Why it’s too early to cry tyre-mageddon
On 3 November Michelin announced a series of pan-European tyre manufacturing restructuring plans designed to address the dual pressures from the on-going negative effects of the 2008 global financial crisis and the sharp increase of low-cost imports – especially in the truck and bus tyre segment. In short this means the closure of its Ballymena truck tyre plant, alongside investment in its Dundee and Stoke facilities; as well as the closure of its Pneu Laurent retreading operation in Germany; not to mention further significant investments and some closures in Michelin’s Italian tyre production plants.
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‘Fascinating times’ – Roger Griggs speaks at NTDA Annual Dinner
NTDA national chairman Roger Griggs used his speech at the 86th NTDA Annual Dinner to echo many of the sentiments expressed at the Tyre Industry Conference, calling especially for unified voices in tackling industry-wide issues. Encompassing cheap imported products, the under-regulated part-worn tyre market, MOTs and road safety, and the importance of attracting young talent to the industry, Griggs’ speech outlined the evolution of the NTDA’s position over the past year and, most crucially the work it is doing in attempting to bring together a variety of disparate voices. Reinforcing the association’s “growth and renewed energy,” according to Griggs, the dinner was the “biggest… in recent decades, with 620 guests in attendance,” indicating the “value…we all place on spending time together as an industry.
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NTDA ressurects annual conference
After a decade-long hiatus, the National Tyre Distributor Association (NTDA) resurrected the concept of having an annual tyre industry conference, with a new location and new format at the start of October. The new conference sees the association position its gathering as an industry-wide professional event alongside the NTDA dinner. The decision to re-launch the conference comes at a time when the NTDA dinner has itself evolved significantly – this year some 600 people attended (see complete coverage in the preceding section of this issue). But the most noticeable thing was the concerted effort, especially on the part of various industry associations participating, to present a united front. By doing this they showed that the associations are now more interested in highlighting where they stand together as opposed to where they differ.
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Maxam moves operational team to Sailun Europe’s UK office, plans expansion
Maxam has announced its strategic intent to grow global sales and market shares following completion of an intensive review of its operations. One result of this review has been the move of the operational support team from Luxembourg to Birmingham, where it will link up with the Sailun Jinyu European team, and stand in very close proximity to the nearby Sailun European Research and Development facility. In order to achieve its overall objective, the OTR tyre manufacturer has also planned number of initiatives.
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Maxxis developing plans for India tyre plant
Talking to Tyrepress about its latest expansion project, Maxxis chairman Tsai-Jen Lo has visited the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat in order to finalise plans for Maxxis’ first plant in India. The latest plant, joining ten other Maxxis plants located throughout Asia, is due to be ready for operation in early 2017.
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Reifen China 2015 ready to go
Organisers of the Reifen China Asian tyre market trade fair report that the show is “ready to go” and about to kick off. The event runs from 11 - 13 November 2015 in Shanghai’s New International Expo Centre. Reifen China is organised by Messe Essen and the China United Rubber Corporation who say they are expecting around 100 tyre, and retread-related exhibitors from China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Spain and Russia.
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Yokohama release Chelsea tyre
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is to launch the “BluEarth-A AE50 Chelsea FC Edition” featuring the Chelsea Football Club logo on the sidewall. Following the product’s release in Japan on 29 October, the tyre will be launched gradually in Europe, Asia and South America, with approaches varying from country to country. According to Yokohama, the Chelsea tyre will be available in three sizes: 225/45R17 94W, 205/55R16 91V and 195/65R15 91H.
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Aasen wins Drive Dmack Fiesta Trophy
Marius Aasen has won the 2015 Drive Dmack Fiesta Trophy, seeing him claim what the World Rally Championship tyre supplier Dmack calls “the biggest prize in rallying;” he will claim a lucrative full seven-round series of 2016 WRC 2 competition using a Drive Dmack Ford Fiesta R5. Aasen completed his title-winning season with victory at the last of five events in Spain. The 23-year old and his co-driver Veronica Engan finished ahead of British rival Tom Cave, who claimed second place overall for the second successive season. The Fiesta Trophy was thrillingly close this season, with seven crews in with a mathematical chance of winning the title heading into the mixed surface RallyRACC-Rally de Espana.
Continue Reading![Michelin Tire Care [strategy] launched](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_5177.jpg)
Michelin Tire Care [strategy] launched
At the start of October in Paris Michelin launched Michelin Tire Care, a suite of connected software solutions designed to help hauliers get the most out of their tyres. The idea is that fleets get more performance (and therefore financial value) from their tyre purchases as they use the mobile/tablet-based software, and in doing so see the benefit of premium and especially Michelin truck tyre products. While software is clearly at the heart of this latest announcement, Tyres & Accessories considers whether we should be using the term “strategy” instead.
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Francesco Gori appointed as Apollo Tyres advisor for strategy
Apollo Tyres has appointed former Pirelli CEO Francesco Gori as its new advisor for strategy. Part of Apollo Tyres’ management board, Gori will support the company in its goal of international growth, identification and development of new opportunities.
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Sumitomo, Falken to present Advanced 4D Nano Design at Tokyo Motor Show
Sumitomo Rubber Industries will present its latest “Advanced 4D Nano Design” materials development technology at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show, with a booth displaying both Falken Tyre and Dunlop brands. The show runs 29 October to 8 November 2015 at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan. In Europe, Falken tyres have achieved double-digit performance improvements with the earlier application of these design techniques used to develop Ecorun-branded products. With a Dunlop-branded version already on sale in Japan Sumitomo has already previewed a prototype Falken “fossil fuel-free” tyre for the European market, and the 4D Nano design process has been used in their development too.
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New Pirelli website online with increased video content
Pirelli’s new website has gone live, giving the manufacturer a global platform for its marketing operations. The company said the website would feature its “many souls”: including products, competitions, business, sustainability, art and culture, and the Pirelli Calendar. It takes a narrative approach, using images, videos, and texts to recount stories, in Pirelli’s words, “accompanying the visitor/reader along a course of Pirelli discovery.” The new pirelli.com is designed to be a digital “magazine”, which will also feed into Pirelli’s social media channels. The project is capped by seven updated cover stories as the visitor navigates to the site.
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World’s fastest SUV fitted with Pirelli P Zero tyres: video
Bentley’s new SUV, the Bentayga, is capable of 301kph, making it the fastest SUV in the world, and the brand has chosen Pirelli’s P Zero as the original equipment tyre tasked with transmitting its power to the road. The car’s launch is accompanied by a video showing the Bentayga reaching its top speed on 22” Pirelli P Zero tyres (285/40ZR22 110Y XL. Pirelli is also supplying other 20” and 21” sizes for the Bentayga. Each tyre homologated for the luxury SUV features the B marking, indicating to dealers and end-users that the tyre was made especially for Bentley. The video is available to watch within the full article below.
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Toyo renews Leicester City Football Club partnership
Toyo Tires has announced that is has decided to renew its UK partnership with Leicester City Football Club into the 2015 and 2016 season. The partnership of Toyo Tires and Leicester City Football Club will see the Japanese company continue its commercial presence at the King Power stadium, while the distinctive blue branding will also be visible on the Foxes first team training wear.
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Motorcycle News makes Metzeler Racetec RR its 2015 Tyre of the Year
The Metzeler Racetec RR has been named ‘Tyre of the Year’ by Motorcycle News, having been ranked highest in the comparative test held by the publication at Jerez circuit earlier this year. In the test, the tyre was judged to be the “best sporty tyre” among products from five other manufacturers, lapping fastest at road pressures on track. The tyre tested was also the hardest of the three Metzeler Racetec RR compounds (the K3), designed for everyday road use and trackdays. Although road legal, the K1 and K2 compounds are intended for more pure track activities.
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