Bridgestone Archives - Page 199 of 275 - Tyrepress

Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.

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Senior Management Changes at Bridgestone

On September 28 Bridgestone announced that its board of directors has approved the following proposals of the changes in member of the board and in corporate officers.

1. Changes in position and responsibilities of members of the board (effective October 16, 2007)
– Tatsuya Okajima
New position and responsibilities: Senior vice president, advisor to the president
Current position and responsibilities: senior vice president, chief compliance officer, responsible for original equipment tyre sales and quality management; concurrently chief risk-management officer

– Masaharu Oku
New position and responsibilities: Vice president & senior officer, advisor to the president. Oku has been seconded to Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd where he will serve as chairman.
Current position and responsibilities: vice president & senior officer, responsible for production technology

3rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFNAT Adds New LT/SUV Tire

(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has launched the Bridgestone Dueler A/T 695, a new all-terrain light truck/SUV line. Replacing the Dueler A/T 693, the tyre features Bridgestone’s UNI-T technology; a “two-in-one tread block design” for on-road stability and handling; silica-based tread compound for wet traction; open shoulder slots for water evacuation; and interlocking tread notches and off-shoulder tread blocks for mud and snow traction.

The tyre – R-, S- and T-rated – will be available in 21 sizes covering 15- to 20-inch wheel diameters, and has a 460 AB UTQG rating. The tyre also comes with a 50,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. All sizes carry the Bridgestone Platinum Pact 3-Year Replacement Limited Warranty and Buy & Try, 30-Day Guarantee.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Secures First Chrysler LLC Fitment

Bridgestone UK has scored an OE fitment with the all-new Chrysler Sebring, which combines cutting-edge technology with a host of safety features – making the Turanza tyres the obvious choice. It is the first time the Chrysler brand has fitted Bridgestone rubber to one of their vehicles in the UK. The Turanza ER300 will be fitted as standard in a size 215/60 R17.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

R H Claydon Ltd: Tyres and Tubes for Today’s Market

Through almost 60 years of trading, the company, a major player in the UK Tyre Wholesale sector, has experienced many changes in this ever-evolving industry, from the early days of crossply tyres, to the now, commonplace radial tyre. Coupled with this the extensive development of the varying aspect ratios now required to meet the many needs and applications of not only road transport, but for all pneumatic tyre equipped vehicles, such as agricultural, industrial, construction, earthmover, open space management, plant & machinery and much more.

In meeting the present day requirements R H Claydon offers tyres for all these requirements and being solely a wholesaler, with no retail outlets, there is no conflict with its customer base. The exclusive brand, BKT, manufactured in India, forms the greater part of this supply for all products outside Car, Van, 4X4 & Truck, The range could be stated as meeting all needs pneumatic, indeed this is signified in BKT’s own advertising strapline “Off-Highway Tyre Solutions”. In this year, there have been many additions to the BKT Range including, 70/65/90&95 Agrimax Radial Tractor, Tele Handler sizes in 460/70R24 (17.5R24) and 19.5R24. BKT Armaturf KV Tyres for the professional ride-on mower, now offer an estimated 90 per cent protection from punctures. The year has also seen the growth in earthmover units; in this sector sizes such as 1800-25 40pr & 1800-33 40pr Rock Grip E4, both sizes also produced for Port & Terminal operations. The BKT range fully justifies Claydon’s own slogan “All- Season All- Reason Agricultural & Industrial Tyres”.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone/Towell Opens Truck Tyre Centre in Oman

Towell Auto Centre LLC, the exclusive distributor for Bridgestone tyres in Oman, has inaugurated its state-of-the-art truck tyre service centre at Ghala. The service centre was inaugurated by Hassan Kamer Sultan, chairman of Towell Auto Centre, and Hirotaka Migita, managing director of Bridgestone Middle East FZE. Mr Migita, said the new service centre is one of the first of its kind in Oman and is a sign of Bridgestone’s continuous commitment to Oman market and Bridgestone’s vision to get closer to the customers. More similar centres are expected in Oman following the move.

The new facility is said to be equipped with “world-class machinery” such as tubeless tyre fitment and balancing capabilities. “The tyre centre has been set up to meet the customer needs of quality tyres and professional skill which is safe and sure,” said Mohan Menon, national manager for sales, Towell Auto Centre. Bridgestone tyre service centres are currently located at Wadi Kabir, Ghoubra, Rusayl, Nizwa, Sur, Ibri and Salala in Oman.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Raising the Bar

In the heart of Warwickshire, a hop, skip and a jump from the tourist magnet that is Stratford-upon-Avon, lies the UK headquarters of a company whose name is every bit as famous as that of the Bard. From these pleasant surroundings the world’s largest tyre manufacturer directs its entire British operations, with managerial, sales, support and technical staff all situated under the one roof. In addition to this, the offices serve one further, important purpose – as the nerve centre for Bridgestone’s UK training programmes.

Established in June 2005 by Paul Turner, a man who started out in the business as a tyre fitter more than 20 years ago and has got his hands dirty in a number of roles, the Bridgestone Training Department has seen Paul and colleague Phil Thirsk, who joined the fledgling operation three months after its creation, fully engaged in the development and delivery of training for Bridgestone’s UK partners and customers.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Presents Interior Motives Award

For a second successive year, Bridgestone has sponsored the ‘Best Safety Innovation’ category in an annual competition organised by Interior Motives magazine for automotive design students from around the world. Short-listed entries were unveiled at the Interior Motives Design Awards 2007 ceremony in Frankfurt’s Cocoon Club on 12 September, held in conjunction with the IAA 2007 international motor show.

The event began with an exhibition, where an audience of design industry VIPs and the press were able to view student designs and prototypes for the first time and meet the finalists themselves. The winners, selected by an international panel of industrial design judges, were then announced under ten design categories.

27th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ingrid Celebrates 21 Years at Autofit Ipswich

Ipswich businesswoman, Ingrid Ward, has just celebrated an amazing 21 years as a director of the town’s Autofit garage, which she founded with husband Kevan. During this time, the couple – along with fellow director Dave Chapman – have watched the Britannia Road firm go from strength to strength, winning an army of loyal customers along the way.

“The past 21 years have flown by,” says Ingrid. “There have been some big changes and challenges here over the years, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” Autofit, which is a member of Bridgestone UK’s 200-strong network of independent First Stop tyre dealerships, was opened by Ingrid and Kevan, a former RAF officer, in 1986.

26th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFS And Pirelli Hike North American Prices

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire and Bridgestone/Firestone Canada are increasing prices on all Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion and associate brand tyre lines by up to 4 per cent.

25th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Single Tyre Proposed for MotoGP

MotoGP may go the way of Formula One and become a single tyre championship next year if the proposal adopted by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of series organiser Dorna Sports, is adopted. Such a move would serve the purpose of cutting costs and is aimed at eliminating what many have called the current “imbalance” between Bridgestone and Michelin.

24th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New First Stop Website

Bridgestone UK has launched a new first stop web site. The site, www.firststoppartners.co.uk, has been designed to cater for the growing number of independent tyre retailers signing up to the First Stop network – the loyalty programme of Bridgestone UK. It offers a host of interactive features, including downloadable brochures and guides, latest news, contact details for key First Stop personnel, and an online shop selling promotional products.

The site also boasts access to marketing tools, answers to technical questions, information on Bridgestone UK’s safety campaigns, and details of the company’s training and investment programs – as well as outlining all the benefits of being a First Stop member.

24th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFNAT Adds New On-/Off-Highway Radial

(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has launched the new Bridgestone L320 on-/off-highway drive radial. BFNAT said the tyre features a 31/32nds deep, aggressive block design for traction, tread life and retreadability, open shoulders for traction on soft surfaces, and stabilising tie bars for tread block stability and long-term traction.

Stabilising tie bars link adjoining tread blocks. As the tyre wears and becomes shallower, the tie bars become part of the tread pattern. This creates additional edges to “bite” into soft surfaces, further enhancing soft-surface traction.

The L320 drive has four steel belts and an all-steel casing, and will initially be available in sizes 11R22.5 and 11R24.5 sizes, both in G and H load ratings, and 12R22.5 in H load rating.

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Praised in Independent Tests

Bridgestone’s Potenza RE050A, which Bridgestone reports is from the same high-performance range as official F1 tyres, was a top performer in Evo magazine’s 2007 tyre test, while the Turanza ER300 was also praised in the annual Auto Express tyre test.

The RE050A performed well across all nine disciplines in the Evo test, and was particularly strong in wet braking, and curved and straight-line aquaplaning. Evo personnel used quantitative and qualitative data to analyse the performance of nine different tyres from leading manufacturers. The RE050A finished with an impressive 92.7 per cent overall score, less than four per cent behind the overall winner.

The magazine described the RE050A as “on the pace in both the wet and dry tests,” with driver Jethro Bovingdon particularly impressed with its “very predictable” performance on the dry handling track.

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s ‘Steady Growth’ in Europe

At the recent IAA motor show in Frankfurt Bridgestone discussed details of its ongoing major investment programme for 2007, supporting its long-term plan for steady growth in Europe. Following on from expansion in production capacity at existing plants during 2006, this year will see trial production at Europe’s first fully-automated tyre plant, completion of a new European supply chain system and inauguration of the final phase of the Bridgestone European Proving Ground.

With Bridgestone’s focus on added-value products, such as run-flat and high-performance tyres, and the shift in demand towards larger rim-sized tyres in the European passenger car tyre market, heavy pressure has been placed upon current production resources. Capacity at the Poznan, Poland plant has already been boosted plant by 50 per cent to 23,000 units a day and Bridgestone Europe is currently constructing a new fully-automated plant at Tatabanya, Hungary, which will be ready by early 2009.

20th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cambrian Dealers Win Free Bridgestone Rubber

Tyre retailers from Colchester and Weymouth have secured free Bridgestone rubber to reward their support of a prize draw aimed at promoting bike safety. Sean Davies, of Sean Davies Service & Repair, and Alison Bethell, of Full Throttle, each won of a set of Battle Wing tyres after encouraging customers to win an off-road skills weekend in South Wales in return for a free tyre health check. Bridgestone UK also used the promotion with Cambrian Tyres to raise awareness of its new Battle Wing BW 501-502 pattern, which is designed for road and off-road use on powerful adventure sports bikes.

Sean and Alison were among scores of Cambrian account holders to get involved, submitting entry forms on behalf of customers who fancied the thrills and spills of off-road riding.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors