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Michelin North America Announces Price Increases

Continuing increases in raw material, energy and transportation costs have been cited as factors for Michelin North America’s most recently announced priced increases for passenger, light truck, earthmover and industrial tyres.

Earthmover and industrial tyre prices, including items on back-order, will increase up to 8 per cent on products sold across North America as of June 1, 2008. Passenger and light truck replacement tyre prices will increase by up to 8 per cent for Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, private and associate brand tyres sold in the United States. This increase is effective for all shipments scheduled on or after July 1, 2008.

1st May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

May the g-Force be With You

The key member of well-known US brand BFGoodrich’s performance product line-up here in the UK is the g-Force Profiler, a range available in sizes to fit rim diameters from 15 to 20-inches. According to BFGoodrich this is a tyre firmly targeted at drivers looking for ultimate control of their car, exceptional dry grip and high levels of driver feedback.

To ensure these performance qualities the g-Force Profiler features BFGoodrich’s new ICG Pack (Improved Grip Components). The ICG Pack is a combination of two essential elements: a directional tread design and a unique rubber compound. Together, says BFGoodrich, these offer excellent roadholding on all types of road surfaces, particularly in dry conditions.

25th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin NA Taps New PR Agency

After a three-month review, Michelin North America has selected Hill & Knowlton as its national public relations agency for its passenger and light truck/SUV replacement tyre operations. Reports said that MNA considered 13 agencies, including incumbent Cohn & Wolfe, before settling on Hill & Knowlton.

The agency, which will work from its Los Angeles headquarters and regional offices, already handles PR for MNA’s BFGoodrich replacement passenger and light truck/SUV products. (Tire Review/Akron)

2nd April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Boosts Truck Tyre Pricing

Michelin North America is increasing prices on its Michelin and BFGoodrich brand medium truck tyres sold in the US by as much as 8 per cent. The replacement market increase takes effect Apr. 1. MNA said the increase will also impact its Michelin Retread Technologies tread stock. (Tire Review/Akron)

5th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tarmac Rally Champion Chooses BFGoodrich

Following his fourth successive Irish Tarmac Rally Championship win Eugene Donnelly is set to continue his partnership with BFGoodrich in 2008. Donnelly and co-driver of five years, Paul Keilly, will be competing in a Subaru S12 run by SB Motorsports, a new team formed and staffed by rally specialists.

“We had our first test in the car towards the end of January,” said Donnelly. “We ran on muddy tarmac surfaces to get the set up tuned for the Galway Rally and the test went very well indeed. Unfortunately we had a couple of mechanical gremlins on the rally itself, the loss of hydraulic pressure in the gear-shift system finally forced us out. However the car handled superbly and the latest BFGoodrich tyres really worked well in the cold, wet conditions. Our great relationship with BFGoodrich means we have a lot of confidence in their products and can push the car from the outset. The new team certainly gelled very well and I’m very confident that we have the best package to defend our title.”

12th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich Releases Activan Range

BFGoodrich has launched its new Activan range of van tyres that have been specifically designed to cope with the demanding operating conditions faced by tyres fitted to these vehicles. Based on BFGoodrich motorsport technology developed through the company’s World Rally Championship participation, the Activan tyres are built to offer an excellent level of wet and dry grip while providing sturdy damage resistance.

The tyre’s tread area is made up of large tread blocks for maximum grip in dry conditions. There are also a high number of sipes in the tread pattern that cut through surface water on wet roads, offering grip and safety when the British weather begins doing what it does best. The tread compound selected for the Activan is one that provides the type of durability and resistance to wear commercial users rely upon, and reinforced sidewalls featuring two casing plies protect this often scuffed area from kerbing damage.

22nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin To Raise US Prices

Michelin is set to raise prices on its replacement tyres in the USA by up to seven per cent, from March 3rd. The increase will apply to Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal and associated passenger and light truck brands. The company also plans a three per cent price increase on earthmover and industrial tyres in the USA and Mexico, effective February 1st.

4th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich Bows Out of WRC with a Splash of Colour

As the curtains are drawn on a multi-tyre WRC series, BFGoodrich has thanked teams loyal to the brand with a unique gift not available in the shops – specially made coloured tyres. These tokens of appreciation were not merely standard black items painted up to look the part, either. Colorants were added to the compound during the production process, and strips of the coloured rubber were laid onto the casing of a rally tyre, with a number of varying combinations of pattern employed – including an asphalt pattern for WRC champion Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena. The sidewalls, although black, were also made using the coloured rubber compound; genuine rally compound would have blended with the other colours within days. The tyres were then vulcanised using the same process as a standard tyre; in total production of the coloured tyres took about 300 hours.

11th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Group Bows Out of WRC

The Michelin Group’s long relationship with the FIA World Rally Championship came to an end on the last weekend of November. The Wales Rally GB marked the closing of 34 years of uninterrupted WRC participation for the Michelin and BFGoodrich brands, which in that time scored 256 victories, won 23 Manufacturers’ titles and claimed 20 Drivers’ crowns in association with their respective partners.

The new season will see the introduction of a control tyre, supplied by Pirelli, preventing the French company from participating in the rallying world’s most prestigious event for the time being. The new control tyre contract runs until the end of the 2010 season.

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Close to Announcing Location for New HQ

It appears likely that Goodyear will soon confirm its continued presence in Akron, Ohio with the anticipated signing of a deal to construct a new global headquarters in the city said to be close. The official announcement of Goodyear’s intentions will end several months of speculation as to whether the tyre major will replace its 80 year old premises with another headquarters in Akron or bid its traditional hometown farewell.

During the past few months government and business officials from the town and the state of Ohio have offered Goodyear a host of measures to make remaining in Akron an attractive an option as possible, and while the company has not commented on exactly what has been promised, a company spokesman, Scott Baughman, was quoted in the Akron Beacon Journal as saying Goodyear was “pleased with the progress that has been made with all of the groups involved.”

30th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Raise Truck & Agri Tyre Prices in US

Michelin North America has announced price increases for some of its tyre product lines. Commercial truck tyre prices will increase by up to six per cent on Michelin and BFGoodrich brand replacement tyres and up to four per cent on MRT retreads sold in the United States, effective January 1, 2008. Agricultural and Compact Line tyre prices will be raised by up to seven per cent on products sold in the United States, also effective as of January 1, 2008.

21st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich Sponsors Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America announced that its BFGoodrich brand will become the presenting sponsor and official tyre of the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup racing series. MNA will supply BFGoodrich tyres for the series’ all-new Ford Mustang FR500S, which is the newest addition to Ford Racing’s FR500 racing family. The eight-race professional series serves as a proving ground for up-and-coming drivers and is designed to provide competitors with an affordable way to go racing.

“We are thrilled to be associated with the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup and committed to providing the opportunity for drivers to become champions,” said Todd Steen, motorsports marketing manager for the BFGoodrich brand. “BFGoodrich tyres are known for performance and our g-Force R1 tyres offer a level of performance that complements the V8 power and precision handling of the new Mustang FR500S.”

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Defence Spending Allocated to Goodyear

The US House of Representatives approved a military spending bill that, amongst numerous projects, earmarks US$1.2 million for Goodyear’s production facility in Topeka, Kansas for the production of tyres for the military. The Defense Appropriations bill was approved by 400 votes to 15 on November 8, and now proceeds to the US Senate for a second vote.

Upon final approval of the bill Goodyear will be commissioned to manufacture tyres for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a unit designed to replace the military’s Humvee. This new vehicle – intended to provide greater versatility and survivability in the event of an attack than existing designs – is still currently at the prototype stage, with military officials considering various options from 18 different manufacturers. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is not expected to enter production until 2012, at which stage up to 160,000 of the vehicles will most likely be produced.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich Launches Long Way Down Promotion

Long Way Down, starting soon on BBC2, is the latest adventure featuring Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor in which the two intrepid explorers ride their motorcycles from John O’Groats to Cape Town to raise money for numerous charities including UNICEF. The Long Way Down team used BFGoodrich tyres on their Nissan support vehicles during the 15,000-mile hike from Scotland through Europe and Africa. Navigation throughout the journey was aided by Charley and Ewan’s Nokia 6110 Navigators, which they also used for keeping in contact with their support team and UK operations base.

BFGoodrich is now giving drivers the chance to win one of 10 Nokia 6110 Navigators as used by Charley and Ewan to complete their epic adventure earlier this year. Entry forms for this free competition to win a Nokia 6110 Navigator, worth £375, are now available at BFGoodrich tyre dealers in the UK and Ireland.

23rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Appeal US Court Ruling

Michelin North America intends to appeal the decision of a circuit court in the state of Louisiana. A jury awarded 54 year old Drusilla Boudreaux US$32.4 million after deciding Michelin was responsible for a 2002 accident in which she was paralysed. Ms Boudreaux was a passenger in a vehicle that skidded on a wet road, crashed and caught fire. The owner of the vehicle had recently purchased two new BFGoodrich tyres, which were installed on the car’s front axle.

The jury placed responsibility for Ms Boudreaux’s injuries upon the tyremaker as they determined that it had not adequately informed all tyre retailers about the increased danger of aquaplaning should new tyres be fitted to the front axle of a vehicle rather than the rear. The plaintiff’s legal representatives attest that Michelin was aware that fitting new tyres to the front axle increased the risk, but the tyremaker only informed the large US chain Costco of the potential danger. Costco was sent a safety video and policy document. Attorney Carey Wicker told the court “when Costco enforced the policy, they lost two per cent of their sales or about $10 million per year based on sales of 500 million tyres per year.” Wicker further argued that “because of the customer backlash Michelin did not do the video or policy document with anybody else.”

22nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors