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PCL returns to Autopromotec this year with its portfolio of products on-show in Hall 19 Stand A41. This is Bologna’s 26th show, and the May 2015 event will boast a new floor plan aimed at grouping exhibitors into areas of interest, helping visitors to plan their visit according to specific interests.
On 30 April, Sumitomo Rubber Industries held an opening ceremony for Sumitomo Rubber Australia Pty. Ltd., its new tyre sales corporation in Australia. Sumitomo Rubber Australia was founded in December 2014 as a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation (SRI holds a 75 per cent equity share), and it began operating in March 2015.
The Tuscan hills south of Montepulciano during an unusually warm and sunny spring are an idyllic setting for most occasions. Yet the choice of location for the official launch of GT Radial’s Champiro FE1 passenger car tyre was more significant than just as one of the world’s most picturesque places. The tyre is designed to tackle what Fabio Pecci-Boriani (senior product marketing manager – PCR, Giti Tire) described as “one of the most important market sectors – 15-17”, H-W speed rated, 50-65 series.” Positioned as an all-round premium passenger car tyre for C and D vehicles (including such bestsellers as the Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 308 and Kia Cee’d) the tyre now has more than 95 per cent coverage of its target sector, following the introduction of nine new sizes (the FE1 was first (soft) launched in 2014).
Tyre development teams at Cooper Tire & Rubber have exceeded the goals set for it under a US government project, the tyre maker reports. These results were in part achieved by utilising materials that Cooper says are not used in tyres currently available on the market. Looking forward, the various technologies developed during the project will be put together in a single concept tyre, and Cooper is evaluating the use of technologies in commercial applications.
Although the absence of Cooper Chengshan Tire (CCT) was noticeable in Cooper Tire & Rubber’s net sales during the first quarter of 2014, the tyre maker managed to increase operating margin, and excluding the impact of CCT’s divestment, increased operating income in the opening three months of the year.
The FIA World Rallycross Championship entered its second year in Montalegre, Portugal on 24 April, with the series again supplied by Cooper Tire. The manufacturer has also agreed to supply exclusively the supporting RX Lites grid in 2015. The World RX season opener began with a total of 52 cars, including 21 supercars with 600 brake horsepower, going head-to-head in Portugal.
Hankook Tire achieved a global sales revenue of KRW 1.48 trillion (1.19 billion euros) and an operating profit of KRW 203.2 billion (164 million euros) in the first quarter of 2015, both figures down on the previous year period.
The strong representation of the tyre and wheel business at April’s Commercial Vehicle Show 2015 proved that the show is considered an increasingly important platform for those within the business. Indeed, Giti Tire’s notably larger stand, effectively re-launching its corporate identity, and the presence of Pirelli after a decade of non-attendance – alongside strong commitments from all the leading UK CV brands; major CV tyre wholesalers, Kirkby Tyres, RH Claydon and Kings Road Tyres; fleet servicing companies; and garage machinery providers.
Hankook’s Commercial Vehicle Show stand contained its CV tyre portfolio, with the recent adapted products for Euro V and VI vehicles taking centre stage. The SmartFlex AH31 and the TL02 trailer tyre were the key products in this respect, while the manufacturer also emphasised its Alphatread, retread range, which was extended with the addition of the popular 315/70R22.5 size, made available in January 2015. Hankook also hosted a football competition on its large Hall 5 stand, run in conjunction with its sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League.
This month I went back to school. Tyre 2015 – the fourth International Tyre Colloquium, hosted by University of Surrey to be precise. While much of the science was beyond those of us that don’t work in R&D, the concepts behind the really technical stuff are fascinating. And what’s more, they offer a unique insight into what is on the horizon in terms of tyre development, vehicle dynamics and indeed original equipment (OE) trends.
Looking around the 2015 CV Show, it’s easy to see that there is a significant amount of Goodyear-shod vehicles being exhibited. One particular example that Goodyear representatives pointed Tyres & Accessories to is the well-known truck manufacturer DAF, which brought a particularly high number of Goodyear-equipped trucks to the show. So, with this in mind, can such a strong showing in the exhibition fitment stakes be seen as a metaphor for the company’s ongoing growth? T&A met with Marc Preedy, Goodyear commercial director UK & Ireland, to find out.
2 May sees the beginning of the 2015 DTM season at the Hockenheimring, marking the fifth year of Hankook’s tyre supply to the championship. The brand’s presence in top line German motorsport has functioned as a component of its process of premiumisation – not only has the manufacturer been producing high specification track tyres accepted by DTM; it has been able to function as an exclusive tyre partner with Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz within the series.
Dmack runners scored a double WRC2 podium at Rally Argentina – an event the tyre supplier described as one of the toughest in the recent history of the World Rally Championship. Paraguayan Diego Dominguez finished second while Drive DMACK’s Jari Ketomaa battled through a troubled three days to take third.
Pirelli has claimed its best overall result on a rally since returning to the World Rally Championship last year. Martin Prokop – equalling his own best-ever career result – claimed fourth place, while in the WRC2 category Qatari driver Abdulaziz Al Kawari claimed victory. Simone Tempestini claimed the Production category too, ensuring a win for Pirelli in all the main support categories and the top results for privateer drivers: the focus of Pirelli’s World Rally Championship campaign this year.
The second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will take place at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit, and Dunlop hopes to help the G-Drive Racing team to hold on to first and second places following their first-second finish at Silverstone earlier this month.
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