Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone UK has donated a set of tyres for a charity auction in aid of Children in Need. The rubber contributed to a total of more than £12,000 towards this year’s appeal after they were sold under the hammer by BBC Worldwide Magazines Production department.
BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld has told motorsport reporters that overtaking will be more difficult when F1 runs solely on Bridgestone tyres next season. “Overtaking always used to be difficult in Formula One and I think its going to remain difficult,” he said, adding: “When you’ve got different tyres, it’s more probable that the cars will take different turns at different speeds. In consideration of this fact, I expect the overtaking to become slightly more difficult.” The new F1 season is set to get underway in Australia in March, with the competitive difference of the tyres being eradicated by the fact that all 22 drivers will be running on the same rubber.
Northwich-based Roberts Bakery has appointed ATS Euromaster as its sole commercial vehicle tyre services provider, responsible for a 90-strong fleet, which includes car-derived vans, rigids and tractor units and trailers. The new agreement will see ATS Euromaster’s truck centre in Warrington fit Michelin tyres across the Roberts Bakery fleet – replacing a previous Bridgestone policy which was managed by a local independent tyre dealer.
“We wanted higher service levels from our supplier and ATS Euromaster was able to offer a range of additional benefits,” says Nick Crank, Transport Manager at Roberts Bakery. “These include fortnightly fleet checks, together with the ability to regroove and turn tyres on the rim to ensure maximum mileage performance.
(Akron/Tire Review) Mazda’s all-new CX-9 SUV will ride on Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 radials, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire announced. Available in three models, the CX-9 will be fitted with Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400s in sizes P245/60R18 104H and P245/50R20 102V.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) used its dealer meeting, run in parallel with the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, to unveil new slogans for its Bridgestone and Firestone tyre brands. “It’s Bridgestone or Nothing” is the new tagline for the Bridgestone brand, while the Firestone brand will be tagged with “A Tradition of Innovation.” Bridgestone UK and Europe representatives told Tyres & Accessories that there are no current plans to transfer the new slogans to markets on this side of the Atlantic.
A First Stop tyre dealership and service centre has smashed the £25,000 milestone in its fundraising efforts for charities and worthwhile causes. Harpenden-based Pan Autos reached the target at a recent golf day for loyal customers, suppliers and friends, which added another £2,000 to money raised at 11 previous annual events since 1995. Proceeds from the golf day support a different charity each year. The benefactor on this occasion is the North London Hospice, which supports terminally ill patients in the boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.
Following Goodyear’s announcement that it will close its Tyler, Texas plant by the middle of next year, analysts are estimating that the company will save $50 million after tax. The analysts describe the United Steelworkers’ response as “not surprisingly negative,” adding: “we would expect the Steelworker’s strike against Goodyear to continue.” Goodyear has 12 tyre plants in North America, 8 of which are organized and represented by the Steelworkers. Goodyear’s announcement is consistent with previously announced plans to reduce private label shipments by 8 million. The Tyler plant has capacity of 9 million tyres annually.
(Akron/Tire Review) The Associated Press has reported that Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has begun cutting employment at its Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, tyre plant, which is scheduled to close by the end of this year. Some 400 employees, said the report, will be laid off by the end of this month. In April, BFNAT announced that it would close the plant, eliminating 1,400 jobs there.
A nationwide campaign to drive sales and raise awareness of Firestone-branded tyres has “proved a major success” according to Bridgestone UK. The UK wing of the Japanese manufacturer is reporting impressive feedback from its recent Firestone Together initiative, which centred on a consumer reward promotion offering motorists a free family portrait in return for Firestone purchases.
The Vauxhall MasterFit garage chain is claiming that “the best [tyre] deal in town” for Vauxhall owners is to be found at a MasterFit centre. Citing independent research recently conducted at 50 locations spread throughout the UK, the network said its prices beat those of Kwik-Fit on eight out of every 10 tyres.
The results are said to include brands as well-known as Bridgestone, Dunlop, Continental and Pirelli. The survey compared the prices charged by 50 Vauxhall MasterFit Centres with those of 50 Kwik-Fit centres in the same locations.
Hisao Suganuma, the technical manager of Bridgestone’s Formula One tyre group will return to work at the Japanese’ manufacturers motorsport group in Japan in 2007 as part of the company’s staff rotation programme. Suganuma was appointed as F1 technical manager in 2001 and was a key figure in Ferrari’s four F1 world championship victories from 2001-2004. In 2007 Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier in Formula One and has appointed Kees van der Grint and Jun Matsuzaki as joint technical managers in view of the increased workload.
Female drivers in Rugby are receiving hands-on advice to improve their safety as potentially vulnerable motorists. Technicians at First Stop dealership TW Tyres are sharing their expertise at Driver Awareness Evenings run in association with Bridgestone. The course covers basic car mechanics and maintenance, and aims to educate women on what to do should they get into trouble whilst driving alone.
“We’re covering everyday scenarios like how to change a tyre, how to check the tyre tread depth and pressure, and how to check oil levels and water levels – things we all really ought to know, but often don’t,” said Nathalie Furner, general manager of TW Tyres.
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Since its foundation in 1931 Hofmann wheel balancers and tyre changers have built a reputation for quality and reliability. A preferred choice at many leading car manufacturers and tyre shops its fair to say that there are probably few technicians in the country that haven’t used a Hofmann machine.
The Formula 1 season came to an exciting end at the Brazilian Grand Prix with Fernando Alonso of Renault (Michelin) retaining his world title after finishing second. Ferrari’s (Bridgestone) Felipe Massa led from pole to flag to record a win in his home country – his second career win – and Honda’s (Michelin) Jenson Button finished third.
Websites dedicated to motor racing are suggesting that there may soon be a change of personnel in the Bridgestone Formula 1 team, with Kees Van der Grint coming more to the fore. Van der Grint has extensive experience in the car design and motorsports arena, in karting, Formula 3 and Formula 3000 before moving up to Formula 1. His recent assignment with Bridgestone has involved close liaison with Michael Schumacher, who is retiring at the end of the 2006 season.
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