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GfK Releases First Italian Tyre Market Figures

Passenger car and light truck tyre sales worth 271 million euros were wrung through the tills of Italian tyre market specialists in the first two months of 2009, according to new tyre data released by market research specialists GfK. The survey’s also reveals that 2.9 million units were sold in Italy in January/February 2009. Of these, passenger car summer tyres accounted for 69.5 per cent of total sales, followed by passenger car winter tyres (17 per cent), light truck tyres (7.7 per cent) and 4×4 tyres (7.1 per cent).

The findings come as part of the first GfK Car Tires panel report, which only became available in Italy in January 2009. According to the company, the new panel audit covers the “tyre specialists” channel, with a represented ‘universe’ of 6,550 points of sale. For the purposes of this research GfK defined tyre specialists as those retailers for who tyres and related services accounted for more than 50 per cent of total turnover. The GfK panel only represents retailers with a minimum annual turnover of 150,000 euros.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bond International Developing a Stronger Foothold in Asia

As a major importer of far eastern manufactured tyres, Bond International’s presence at Tyrexpo Asia was significant. The company, which has been established for more than forty years, has acquired during its time in the business vast experience in the import and export of tyres to and from the UK. Today Bond International can provide unrivalled delivery service thanks to its four warehouses and stock level of over 600,000 tyres. As well as distributing all leading premium brand tyres the company is also the agent for Marshal, Admiral, Infinity, Sumo, Firenza, Rotalla and Gerutti.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Grouptyre Launches 2009 Pirelli Promotion

Following the success of its exclusive Pirelli promotion last summer Grouptyre, is launching another national incentive in conjunction with the premium brand to build retail sales through the independent sector. The new Pirelli promotion runs from 1 May to 30 June inclusive and the top prize is once again an all-expenses paid VIP trip for two people to the WRC Rally of Spain (October 2-4), the penultimate round of the 2009 World Rally Championship whose sweeping asphalt roads provide the fastest sealed-surface stages the teams will encounter all season.

The winners will be able to compare notes with Aaron Bothamley, manager of Rickmansworth-based Fairway Tyre and Auto Services, and his brother-in-law Paul who were VIP guests of Pirelli and Ford at the Spanish round of the 2008 World Rally Championship. “The flights, hotel, food and overall organisation were superb, in fact the whole weekend was absolutely fantastic and I can’t stress enough how well we were looked after by Pirelli and Ford,” said Aaron, who is supplied by Grouptyre member Broadway Tyres.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BITS Presents Regal and Roadstone Private Brands

Tyre wholesaler BITS ships its private brands Regal – manufactured in South Africa by Dunlop Tyres at its plants in Durban and Ladysmith – and Roadstone – made in Korea by the Nexen Tyre Corporation – from the company’s seven depots across the UK. Each brand contains a wide range of patterns for a number of applications: Regal has a UHP product, a TR-rated passenger tyre and a van tyre, while the Roadstone range features many off-road options, in addition to its road-going tyres.

Dunlop Tyres in South Africa, manufacturer of the Regal brand, is part of the Apollo Group, the Indian Manufacturer. BITS says that the whole range meets the E-Marking, DOT and INMETRO ratings. The flagship of the range is the Premium Comfort, which aims for quiet performance alongside superior handling. The Regal stable also includes a van tyre manufactured with a “Shield” breaker, which provides improved puncture resistance and offers long tread life. The range is completed by the RST 220 manufactured in TR rating and offering excellent wet and dry handling and long mileage. Regal can be ordered exclusively from the sole UK distributor, BITS.

1st April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Grouptyre Provides 4×4 Response Wales with Maxxis Tyre Trial

A newly-launched volunteer organisation that works alongside Emergency Planning officers and provides logistical support to the emergency services, local authorities and GPs in the event of severe weather conditions and emergency situations, is considering switching its vehicle fleet to Maxxis 4×4 tyres. 4×4 Response Wales is currently trialling the Maxxis Bravo all-terrain tyre after Grouptyre, the country’s leading independent tyre wholesaler and exclusive distributor of Maxxis 4×4 tyres in the UK, agreed to supply a test set of tyres for evaluation purposes.

“Our members are currently using a variety of tyres…but we have heard good things about Maxxis and, pending a positive evaluation, we are seriously contemplating switching,” says 4×4 Response Wales co-ordinator Mark Margetts. “Since our team of volunteers use and maintain their own vehicles, they are very interested in a brand of tyre which is robust, absolutely reliable and affordable, and we are most grateful to Grouptyre for giving us this opportunity to see just what Maxxis can do.”

20th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis, Grouptyre Unveil New Dealer Support Programme

An all-expenses-paid trip to Thailand – including a trip to a tyre making plant – is one of the prizes up for grabs for Maxxis’ Grouptyre dealers in the UK as the manufacturer and its exclusive distributor unveil their new incentive programme called Maxxis Rewards. The top ten retailers – based on the volume of Maxxis car, van and 4×4 tyres they purchase during the promotional period of 1 January to 30 September, 2009 – will win a seven-day holiday in Thailand. Flat screen TVs, DVD recorders and digital cameras are among the prizes up for grabs in a series of quarterly draws, while dealers can also pick up Argos vouchers and Maxxis branded merchandise.

“Through the Maxxis Rewards programme we want to help retailers gain a better understanding of Maxxis and our aims both here in the UK and the 200 countries in which the brand is sold,” says Maxxis International UK managing director Derek McMartin. “Since retailers will be able to see for themselves the state of the art production facilities involved in manufacturing a million tyres and tubes a day and the scale of our operation, the trip to our Thailand factory will give them a real insight into the brand and their role in its future development.”

10th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Matrac X3 Tops Marshal 4×4 Range

The ever-increasing range of Marshal 4×4 tyres is available through nationwide, distributor Bond International.

Street Tyres – KL17, KL12 and KL51

The Matrac X3 KL17 range recently introduced for top line SUVs includes most popular sizes for 17 to 22-inch rims, including Y speed rated and XL fitments. The tyre’s key features include stability at high speed, excellent traction, durability and powerful braking performance. The high performance Matrac STX KL12 SUV tyre is engineered to combine extreme wet weather performance with stylish appearance. It is available in sizes from 15-inch through to 28-inch and H, V and W speed ratings. Another relatively recent introduction is the Road Venture PT KL51. Available in sizes from 15 to 18-inches, this all-purpose street touring tyre provides excellent all-season traction, extended mileage performance and a quiet ride.

27th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Supports African Charity Success

An expedition of Land Rover enthusiasts, supported by Goodyear, has completed its mission to travel 6,500 miles for a range of charitable causes across Africa. The team set out from Goodyear’s Birmingham head office, as reported on Tyrepress.com in early January, and finished in Timbuktu having donated their vehicles, along with educational and medical supplies, to good causes along the way. The charities included Sightsavers International in the Gambia and Mali, Operafrica in the Gambia and Village by village and Sabre Charitable trust in Ghana. In total eight vehicles were donated to help the charities conduct their work.

Goodyear supplied the vehicles with the brand’s market leading 4×4 tyres, the Wrangler MT/R. For such a dynamic range of terrain from roads and gravel to deserts and flood plains, the vehicles really needed high performing tyres for their journey. Having been used previously on the Land Rover G4 Challenge, the Wrangler’s ability to traverse the toughest of terrains with its reinforced side walls and aggressive shoulder blocks gave the required performance in the vast range of conditions the team encountered.

26th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

A Conti 4×4 Tyre for Every Customer

Given the wide assortment of 4×4 tyres on the market, how can a dealer best advise the customer to make sure they are satisfied with their choice of tyre? According to Continental, there are two key areas to look at: Product knowledge and knowledge of customers driving habits. By identifying the needs of a customer – for example, how they use their vehicle and where they take it, a retailer can then match the tyre requirements so customer ends us with the right tyre for their needs.

26th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Reports an Increasing 4×4 Marketplace Share

Ongoing advertising within leading consumer off-road magazines, a strong presence at major off-road events and encouraging results in tyre comparison tests are all factors Maxxis says is helping the brand increase its share of the 4×4 marketplace. The Maxxis range, which Maxxis International UK boasts is one of the largest line-ups of off-road, on/off-road and road going 4×4 tyres available in the UK, includes products for numerous specific applications. Amongst this line-up is the largest complete range to fit 16-inch Land Rover Rims, plus a series of extreme tyres and patterns purpose-designed to tackle muddy conditions.

Speaking of tough conditions, Maxxis reports that its 4×4 tyres are under evaluation by volunteer organisation 4×4 Response Wales, which is part of a nationwide network providing logistical support to the emergency services, local authorities and GPs in the event of severe weather conditions and emergency situations.

26th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Growth Continues in Many 4×4 Tyre Areas, says MTS/Southam

Micheldever/Southam reports having distributed three quarters of a million 4×4 tyres in the UK tyre market in 2008, a figure they say possibly makes the company the largest distributor of 4×4 tyres in Europe. Still the only UK wholesaler to operate a specialist 4×4 division (which is based at Southam), the MTS group offers next/same day delivery nationwide on all major brands including every OE fitment, a comprehensive range of quality budget 4×4 tyres from Enduro, and the market leading mid-range replacement brands including BFGoodrich, General, Kumho, Falken, Insa Turbo and Toyo.

20th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Releases first Kevlar Reinforced 4×4 tyre

In the US Goodyear has released its first off-road tyre containing DuPont’s Kevlar. The para-aramid fibre is used in the sidewall area of its new Wrangler MT/R range for enhanced puncture resistance. The utilisation of Kevlar, a material that is, pound-for-pound, five times stronger than steel, brings improved sidewall cut- and puncture-resistance to an area of the tyre that demands extra toughness when driving off-road – it also helps reinforce the sidewall in case of any kerbside incidents on the drive home.

“The new Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar updates the legendary off-road performing namesake, which has had a great reputation among serious off-roaders,” said Melissa Montisano, Goodyear’s general manager for light-truck tyres. “This new tyre will certainly get the attention of anyone who takes off-road traction seriously.”

20th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Stapleton’s Supplying 4×4 Tyres to Suit Every Pocket

As one of the largest distributors of passenger car tyres in the UK, Stapleton’s says it attempts to ensure it has a tyre suitable for every retailer and in every price bracket. In the 4×4 and SUV tyre segment the company accommodates retailer requirements by stocking all major brands.

Of late, 4x4s have found themselves on the wrong end of new tax policy, and this combined with the credit crunch and high fuel prices, has affected the already above average running costs associated with this type of vehicle. Some consumers now feel the need to more closely monitor their spending and make savings of their purchases. To make sure it can help tyre retailers faced with this situation, Stapleton’s says that its wide 4×4 rage includes both premium and more price oriented products.

13th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Plan to Focus on Cost Rationalisation & Green Solutions

As part of its 2009-2011 Industrial Plan, Pirelli Tyre reports it is continuing with the cost cutting strategy it commenced last year. The goal of this plan is to save more than 300 million euros over a three-year period through the rationalisation of manufacturing structures and staff in Europe, the renegotiation of raw material purchasing agreements in order to take advantage of falling prices, and savings from lower energy and logistics costs.

Manufacturing capacity in emerging markets is to be expanded so as to take advantage of increasing demand in these regions, coupled with their lower manufacturing costs. In the commercial tyre sector 87 per cent of Pirelli’s total production is already located in low-cost countries, compared with an average of 50 per cent for the company’s four major competitors.

12th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

“Export Markets an Integral Part of Our Business” – Apollo’s Kanwar

In these froward economic times, it is difficult to make plans. Apollo Tyres, however, appears to be pressing ahead with its inroads into European markets. The company’s chairman and managing director Onkar Singh Kanwar recently spoke to India’s largest financial daily, The Economic Times, and explained why exports are so important for Apollo at present.

“The passenger car segment (in India) has been badly impacted,” related Kanwar. “As car sales have plummeted, tyre sales have also gone down proportionally. Apollo Tyres however has managed to maintain a growth of 22 per cent despite the overall scenario, as exports have helped in tiding over this period so far.” He added that, in this most recent financial quarter, exports grew by 37 per cent year-on-year.

12th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors