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Michelin on Top in “Rolling Resistance” Tests

An independent testing organisation has found that the Michelin Energy Saver tyre “has a rolling resistance 20 per cent lower than its direct competitors.” Furthermore, the tyre was also found to have safety features comparable to more roll-resistant tyres; braking distances were found not to increase when using the Energy Saver.

The test centre TÜV SÜD Automotive researched the comparative performance of Michelin’s Energy Saver alongside tyres from six other major European manufacturers. Doubts about the grip and braking performance of the Energy Saver have been scotched by the tests, which add to the evidence gathered by the same organisation in September last year that the tyre has greater durability than its nearest rivals.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Expanding Brand Presence Through Licensing

These days there’s much more to Goodyear than simply tyres. The US tyre major has become a major player in the world of product licensing, and in early June, it attended the annual Licensing Expo in New York. Attendance at such shows is, says Goodyear, part of its global licensing strategy to help extend the brand’s reach into new and different product categories.

The company already has partnered with nearly 70 licensees worldwide, reports Bob Paciulan, Goodyear manager of licensed products. These licensees, producing products carrying the tyre major’s brand, contribute to a growing stream of royalties received by Goodyear. Paciulan adds that Goodyear, through its presence at shows such as the Licensing Expo, is particularly interested in licensees that produce premium products in the automotive, home/garage, apparel, travel and leisure/recreation areas.

10th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ATMA Issues Anti-Dumping Plea

Indian news sources have reported that the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) have requested a government-implemented anti-dumping duty on radial truck and bus tyre imports. The request follows concerns over the 1,300 per cent increase in Indian tyre imports from China in the last five years.

According to business commentary in India, the increasing cost of raw materials in India has left domestic tyre manufacturers exposed to the challenge from cheaper Chinese imports.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Launches the Winter Sottozero Serie II

The latest evolution of Pirelli’s performance winter tyre has been unveiled at the Swiss ski resort town of Zermatt. The Winter Sottozero Serie II, a tyre the Italian manufacturer states will meet the needs of the most demanding drivers by adapting to conditions typically encountered during the autumn and winter months, has been released in two distinct performance versions: the W210/W240 for high performance cars, and the even more extreme W270 for super sports models. Pirelli reports that Porsche, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW, Bentley, Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo have already homologated the new Sottozero as original equipment.

“Despite global warming, winter is still here,” commented Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori at the Sottozero Serie II launch in Zermatt. Mr. Gori however emphasised that a change in thinking has taken place at Pirelli in response to recent climatic trends, along with changes in automotive technology and European regulations. The new tyre was thus designed not just for regions receiving significant winter snowfall; rather it is a tyre for low temperature conditions. Today’s more unpredictable weather conditions, says Pirelli, with dry spells when snow is traditionally expected, and sudden heavy rainfall in the late winter or at the beginning of autumn, means a need has arisen for the development of versatile tyres guaranteeing safety not only on snow and ice, but also on wet or slushy surfaces when temperatures fall below 7 degrees, a temperature that alters both the road surface and the behaviour of a tyre.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Start Russian Tyre Plant Negotiations

Pirelli & C. SpA and has signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations for the construction of a car, light truck and heavy truck tyre plant in Russia. The letter was sent to the Russian State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product (also known as Russian Technologies). The new facility will also produce steel cord tyre reinforcements and automotive filters.

Russian Technologies and Pirelli have agreed on an exclusivity period for the negotiation of the final agreements, until 30 September 2008. Upon its establishment, the two partners would jointly control the Joint Venture, while Pirelli would be responsible for the development of the business strategy and running operations of the Joint Venture, which would be carried out under the Pirelli brand name.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

FAI Automotive Extends New Coil Springs Range

UK component distributer FAI Automotive has extended its new range of coil springs following research suggesting a growing market demand for the part.

Sean Walker, the company’s MD, suggests that perpetually evolving suspension design, coupled with the deterioration of road surfaces, has led to the greater vulnerability of such components.

3rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Jury for Michelin Challenge Design Named

The 2009 judging panel for Michelin Challenge Design has been announced, and in July the panel will meet to select the vehicle designs and concepts that will make up the special exhibition at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

The central theme for this year, the eighth in which the international competition has been held, is ‘Brave and Bold, America’s Next Iconic Vehicle’, and Michelin says that companies, studios, design teams and individual designers from more than 45 countries have submitted full-size vehicles, scale models and renderings. The designs will be evaluated, says Michelin, for uniqueness, emotional appeal, design courage and technical execution.

2nd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Teves NA President & CEO Kozyra Resigns

The president and CEO of Continental Teves North America, William L. Kozyra, has elected to leave the company as of June 1, 2008. Mr. Kozyra’s request to terminate his contract and appointment to the company’s Executive Board early was accepted during a meeting of the Continental AG Supervisory Board on May 29. In a statement Continental says Mr. Kozyra will, following his resignation, “take up a new challenge in another company.”

William Kozyra had been deputy member of the company’s Executive Board for the NAFTA region since February 2006. Amongst other roles, Kozyra was responsible for the integration of the Motorola Automotive activities into Continental. The Supervisory Board of Continental has expressed its thanks to Mr. Kozyra for all the work he has done during his ten years as president and CEO of Continental Teves North America and has wished him every success in his new assignment.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius Appoints Paul Hannah as New Business Development Director

Klarius Group, a market-leading supplier of aftermarket exhausts and catalytic converters, filters and shock absorbers, reports that it has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Paul Hannah as Business Development Director. A qualified mechanical engineer, Paul Hannah’s appointment is being seen as a strategic appointment for the business, which acquired ArvinMeritor LVA in 2007, as it continues to build its presence as the market leader.

Paul Hannah has a wealth of experience in the engineering, aerospace and automotive sectors gained over 20 years of international sales and marketing success in Renold plc and Edbro plc. As an advocate of lean manufacturing, he has helped to build sales teams across export markets such as Far East Asia, Russia, the USA and Europe in his previous roles.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz CFO & Executive VP Yost Resigns

The CFO and executive vice president of Hayes Lemmerz, James A. Yost, has announced his resignation from the company. Mr. Yost, who has been with Hayes Lemmerz since 2002, is taking up a similar position at Dana Holding Corporation.

“It has been a pleasure working with the Hayes management team over the past six years. Helping the company emerge from reorganisation into a strong, global automotive supplier has been a great experience. The company is poised for continued success and I wish the team well,” said Yost.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Transense Negotiating with RFID Supplier

It has emerged that battery-less TPMS developer Transense Technologies is in “early discussions” with a UK-based aftermarket TPMS supplier. The company in questions has developed a vehicle management system providing “cradle to grave” tyre information, which is said to be of a particular interest to the OTR and truck markets. The system in question incorporates a hand-held reader which reads a tyre patch RFID tag and measures tyre tread depth and pressure on a manual basis. The companies are said to be currently working on ways to incorporate SAW technology into their product.

The news is set against a varied year for Transense. Eventful is an understatement for describing Transense Technologies’ last 12 months. Nevertheless, company chairman, David Kleeman, described the last year as “probably been the most eventful in Transense’s relatively short history.” First there was the proposed reverse takeover of the Bishop Technology Group, which shareholders rejected in November 2007. Then there was the difficult task of raising £4 million at the beginning of 2008, a time when financial markets were less than keen to lend.

9th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TÜV SÜD Highlights Michelin Energy’s Braking and Fuel Efficiency

Michelin is promoting its wet-braking and fuel efficiency qualities following glowing research from independent test centre, TÜV SÜD Automotive. Tests conducted by TÜV SÜD in April and May 2008 show that the new Michelin Energy Saver combines one of the shortest wet-road braking distances of any tyre in the market with the biggest fuel savings.

The braking tests were carried out by the German organisation using three different tyre sizes (195/65 R15 H, 195/65 R15 V and 205/55 R16 V), which it purchased in tyre outlets. The comparative tests demonstrate that in challenging road conditions, such as on wet surfaces, the Michelin Energy Saver brakes in shorter or equal distances compared with six of its main, major-brand competitors (slowing from 80 km/h to 20 km/h).

8th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Alldata Celebrates 70,000 Customers, Sets Sights on Future Success

Alldata held a media day event at its headquarters in Elk Grove, California, on April 3, to celebrate its latest accomplishment — 70,000 customers — and to spotlight how the company is helping automotive service professionals boost their business success.

President Jeff Lagges and other company executives discussed how Alldata is reinventing itself for a changing market, and its commitment to providing OEM repair information and business solutions to help automotive service professionals increase their competitiveness, elevate productivity and profitability, and forge stronger relationships with customers.

Lagges pointed out that one of the major components in the company’s success, and its 90 per cent customer retention rate, has been to maintain direct contact with customers, primarily through a direct salesforce. “We measure our success by our customers’ satisfaction,” he said.

29th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

US States Lent Support to 2008 NTSW

The RMA says that 25 states in the US issued proclamations or statements supporting National Tire Safety Week, which comes to a close on April 26.

Across the nation, more than 19,000 tyre retail, auto dealer and automotive repair facilities distributed tyre care RMA-produced NTSW brochures, and many of these also offered free tyre care service to motorists. “Proper tyre care is essential to vehicle safety and optimum fuel economy,” said Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president of public affairs. “We are grateful to states that are helping to educate motorists to take just five minutes every month to check their tyres.”

States supporting NTSW this year included: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Virginia. (Tire Review/Akron)

25th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Launches “Kontrol Technology”

Hankook Tire has chosen the Auto Beijing 2008 show for the global launch of ‘Kontrol Technology’ – the company’s research and development philosophy. It is the South Korean manufacturer’s aim that, through Kontrol Technology, understanding the technology that goes into Hankook’s tyres will become easier for customers and dealer to understand. Kontrol Technology also represents a set of proprietary innovations developed by Hankook to ensure – in the company’s own words – controlled driving experiences. The result of Kontrol Technology, says Hankook, will be products that provide a range of driving benefits across four areas customers identify as vital when choosing quality tyres: performance; safety; comfort; and a tyre’s impact on the environment.

At Hankook’s Kontrol Technology information booth at Auto Beijing the tyremaker also premiered a new environmental tyre – the enfren – a product that has completed the Kontrol Technology development cycle and is due for its commercial debut in Korea during early summer. The tyre combines a number of technologies including a silica compound and an efficient structural design, and production facility technologies that enhance the tyre’s rolling resistance have been utilised in its production. According to test results from the Korea Automotive Technology Institute, the enfren improves fuel economy by 3 per cent and reduces CO2 emissions by 4 kg/km. The manufacturer says the tyre has the potential to save consumers on average of approximately 34.5 litres of petrol per year in comparison to a current generation Hankook tyre.

25th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors