In a 3-2 vote, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) yesterday determined that the US tyre industry hasn’t been materially injured by imports of truck and bus tyres from China, nor is it threatened by these imports. The US Department of Commerce previously determined that these imported tyres are subsidised and are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
McGill’s Buses has signed a five-year extension to its Michelin solutions tyre management programme. The fleet operator said Michelin solutions’ “fantastic support” was a key factor in its decision to renew. The Effitires contract covers the operator’s 400-plus single and double-decker buses, and will see Michelin solutions supply, fit and service the operator’s Michelin tyres.
For over a year, Bridgestone Corporation has worked with partners to develop solutions that both facilitate barrier-free public transportation and protect tyres from sidewall abrasions. The company has reported on its progress towards achieving these goals and shared details of technologies that bring buses closer to the kerbside and also reduce tyre damage and discomfort to passengers should close turn out to be too close.
The Firestone range continues to grow and diversify with the brand’s first-ever tyre for city bus operations. The all-new, all-position FS492 was designed specifically with the challenges of urban transport operations in mind; with the reliability to ensure safety and comfort for passengers and the durability to ensure long-lasting performance and profitability for operators.
Bus operator Rotala has signed up to Michelin solutions’ Effitires tyre management programme for its 650 single- and double-deckers.
The five-year pence-per-mile contract covers the combined fleet of Rotala’s five subsidiary bus operations: Diamond Bus, Diamond Bus North West, Hallmark Connections, Preston Bus and Wessex Bus, plus a number of smaller companies and local transport firms.
Radialisation of the truck tyre segment in India has been a major subject over the past decade, and JK Tyre and Industries Limited considers itself the “undisputed leader” in this field. The tyre maker produced its first truck and bus radial in 1999 and currently holds the capacity to produce 3.5 million units per annum. On 22 August, the 10 millionth radial truck tyre produced rolled off the line at the company’s Vikrant plant in Mysuru (Mysore).
New solutions for coach operators and hauliers wishing to maximise fuel efficiency and cargo space will form the core of Hankook Tire’s product portfolio at next month’s IAA Commercial Vehicles show.
Nottingham City Transport has shortlisted the GT Radial GAU861 as an all-position tyre of choice. The operator had been contracted to a premium manufacturer until April 2014, but took purchasing in-house to access the open market.
As an official sponsor of this summer’s UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, Continental will continue positioning of its brand close to the top level of European football, a strategy that continues to prove successful, and popular with competitors. As part of its sponsorship package with the tournament, Conti will equip the transfer buses taking teams all over France to the ten host cities with its premium bus tyres, a feature previously seen at the Brazil-hosted World Cup in 2014, when Conti supplied a special edition ContiGol Urbino. In addition to the buses used by all 24 teams who have qualified, the specially designed Conti Goal HA3 tyres will also run on 20 VIP buses provided by selected private transport companies. Conti will use an exclusive special edition tyre for the tournament based on its Conti CityPlus HA3 tyre for regional transportation. The size 295/80R22.5 Conti Goal HA3 was developed in Germany by the manufacturer’s engineers, and can be fitted to any axle.
Just over two years ago, Sumitomo Rubber Industries acquired Apollo Tyres South Africa, and with it the operation’s car tyre factory in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. While the plant supplies the local market with passenger car and light truck tyres, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa has to-date met local demand for truck and bus tyres with imported products. This will soon change; the company has announced it will invest 910 million rand (£41.3 million) to install new production equipment within the Ladysmith facility, and it aims to produce truck and bus tyres there from July 2018.
The Société de Transport de Montreal (STM) will begin retreading its tyres using Vipal products, following a bidding process and a battery of tests with the retreading material provider’s V167 tread.
Blackpool Transport has agreed a five-year renewal of its Effitires by Michelin solutions comprehensive tyre management programme. The pence-per-mile deal covers Blackpool Transport’s 38 midibuses, 24 full-size single-deck buses and 73 double-deckers, all of which operate from the company’s central depot in Rigby Road. A 10-vehicle ‘reserve fleet’ is also covered under the Effitires contract, as are the Leyland Olympian open-topped and Leyland Atlantean AN68 buses maintained as part of Blackpool Transport’s “heritage fleet”.
Bridgestone has launched what it calls “the commercial motor industry’s first ever re-torque safety app for all commercial vehicle operators”. The free Bridgestone Retorque app has been developed after research with all bus, truck and trailer original equipment manufacturers and will therefore offer the correct torque settings on all vehicles, free of charge, at the swipe of a mobile phone or tablet. The latest version (1.1) was updated to the Google Play store on 27 January
Bandag has added 3 new sizes to its range of retreads for city bus and coach applications. The Bandag U-AP 001 city bus retread is now available in size 245/70R19.5 and the Bandag BDR-C coach retread, in sizes 245/70R19.5 and 295/80R22.5. As a result of the range extension, the Bandag urban and coach line-up now covers most common premium casing sizes on the market.
Goodyear has become the sole tyre supplier to Newport Bus, the city of Newport’s principal bus operator. The fleet of nearly 100 buses, with 45 services covering a network of 200 square miles, will be fitted with Goodyear UrbanMax MCA and MCD Traction tyres. Scott Pearson, managing director at Newport Bus, says: “We were impressed with the UrbanMax product, in particular its durability and all season capability. However what really clinched it for us was the service offer from TruckForce.”
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