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Kumho’s latest high-performance offering, the ECSTA HS51, was awarded a ‘Recommended’ rating in the recent test by the highly regarded German consumer magazine, ACE Lenkrad. And, according to company representatives, it was the racetrack as much as the test track that led to this result.
In 2018, Nexen Tire’s new 1.2 trillion Korean won (£705 million) tyre factory in the Czech Republic will enter operation. The tyre maker confirmed the project in June 2014 and says the facility it is building in Zatec will be “one of the most cutting-edge and eco-friendly plants in the world.”
Goodyear has been awarded the Luxembourg Green Product Award for the third time in the Luxembourg Green Business Awards’ five-year history. The award was handed over to Henk van Tuyl, technology directory for commercial tyres at Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa, during an event held in May as part of the Luxembourg Green Business Summit.
A couple of months ago we discussed the “restructuring” of relatively large and modern Chinese manufacturer Deruibao Tire. Back then, Qingdao Doublestar was top of the list of firms connected with an acquisition/cooperation/merger rescue orchestrated by the local government. A month later government-owned ChemChina announced that it was buying Pirelli. This latter point has been covered in some depth in the pages of Tyres & Accessories, especially in our April edition. The Pirelli/ChemChina story will no-doubt garner more attention as the very complex outworkings of the deal are walked out, but what remains of interest is the way in which both the local Chinese market and the global industry are engaged in a period of both parallel and inter-connected consolidation.
David Shen has been appointed general manager of Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres. He joins the tyre distribution and retreading facility, which is based in China’s Fujian Province, from aircraft engineering company HAECO-Xiamen, where he served as senior manager of business improvement and lean development.
Directors at Hereford-based bulk haulier, Clive Price Transport, contest the idea there is “no such thing as a free ride” after winning a new Euro VI Scania R-Series truck in a Michelin competition.
Following its recent presence at Autopromotec 2015, Zenises Group has confirmed its debut at the expoMECÂNICA show, which gets underway in Porto on 5 June and runs until 7 June. Zenises says it is exhibiting at the Portuguese vehicle aftermarket exhibition to highlight three tyre ranges: its own brand Z and T tyres as well as the Westlake line of tyres, which Zenises distributes in the Iberian Peninsula.
Two developments have extended the Point S retail network’s presence in the North American market. Independent US tyre dealer network Tire Factory has joined Point S, while Canadian group Unimax – a member of Point S for the past two years – has elected to rebrand its network using the Point S corporate identity. Point S International operations manager Fabian Bouquet views both measures as a means of reaching the target of rolling out the Point S corporate identity in 600 retail points of sale throughout North America within four years.
Haymarket Exhibitions, organiser of the Performance Car Show, has signed up Landsail tyres as title sponsor for next year’s event. When it returns to the NEC in Birmingham between 14 and 17 January, the sport and performance car fair will be officially known as the ‘Performance Car Show presented by Landsail Tyres in association with Autocar and PistonHeads.com.’ The show takes place alongside Europe’s largest motorsport exhibition, Autospsort International.
Formula E’s eighth round was staged over the weekend at Berlin’s former Tempelhof Airport; an unusual backdrop for a track described by tyre supplier Michelin as one of the most delicate of the season for tyres. The twisty 17-turn, 2.47km course was dusty and dirty early in the day due to the relative lack of traffic, while its concrete slabs were particularly abrasive. The circuit’s width also allowed drivers to run three abreast in places, meaning heavy braking and hard acceleration were a feature of the event. These conditions present an obvious challenge for tyres to which Michelin’s grooved Pilot Sport EV rose.
Hankook has launched a new all-season tyre, the Kinergy 4S (4S stands for “Four Seasons”). The manufacturer says the new tyre is distinguished by harmonious performance features across all seasons, making it an attractive alternative when it comes to ensuring legally compliant year-round mobility. The tyre can be used all year round even in countries with seasonal winter tyre requirements, as it bears the M+S and snowflake symbols (which will be required for winter tyres in Europe, as elsewhere, starting in 2018). All-season tyres have generated plenty of interest from tyre manufacturers recently, with rising sales in the segment indicating great potential for these products in markets with less extreme temperatures.
Michelin has unveiled a new range of hypersport and race tyres designed to coincide with its return to the MotoGP World Championship in 2016. Michelin says the tyres, which include the Power SuperMoto and SuperMoto Rain wet product, are designed to enhance lap times, riding pleasure and safety. Technical developments include “Adaptive Casing Technology” (ACT), which Michelin says will help to combat high-speed weave and ensures stability and grip at all lean angles.
Michelin will celebrate the Citroën DS’s 60th anniversary as enthusiasts create an international gathering this year. The tyre manufacturer has strong connections with its French compatriot, continuing to working with its motorsport teams and equipping all models of the DS sold in Europe.
Micheldever Tyre Services says it will “begin the biggest period of expansion in its 43 year history” this year, with a large expansion of its Protyre retail network planned over the next 18 months. The wholesaler posted revenues exceeding £322m last year, selling 6 million tyres through 8,500 fast fit centres – including its own Protyre branded retail sites. Current low-end estimates could put this figure at around one in every five tyres replaced by UK motorists.
In the context of large chains and online specialists growing in influence, Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), Britain’s largest independent wholesaler, distributor and retailer of tyres, states that its proprietary TyreClick solution could provide an answer for independent garage businesses. The increasing popularity of online tyre sales in European markets, recently noted by Michelin after purchasing Blackcircles.com, is resulting in increased competition for online sales from national chains and specialist internet traders. Recent movement in the online landscape has ignited the debate among independents about how they can compete, and Micheldever says it is stepping into the breach with TyreClick.
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