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In tyre circles the Kleber brand is a well-known name. And in mature European markets like France and Germany, the tyre is likely to be amongst the top ten brands that dealers call on. But what about the UK and the unique challenges that this market presents? With a new product set to be released in the early part of 2006, Tyres & Accessories took the opportunity to catch up with Kleber’s UK brand manager, Dominic Clark.
JK Tyre is looking into the possibility of expanding its bias tyre production by making strategic share acquisitions in Latin America. “The demand for tyres, both in India and the international markets, is at a high. While we are expanding our production capacities in India, we also feel the need to source tyres from other markets to feed the growing demand,” said JK Tyre VC and MD Raghupati Singhania.
At the same time JK Industries’ Mysore plant rolled out its millionth truck radial, marking a milestone for the company. The one-millionth tyre was presented at a function at the former Vikrant Tyres Truck Radial Tyre Plant that was acquired by JK Industries in 1996. Speaking on the occasion, deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah said the government’s decision to divest its stake in Vikrant Tyres had been vindicated. He said the capacity of the plant had increased from 100 tonnes in 1996 to 213 tonnes a day at present.
Across the Texas prairie, in a place where the staff occasionally encounter rattle snakes, Cooper’s 1000 acre Tire and Vehicle Test Center can be found. Originally constructed in 1999, the site has recently been upgraded through the addition of 4x4 and off-road testing facilities. Tyres & Accessories travelled to San Antonio to experience Cooper’s newly enlarged test centre first hand.
The most recent developments at Cooper’s Tire and Vehicle Test Center (TVTC) prove that the $13 million it originally spent on the facility was just the beginning. Now the company has 4x4 testing capabilities and it is likely that there will be further additions in due course. For now the centre’s primary work is product testing and competitor benchmarking.
Sapphire Energy Recovery is to open a new tyre processing site at South Trafford park near Manchester. The facility is set to be operational by January 2006 and will serve the surrounding and near-by conurbations. The new plant will begin processing 25,000 tonnes annually with the capacity to increase up to 50,000 tonnes.
“This latest development is an excellent opportunity to serve our customers where the tyres are. This way our customers can spend more time on the road collecting tyres rather than coming to us,” said marketing manager Ryan Mifflin, adding: “The new site will be a bespoke plant to serve tyre needs. It follows our strategy of putting a site in every major city in Britain.”
McLaren driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, has won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Montoya reportedly told his McLaren team he was going to win the Grand Prix and beat Fernando Alonso before the race started. According to race commentators he did both in style.
This weekend’s French Grand Prix, was a lot more straight forward than last month’s US race – Renault and Michelin’s Fernando Alonso won what commentators described as an emphatic victory. Mclaren’s Kimi Raikonnen took second place, while Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher filled the last remaining podium position. Jenson Button gained his first points of the season by taking fourth place (Button’s San Marino result was annulled after BAR were disqualified).
Pirelli and Metzeler brand tyres have topped Motor Cycle News’ (MCN) “Ultimate Tyre Test.” Broken into 3 distinct categories – Sports, Performance and Extreme – MCN tested the tyres at Michelin’s purpose built tyre testing facility at Clermont-Ferrand, France. In addition to Pirelli and Metzeler, Michelin Pilot Power, Avon Viper Sport, Dunlop D208, Pirelli Diablo and Bridgestone BT014 tyres were examined. In each discipline the tyre testers looked atride quality, feel under braking, feel turning in, cornering grip, steering precision, flickability, drive out of turns, confidence. A maximum of 10 points were available for each test.
Continental Tire North America, Inc. (CTNA) has filed an unfair labour practice charge against the United Steelworkers union (USW) in relation to its Bryan Ohio OTR tyre manufacturing facility. The announcement follows attempts by Rodos Giants (part of the Roesler Group) to buy the plant. The union refused to enter into a labour agreement with the company.
By the time you read this article, European directive 2000/53/EC will have come fully into force. This regulation, more commonly known as the end of life vehicle (ELV) directive, will have a profound effect on the tyre trade – banning the sale of lead balancing weights. But is the trade ready? Tyres & Accessories spoke to representatives from weight manufacturers Trax and Remog in order to find out more.
FIA, the world motorsports governing body, has found the seven F1 teams that pulled out of the US Grand Prix guilty on two charges, but has deferred punishment. The compromise is seen as a way of buying time for the international motorsports series to recover. The teams – Renault, McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Sauber, Red Bull and BAR – were found guilty of failing to arrive at Indianapolis with proper tyres and wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to race after Michelin issued a safety warning.
However, the teams were cleared of charges of failing to inform race stewards of their intention not to race, refusing to race subject to a speed limit and combining to put on a spectacle damaging to Formula One. Punishment was deferred until 14 September. The FIA cannot punish Michelin directly.
Australia’s Ansell Ltd has slashed the value of its tyre-making joint venture with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co by more than half, citing the impact of an influx of cheaper imports and rising raw material costs. In a move largely factored into analysts’ estimates, Ansell said it plans to write down the carrying value of its investment in South Pacific Tyres, or SPT, by $80 million Australian dollars to about A$58 million.
It’s official: lead balancing weights are no longer allowed to be used on passenger cars or light trucks. Although there is much talk about the possible negative impact of the end-of-life vehicle directive, today tyre businesses across Europe seem to have adapted to the new situation without any major difficulties. However, the new market conditions have also brought consequences for manufacturers and suppliers. As all the parties involved get up to speed, what has to be taken into account when changing from lead balancing weights to alternative materials? Tyres & Accessories examines the effects of this legislation and the steps that need to be taken by companies across the continent.
John Walton, the second oldest son of Wal-Mart found Sam Walton has died in an aeroplane accident. One of the heirs the Wal-Mart dynasty, Mr Walton’s ultralight aircraft is reported to have got into difficulties shortly after take-off in Jackson, Wyoming. Mr Walton was one of the wealthiest men in the US, with an estimated fortune of $18.2 billion. Wal-Mart is the largest tyre dealer in the world. According to Tyres & Accessories estimates, in the US alone the chain sells more than 15 million tyres, almost exclusively to end consumers.
In the coming months a whole raft of EU legislation affecting different aspects of the tyre business is set to come in place. First the Hazardous Waste regulation came into force on 16 April. Now the end of life vehicle directive (2000/53/EC) banning the use of lead balancing weights is upon us. Next up is the Waste Incineration Directive (due to be implemented from 28 December), which is sure to have a knock-on effect on the way tyres are disposed of and at what cost. The last regulation in the current run is the second part of the EU tyre landfill ban (1999/31/EC), which prevents chipped tyres from being disposed of at landfill sites in July 2006 – not to mention the working time directive.
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The AA Motoring Trust and County Surveyors’ Society (CSS) has called for the government to lead a review of the 1.6 millimetre tread depth limit. The call comes in response to “research evidence from real crashes,” says the report. At the same time the report called for greater investment from local authorities in road surface renewal.
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