Report raises safety fears on UK road markings
A report ('Lifelines 2012') by the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) says that the quality of road markings in the UK is "in rapid decline" and accuses the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency of failing to grasp the urgency of the problem. The survey looked at 7250km of UK roads and found that 40 per cent of markings on Scotland's motorways and dual carriageways and dual carriages in Wales need immediate replacement. The figures for England's motorways and dual carriageways were 38 per cent and 36 per cent respectively. 44 per cent of markings on Highways Agency single carriageways fall into what RSMA calls the "danger or warning zones".
Continue ReadingTrelleborg shows new HP products at EIMA 2012
Trelleborg is showing its latest high performance tyres at the EIMA 2012 agricultural exhibition in Bologna, Italy, which runs from 7-11 November. The IF 900/60R42 TM1000 High Power, which will be mounted on the new Trelleborg THK 30x42 inch rim; a 30 inch rim on 42 inch diameter roll-formed in one piece, will take centre stage.
Continue ReadingF2 bosses praise Yokohama after first season supply
Yokohama’s Advan range of tyres acquired a new fitment this year. In addition to the brand’s continued supply of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, Advans were also seen fitted to another big FIA Championship, Formula Two. Yokohama HPT, the UK distributor for the Japanese brand, provided wet and dry tyres to the entire field and declared itself delighted the performance of the tyres, the feedback from the organisers and drivers, and the exceptional quality of the racing action. Richard Gates, F2 Race Operations manager, said the organisers had been “impressed” with both tyre performance and technical support. He also hinted at a relationship between the series and Yokohama that could extend beyond the current deal, which ends in 2013: "The new partnership has also been commercially viable which is imperative in today's climate and we're looking forward to continuing this relationship in the future."
Continue ReadingByrne clinches third British Superbike title on Pirelli tyres
Shane Byrne recorded a hat-trick of victories at Brands Hatch to win his third British Superbike Championship. The Kentish rider entertained a large crowd, pushing hard for the three wins, including a final race overtake on series runner-up Josh Brookes, despite a safe points cushion. The series’ tyre supplier, Pirelli pointed out that the man known as “Shakey” had completed victory on the 20th anniversary of the Japanese manufacturer’s last title in 1992. Pirelli also took part in BSB history across its twelve 2012 rounds, making a foray into Europe at Assen. With new power and budget equalling regulations as well as single tyre supply, Pirelli argues that the series has never been more open and level, producing an incredible eight different winners during the year.
Continue ReadingB.I.T.S., Michelin, Conti honoured by 2012 TAFF Awards
The TAFF Awards winners were announced last night during the NTDA's annual dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester. Contested between the world's five largest manufacturers, Continental Tyre Group came out on top in the Tyre Manufacturer of the Year category. Michelin prevailed in two categories, winning the product innovation award for its new Energy + tyre, while its advertising campaign, "The right tyre changes everything" featuring the Primacy 3 tyre was given the Industry Advertising Campaign Award. B.I.T.S. was crowned Wholesaler of the Year, regaining its crown from Stapleton's. In the other awards, Pang UK is 2012's Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year, Sapphire Energy Recovery was given the Environmental Award and ATS Euromaster (Brighton West) won Tyre Centre of the Year.
Continue ReadingTIA’s Rohlwing ‘best speaker’ at ITT Conference
US industry organisation the Tire Industry Association (TIA) shares that its senior vice-president of training, Kevin Rohlwing, has been named "Best Speaker of the Conference" following the recent Intelligent Tire Technology (ITT) Conference in Darmstadt, Germany. Conference chairperson Dr. Klaudia Malowitz notified Rohlwing of the award in early October.
Continue ReadingMichelin top again, but is lead eroding?
Whatever happens in the wider economy and even in the tyre market in particular it seems that being strong helps you stay strong when it comes to online branding. Throughout the last eight annual surveys of the online prominence and sentiment of leading tyre brands one thing has stayed the same. Michelin has always come top in terms of prominence and has been beaten only by Pirelli on two occasions (2005 and 2006). Furthermore the top six places are seemingly impenetrable to those seeking to build their brands online, with the same handful of companies trading positions with each other but some way off of the rest of the pack in terms of prominence. However, there are always surprises and 2012’s survey is no different.
Continue ReadingCES releases Engine Management Guide
CES has published a new product guide to showcase its engine management components. The company says distributers need to stock a wider range of engine management parts as vehicle technology advances. CES says it has rapidly increased its range in recent years, stocking a wide range of sensors, turbos, fuel systems and diesel and petrol injectors.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres featured in ‘Around the World in 80 Brands’ book
Apollo Tyres is one of the brands featured in the CoolBrands book Around the World in 80 Brands, which aims to share stories with opinion formers around the world. Part of an overall concept that includes online seeding and sharing via social media, guest lectures at universities and workshops, the book includes articles about visionary people, smart brands and trendy destinations. “Apollo Tyres is pleased to be part of this global storytelling project,” comments Rob Oudshoorn, CEO of Apollo Vredestein.
Continue ReadingCooper expands US sport sponsorship involvement
The college football season is getting underway in the US and Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced a number of sponsorship agreements. The tyre maker will soon commence is sixth year as exclusive tyre sponsor of the ABC College Football Halftime Show and it has inked new agreements with select colleges in the Big Ten, SEC and ACC conferences; these deals are expected to connect the Cooper brand with fans on a local market basis.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg demonstrates benefits of optimising tyre pressure
Trelleborg Wheel Systems says its naming as official partner for the Massey Ferguson “Vision of the Future” event strengthened its strategic partnership with its agricultural OEM customer. The event, held at the company’s tractor manufacturing headquarters in Beauvais, France between 22 August and 1 September, was attended by more than five thousand agricultural professionals from across Europe. The Swedish tyre maker showcased its latest innovations in the field of sustainable farming during the event, along with its latest tyre and complete wheel solutions.
Continue ReadingNew MotoGP hard compound “improves warm-up”
Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Department manager Shinji Aoki has revealed that MotoGP riders’ test session at Brno suggests the tyre supplier’s experimental new hard compound tyre improves on the warm-up performance of the current hard tyre. The results were far from conclusive though, with few riders choosing to test the rubber in cool conditions.
Continue ReadingPanorama investigation shows “vital role” of TRA’s responsible recyclers
Following the major investigation into illegal tyre dumping broadcast by BBC TV’s Panorama on 16 July, the Tyre Recovery Association has highlighted the importance of garages, tyre retailers and vehicle dismantlers using responsible recyclers for the collection of their waste tyres. Peter Taylor, secretary general of the Tyre Recovery Association, said: “This latest investigation perfectly illustrates why such a scheme is necessary. It also shows the scale of devastation and criminality that results from those intent on operating outside of the law.” The programme showed how large quantities of tyres are being illegally dumped each year in the UK by unscrupulous and rogue collectors, resulting in huge clean up bills for UK taxpayers and landowners.
Continue ReadingProtean establishing factory for electric in-wheel drive system
Michelin isn’t the only company developing an electric in-wheel drive system. US-headquartered company Protean Electric boasts its own competitor to the tyre major’s ‘Active Wheel’ system, and has announced it has received US$84 million in new funding from its key investors GSR Ventures, New Times Group, Oak Investment Partners, and the city of Liyang, in China’s Jiangsu Province, China. This capital will be used to bring Protean's electric drive technology to production through the erection of manufacturing facilities in Liyang.
Continue ReadingLoeb victorious at X Games on Cooper tyres
Cooper Tire describes the X Games Rallycross Final in Los Angeles as the world’s highest profile Rallycross event, and the company was pleased to support the eventual winner, eight-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, with its tyres on his successful debut. Loeb was invited to make a one-off rallycross appearance by US regular Travis Pastrana and took a crushing debut victory in front of the American crowd in his Citroën DS3, leading home the Ford Fiestas of Ken Block and Brian Deegan in second and third respectively.
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