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After Winter Come Potholes – Time to Check the Alignment

Now the snow is beginning to recede and the freshly potholed roads are being revealed, TyreSafe is advising motorists to ensure their wheels are properly aligned. Driving over potholes can alter the vehicle’s steering and suspension geometries or damage critical components which can reduce vehicle safety or generate extra running costs. By ensuring wheels are correctly aligned, drivers can minimise the effects of any pothole damage and ensure they remain as safe as possible.

14th January 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Micheldever Feature on BBC Breakfast TV

Micheldever Tyre Services and the AA, teamed up with the BBC to produce almost 18 minutes of BBC news coverage on Saturday 31 October. The coverage began on BBC 1, centring on the estimated 3.6 million illegal tyres running on UK roads, and was repeated on BBC News24 and the BBC website.

The BBC Breakfast news team filmed at the Micheldever’s Hampshire site, interviewing CEO Paul Fox, Marc Ainslie and a customer and pointing out the very real dangers of driving on bald or defective tyres.

2nd November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Autocar Survey: Tailgaters Most Irritating

A survey involving 14,500 AA members has indicated that the most irritating habit of road users is that of tailgating. 36 per cent of the sample group told Populus, in conjunction with the AA, that “close following” was the worst of the idiotic pieces of driving seen on Britain’s roads. The survey heralds the arrival of the latest drive to improve the standard of driving in the UK, the Autocar/AA Drive Better Campaign.

The AA’s president told Autocar that tailgating was also a very dangerous bad habit: “Survey respondents were spot on to highlight their irritation with tailgaters. Data reveals that leaving pure human error aside tailgaters fall just behind ‘loss of control’ as the major cause of crashes. It’s a problem not only on motorways but also on dual carriageways, country lanes and in road works. Some tailgate to bully drivers out of the way, others because they just don’t think of the potentially tragic consequences of their actions.”

17th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Truck Driver Dies In Roadside Tyre Explosion

A truck driver died when a tyre on his vehicle that he was checking by the side of the A14 in Suffolk exploded. Paramedics arrived on the scene but were unable to save the driver, who has yet to be named. The busy road, which is the main route from the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich to the Midlands, was closed to allow an air ambulance to land.

A spokesman for the AA said: “The main reason for a tyre exploding is either massive over inflation, and I mean when it is extremely over inflated, not just a bit. Or an under inflation, because then the tyres can get too hot. But it is very rare.

27th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New All-Season Line from Toyo

Toyo Tire USA has launched the Extensa A/S, an all-season line targeting family cars and minivans. The new product features Toyo’s Tmode computer design technology, a symmetrical, non-directional tread design for easy rotation and tread life, shoulder ribs connected to shoulder blocks for stability, four circumferential grooves for stability and water dispersion, and full-depth multi-wave sipes to fight irregular wear and for all weather traction.

Available initially in 19 different 13- to 17-inch sizes, the Extensa A/S has a UTQG rating of 620 AB for its S- and T-rated sizes, and 360 AA for H-rated sizes. Another 27 sizes will be added later this year, Toyo said. (Tire Review/Akron)

17th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New UHP From Bridgestone

Bridgestone Americas has introduced the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11, a V- and W-rated UHP line. The tyre, introduced in Japan last year, features Bridgestone’s “Stealth Technology,” an aid in water dispersion.

“The tyre’s unique new sidewall shape and radical new ‘stealth’ block, which was derived from Bridgestone’s Formula One race tires, promotes higher tread stiffness while enhancing water evacuation,” the company said in its description. “An asymmetric cavity shape offers improved handling and ride characteristics. Large outer tread blocks improve cornering performance, and grooves around the tyre’s circumference help channel water from the tyre’s footprint to decrease hydroplaning.”

Bridgestone said the tyre targets such cars as the Honda S2000, Nissan 350Z, the Mini Cooper S and the BMW 3 Series. It will be available in 31 sizes covering 15- to 19-inch wheel diameters, and carries a UTQG of 180 AA. (Tire Review/Akron)

13th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Launches Next Tyre in Extreme Series

First introduced at the 2008 SEMA show, Continental Tire North America is now launching its ExtremeContact DW at a ride-and-drive event in sunny California. The UHP tyre, designed to deliver serious performance on both dry and wet roads, is part of a new line of performance tyres from Continental that also includes the ExtremeContact DWS and the ExtremeWinterContact.

The ExtremeContact DW offers chamfered edges and a solid outer shoulder to enhance dry performance; dynamic temperature distribution to reduce distortion for enhanced energy delivery, lower rolling resistance and improved tread-life; and a high void to tread ratio with enhanced groove curvature to improve water evacuation for outstanding wet handling, the tyre maker said. (Tire Review/Akron)

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Zeon RS3 Fitted on ROUSH Mustangs

Cooper has announced that its new Zeon RS3 tyre will be fitted for the ROUSH Stage 3 and P51B Mustangs. The company claims that the tyre is a must “for the Ford Mustang enthusiast with an uncompromising need for maximum dry grip traction.” Based in Livonia, Michigan, ROUSH Performance provides an array of Ford Mustang and F-150 styling, handling and performance upgrades, in addition to a complete line of performance parts and crate engines. Cooper is its official tyre brand.

Chuck Yurkovich, vice president of Global Technology for Cooper Tire, stated that, “The Cooper Zeon RS3 is the latest innovation to develop from Cooper Tire’s exclusive relationship with ROUSH Performance. The RS3 is the perfect compliment to the performance characteristics valued by true ROUSH Performance enthusiasts.” The RS3 comes in a 275/40ZR18 with a UTQG tread wear/traction/temperature rating of 220-AA-A, and is available through ROUSH Performance or through Cooper Tire dealers.

5th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Kwik-Fit Corporate Account Mgr to Sit in Mastermind Hot Seat

Newly promoted Kwik-Fit Fleet corporate account manager and sports fanatic Luke Penn will appear in the final of BBC Television’s ‘Sport Mastermind’, which will be broadcast shortly. Penn, 39, was among the 36 people selected from thousands of applicants to contest nine heats. The six highest scoring heat winners then qualified for the final, with Luke qualifying in fourth place after successfully answering two minutes of rapid fire questions on the Grand National and then two minutes of sports general knowledge questions.

14th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Former Kwik-Fit Boss is New Deputy Mayor of London

Tim Parker, the former Kwik-Fit and AA boss has been as a deputy mayor of London. His track record led to the trade unions dubbing him “the Prince of Darkness” after he departed from Kwik-Fit £25 million richer and the AA over £40 million better despite thousands of job cuts. Tim Parker’s deputy mayor role will see him become chief executive of the GLA Group, which comprises the authority itself, the London Development Agency and Transport for London, which he will chair.

It is widely reported that Parker became a multimillionaire after implementing often painful cost cutting programmes such as at the AA where he cut 3,500 jobs in the first 100 days following its take over by CVC Capital. However, on this occasion the Porsche driving multimillionaire has agreed to work for Boris Johnson for just £1.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Damage Free Nut Removal with Dynomec

Don’t let wheel nut removal drive you nuts – if the locking key is missing or broken, West Yorkshire based Dynomec Ltd has the answer to your problems. The company’s simple to use kit can remove 100 per cent of all locknuts currently available on the market, with its protective steel shroud ensuring no damage occurs to the wheel.

3rd April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Keeping Millions Moving

An affiliation with an organisation boasting 15 million members throughout the UK opens up new doors of opportunity in terms of potential customers, and last year such an opportunity came knocking for Michelin service partner ATS Euromaster. The nation’s second largest fast-fit organisation commenced a significant three-year contract with the AA in October, under which it took on the supply and service of tyres for the association’s roadside and recovery patrol fleet. As part of the three-tier agreement Michelin has become the preferred tyre brand of the AA, and as wear dictates ATS Euromaster will fit the French manufacturer’s products across the company’s fleet of around 2,500 patrol vans and 300 recovery vehicles.

“We have traditionally worked with two tyre suppliers, but during the latest contract negotiations we were able to consolidate supply by using ATS Euromaster’s service centres and mobile service vans to support our roadside and recovery patrol fleet,” commented Andrew Hamilton, AA head of fleet procurement. “Furthermore, a significantly enhanced member benefits package was agreed with ATS Euromaster.”

28th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Matalan Partners With Nationwide Autocentres

Matalan has partnered with Nationwide Autocentres in a new affinity scheme, negotiated through the “if” agency. The scheme offers Matalan cardholders 20 per cent off an MOT, 15 per cent of a service or 10 per cent off mechanical repairs to their vehicle. What is more, every Matalan cardholder who takes their vehicle to a Nationwide Autocentre will receive a free Powermaxx fuel cleaning package worth £20.

4th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Launching New Luxury Touring Line

(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA plans to launch a new luxury touring tyre at the upcoming SEMA Show. The Ecsta LX Platinum features an asymmetrical tread, three dimensional “waffle” sipes, and a jointless nylon cap, and comes with a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, the company said. The tyre has a UTQG rating of 600 AA, and will be available in 36 H-, V- and W-rated sizes covering 14- through 19-inch wheel diameters.

26th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster and AA in 3-Year Deal

ATS Euromaster has secured a three-year contract with the AA, taking over the supply and service of tyres for the company’s roadside and recovery patrol fleet, while extending the range of services available to AA members across the country. The three-tier deal also sees the AA switch its preferred tyre brand to Michelin, with ATS Euromaster fitting Michelin rubber across the company’s fleet of around 2,500 patrol vans and 300 recovery trucks when they come to replacement time.

“We have traditionally worked with two tyre suppliers but during the latest contract negotiations we were able to consolidate supply by using ATS Euromaster’s service centres and mobile service vans to support our roadside and recovery patrol fleet. Furthermore, a significantly enhanced member benefits package was agreed with ATS Euromaster,” says Andrew Hamilton, Head of Fleet Procurement at the AA.

19th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors