Continuing our series investigating UK Police fleet tyre demand, we looked a little closer at the differences between the various regional forces tyre preferences. Despite the fact that, as we have seen, tyre purchasing is based on a national framework agreement, there was a surprising amount of variety in both tyre policy and what actually happened when the rubber hit the road, so to speak.
Following the SMMT’s publication of new car registration figures for May 2020, Jonathan Moss, Head of Transport at global legal services business DWF, commented that the numbers are the worst since 1952. He said:
During recent weeks and months, the coronavirus lockdown has seen miles-driven figures fall through the floor. However, some fleets don’t stop moving. And, as anyone who has clapped for our carers will tell you, the blue-light services have been as busy as ever. Of course, the medics, police and firefighters rely on tyre technicians to keep them mobile. So, with this in mind, and as part our June magazine’s Fleet Tyre feature, we have been investigating what the blue light fleet’s tyre demand really looks like.
At the same time that the coronavirus lockdown closed car showrooms, the UK new car market fell 89 per cent in May, with just over 20,000 vehicles delivered. However, the adoption of ‘click and collect’-style online ordering was one ray of light. Still, according to the SMMT data, in May 2020 the overall UK new car market was 163,477 units behind the same month last year. And therefore, the market is down more than 51 per cent in the first five months.
Kumho’s Ecowing ES31 has been selected as the standard tyre for the latest version of the Ibiza, Seat’s bestselling model. The compact hatchback will run on size 185/65R15 88H tyres. The new deal continues the South Korean tyre manufacturer’s 14-year relationship with the VW Group. Kumho began supplying OE fitments for the Volkswagen Polo in 2006.
Goodyear has launched its new EfficientGrip Performance 2 with a bold claim. The manufacturer believes the new tyre can reach around 50 per cent higher mileage than the first edition of its car tyre product line. In internal tests, driving open roads in Luxembourg and France in a VW Golf fitted with 205/55R16 91V size tyres, this is what Goodyear says the second edition EfficientGrip Performance achieved.
With coronavirus lockdowns lifting around the world, heightened vigilance in social interactions is likely to continue for some time. One effect of this could be an increased use of private cars, as commuters eschew public transport options to limit their contact with other people. The economic reality of this suggests that those in the financial position to drive are even more likely to do so. And in turn these motorists are more likely to drive cars that require the fitment of larger tyres. In its preparation for the launch of the new Cinturato P7 over the last month, Pirelli commissioned a survey of drivers using 18-inch and above tyre sizes. This highlighted the tendency for increased car use in future – especially while social distancing measures are in place. In China, 68 per cent of respondents said they would use their cars more, in Italy the figure was 31 per cent, and in Germany 20 per cent.
Pirelli has launched a new high performance tyre for premium cars in European and Asian markets, the next generation Cinturato P7. The Cinturato product line has one of the longest histories in the car tyre segment. The brand, with which Pirelli claims to have “invented the concept of the sporting tyre for the road”, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. While the P Zero line is Pirelli’s primary focus for the highest performance vehicles, the Formula 1 tyre supplier includes Cinturato branding via the series’s wet weather tyres with good reason. Such is Pirelli’s focus on the ultra-high performance sector, that the Cinturato is positioned as another tyre line for top premium segment cars. Preparations for the launch of the new P7 focused on drivers using 18” and above sizes, while Pirelli’s original equipment focus has also yielded 70-plus homologations for the tyre.
Bearing in mind that Pirelli’s high-performance leading product portfolio is based on an OE-homologation heavy “perfect fit” strategy, it is no surprise to learn that the Italian-based manufacturer is pitching it tyres as “the perfect fit for fleets” as well.
The coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdowns mean that sales of car tyres especially have sustained a harsh blow around the world. But as measures introduced to halt the spread of COVID-19 begin to be eased, motorists will steadily begin to use their cars again, increasing demand. In the car tyre sector, high value, ultra-high performance segments could prove vital, as better potential margins offer attractive opportunities for increasing cashflow quicker. The other side of that coin is that motorists’ finances are also under pressure, putting the price they pay for their car tyres under even greater scrutiny. Could this, therefore, present an opportunity for mid-range brands to make a case for their products, offering more palatable performance compromises compared with premium rivals than the lowest-priced brands?
Firestone has launched the Winterhawk 4 winter tyre – the next generation of the Bridgestone brand’s flagship winter tyre line. The tyre targets cars and on-road SUVs at a mid-range, value price. Firestone says its Winterhawk 4 tyre has been engineered for optimal control and handling in cold and unpredictable conditions. The manufacturer states that the new tyre offers improved traction on snow and ice at around 7 per cent better than the Winterhawk 3. Braking distances on wet winter roads are 4 per cent shorter too.
Financial analysts from Jefferies described Continental AG’s plan for fiscal improvements during the corona-crisis “encouraging”, according to an analyst report published 15 May 2020. That Conti’s management highlighted “positive data points in China and the European replacement tyre market”, would seem to be positive indications for the whole tyre business. Specifically, replacement tyre demand was described as “strong” in Germany. However, R&D budgets are likely to be cut and there was even the suggestion that European tyre factory numbers could also be cut back.
Things are changing so quickly at the moment that most analyses end up little more than speculation two weeks later. That’s why Tyrepress contains both the latest news and seeks to set such developments into their medium- and long-term contexts. Take our Tyre Retail coverage for example (see “2020 UK tyre retail ranking” and “Which garages are open during lockdown“) where we list both the current proportions of open tyre retailers and analyse the overall UK tyre retail landscape in its seven-year context.
Cosmo Tires is excited to announce the three newest members of its product line, the M+S/All-Season El Jefe HT, the M+S/All Season and the All Weather rated El Tigre AT, and the M+S/All-Season TigerTail. All are available for immediate order.
Bridgestone has launched the Weather Control A005 EVO tyre, the second generation of its all-season touring tyre. The tyre is designed to meet the needs and expectations of European drivers, built using Bridgestone’s advanced, high silica NanoPro-tech compound technology. Its new mixing technology that improves silica dispersion. This allows the A005 EVO to offer enhanced fuel efficiency alongside improved winter performance. Like its predecessor, the Weather Control A005, Bridgestone’s new EVO edition has been designed to deliver year-round control, safety, and convenience, reengineered to offer additional performance benefits.
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Statista; Tyre Industry Publications Ltd
Goodyear; HiQ [@HiQAutocare] via Twitter)
SMMT
Kumho
Goodyear
Pirelli
Pirelli
Falken
Firestone
Continental AG
energepic.com; Pexels
Cosmo, TGI
Bridgestone