victories on his Team Traction Control Came BPT Yamaha YZF-R6 in Supersport and Tyco BMW S1000RR in the Superstock class.
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Continental to supply tyres for UEFA Euro 2016 team buses
As an official sponsor of this summer’s UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, Continental will continue positioning of its brand close to the top level of European football, a strategy that continues to prove successful, and popular with competitors. As part of its sponsorship package with the tournament, Conti will equip the transfer buses taking teams all over France to the ten host cities with its premium bus tyres, a feature previously seen at the Brazil-hosted World Cup in 2014, when Conti supplied a special edition ContiGol Urbino. In addition to the buses used by all 24 teams who have qualified, the specially designed Conti Goal HA3 tyres will also run on 20 VIP buses provided by selected private transport companies. Conti will use an exclusive special edition tyre for the tournament based on its Conti CityPlus HA3 tyre for regional transportation. The size 295/80R22.5 Conti Goal HA3 was developed in Germany by the manufacturer’s engineers, and can be fitted to any axle.
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UK drivers spend £21.1 billion on service and repair (including tyres) every year
The latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that British cars are among the best maintained in the world, with UK motorists spending a collective £21.1 billion a year on servicing and repair. The data, which was released on the eve of the inaugural Automechanika Birmingham, forms the basis of the first official industry analysis of the UK automotive aftermarket. It also comes at the same time that Sainsbury’s bank has released data suggesting the average annual cost of running a car is around £2,197.42, 22 per cent - or £622 - less than 2013. The main reason for this change is that the cost of fuel has fallen by 37.8 per cent during this period.
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Dunlop taking strong line-up into Isle of Man TT, aims to create the 133mph Club
The Isle of Man TT gets underway on Saturday 4 June, with a strong line-up of road racers confirmed to run on Dunlop rubber. The brand is irrevocably tied to the event having participated at every event since the first race in 1907.
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Wider, bigger footprint, faster: Pirelli reveals 2017 tyres
Pirelli presented its new 2017 tyre size at Monte Carlo during the Monaco grand prix. The supplier described the new tyre size as a significant technical change that also has an effect on the balance and aesthetics of the cars that will compete next year. 2017 will be the first season in Pirelli’s latest three-year agreement to supply Formula One.
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Falken achieves top 10 finish, class victory in Nürburgring 24 Hours
Falken Motorsport has followed up its podium finish at the 2015 Nürburgring 24 Hours with a top 10 and a class victory. The brand’s long-running participation at the event continued at an arduous 2016 Nürburgring 24 Hours, with ninth overall for Falken’s own new Porsche 991 GT3 R, together with a class win and top 20 finish for the SP3T Subaru WRX STI.
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Trelleborg finalises acquisition of Mitas manufacturer, CGS Holding
Trelleborg has finalised its acquisition of leading agricultural, industrial and specialty tyre manufacturer, CGS Holding as. The total cash consideration amounted to approximately 10.9 billion Swedish krona (approximately £0.91 billion) on a cash and debt-free basis. CGS is headquartered in the Czech Republic and generated sales of approximately SEK 5.6 billion (£0.47 billion) in 2015 with an operating margin of 16.5 percent. The Czech company also produces engineered polymer solutions.
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Pirelli tyres homologated for Jaguar F-Pace
Pirelli has been homologated for the Jaguar F-Pace in a variety of sizes across P Zero and Scorpion Verde All Season. The P Zero has been homologated in sizes 265/40R22 106Y XL, 255/50R20 109W XL and 255/55R19 111W XL while the Scorpion Verde All Season has been homologated in size 235/65R18 110H XL.
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Bridgestone to acquire Speedy France retail network
Bridgestone has announced its plan to acquire 100 per cent of the car service and tyre retail network Speedy France. The manufacturer intends to use the new acquisition to increase its direct access to end-users in France, one of its core European markets, as well as in other markets where Speedy has a presence. The finalisation of the acquisition is subject to approval by the regulatory authorities; once approved, and the transaction is completed, Bridgestone’s French presence will be expanded to more than 800 retail outlets, contributing strongly to its accelerated growth strategy.
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Pirelli launches commercial tyre all-rounder R:01 Triathlon
Pirelli has launched its new tyre line for commercial vehicles, the R:01 Triathlon, at Reifen 2016. Designed as third generation products, the tyres provide performance characteristics not only to replace the existing R:01 II, but also to overlap the winter W:01 and long-haul H:01 ranges. While the new tyres are “not designed to replace” Pirelli’s specialist models, the manufacturer’s CEO Europe, Renato Zilli told Tyrepress that the R:01 Triathlon range represents its recognition of users’ “variable needs” and the evolution of European goods transportation; in 2010 the ratio between regional, long-haul and winter applications was 76:20:4, while in 2015 this has changed to 81:15:4. Commercial tyres featuring all-round performance are naturally attractive to dealers as an aftermarket solution, but European fleets also require adaptability between the more popular regional applications and long-haul routes, taking in different climates.
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Giti brand to replace GT Radial commercial tyre range in Europe
Giti has launched a new strategic initiative for its commercial tyre business at Reifen 2016, which will see the manufacturer replace its GT Radial branded truck and bus products in Europe by the end of 2017. The manufacturer’s European representatives told Tyrepress that a mixture of new products - led by the Giti GDR655 regional drive axle and Giti GAM851 mixed-service steer and trailer tyres, both of which have been launched at Reifen - and relabeled existing products would make up the Giti CV tyre range, commencing immediately. The GT Assist network would be moved to Giti branding “at the appropriate time”, UK managing director Brian McDermott told Tyrepress. Meanwhile Giti will continue to market new GT Radial passenger car tyres with the “A Product of Giti” badge on the sidewall, first seen on the UHP flagship GT Radial SportActive tyre, representatives told Tyrepress. There are currently “no plans to replace the GT Radial brand” in consumer focused products, they added.
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