In the USA, the Hercules Tire & Rubber company has announced the addition of four new 17-inch sizes to its ultra high performance, W-speed rated Raptis WR1 range. The Raptis WR1 combines sleek, modern aesthetics and exceptional steering response with a silica compound and an asymmetric tread design to deliver high-performance character all year round. The new sizes are:
Demand for passenger car tyres in China is forecast to rise over the medium to long term, and the high performance segment is particularly expected to see high growth. For this reason, Bridgestone Corporation’s group company in China, Bridgestone (Wuxi) Tire Co., Ltd., will increase production capacity at its Wuxi plant by approximately 5,300 tyres a day.
The September report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders makes good reading for the UK car industry, as output has reached a level not seen since 2007-08. In the rolling 12 months since October 2012, the UK has manufactured more than 1.5 million, achieving a five-year high.
In order to increase its ASEAN region presence, Taiwan’s Cheng Shin Rubber will invest NT$2.36 billion (£49.7 million) to build a plant in Indonesia. A filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange states that the company’s board approved plans for the factory on 15 October.
Hankook says it is rejuvenating its line-up for the refitting/tuning market and in spring 2014 will introduce a new high performance wide tyre, the Ventus V12 evo². In addition to considerable improvements in all performance parameters over the prior-generation Ventus V12 evo, the manufacturer reports that environmental characteristics were also a key element for the development team when creating the V12 evo².
The ‘death sentence’ hanging over Bridgestone’s Bari passenger car tyre plant in Italy has been rescinded. A plan to keep the site operational has been announced; this calls for the factory to focus its production solely on tyres for general use, while increasing the plant’s competitiveness and reducing its overall conversion cost.
Aeolus has a new distributor for its passenger car tyre range in the German, Austrian and Swiss markets. German wholesaler and tyre service provider Reifen Straub GmbH now handles imports in these three territories and in mid-September began delivery of Aeolus AW02 and AW03 winter tyres for the coming ‘changeover’ period, which traditionally takes place in October.
As work on Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ tyre plant in Brazil nears completion, groundbreaking was held for the company’s second tyre factory outside of Asia. On 18 September, a groundbreaking ceremony was conducted at the Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (SAT) factory site in Turkey’s Cankiri Province.
Uniroyal has launched the latest generation of its wet weather-orientated RainSport line. However as much as this launch is a definite upgrade and refresh of its classic wet product after more than a decade in service, the move also represents a renewal of attention on the very well established brand. As well as bringing the RainSport range into the labelling age (every single fitment in the wide 185/55 R14 to 305/30 R19 range has scored an A in wet grip), the RainSport 3 seeks to extend its “best in wet” reputation further with a few percentage points of improvements in virtually every other respect as well. The exceptions are wear and noise, which remain relatively static compared with the predecessor product.
The United Kingdom is Cooper Tire’s strongest European market. The company holds a 7 to 7.5 per cent of the consumer market here, thanks largely to healthy 4×4 tyre sales. Market share on the other side of the English Channel and in the PCR segment is more modest, however, and Jeff Schumacher would like to see this change. Schumacher, who took on the role of Cooper Tire Europe’s managing director and vice-president at the start of this year, aims to increase combined market share for all Cooper brands to five per cent across Europe. To achieve this, the company has opened a new branch office in Russia, is increasing market penetration in France and Germany and signing on new brand ambassadors. Furthermore, in September Cooper unveiled a new range-topping passenger car tyre, the Zeon CS Sport.
Hankook has become the latest tyre manufacturer to tune a new product to the lucrative ultra-high performance sports utility vehicle segment, with a newly developed SUV version of its flagship Ventus S1 evo2. The new tyre will be brought to the European market in spring 2014, and will be available in 30 sizes between 17 and 22 inches. The Ventus S1 evo2 SUV will be manufactured mainly in the company's state-of-the-art factory in Hungary, Hankook added.
The GT Radial brand has made much well-documented progress within the UK commercial vehicle tyre market over the past few years, and in December 2012, its manufacturer Giti Tire’s UK operation began rolling out a commercial vehicle roadside service assistance programme. Now in the third quarter of 2013, GT Assist has developed to consist of a network of approximately 220 dealer partner depots covering the UK and Ireland. Tyres & Accessories visited one of GT Radial’s longest standing customers in the UK, Manchester independent family business Tyre Save, to discuss the roadside service assistance programme with sales and marketing director Truck and Bus Tony McHugh and regional sales manager Truck and Bus Steve McDonald from GiTi Tire (UK) and Tyre Save owner Mark Davies and manager Stewart Little.
Marangoni Group has confirmed that it will end new passenger car and van tyre production at its Anagni factory. The announcement comes amidst local news reports of despondency amongst workers who expected to return to work in September after two postponements in August. Around 400 employees at the Anagni plant will be made redundant. The group said it would “assess possible solutions with relevant organisations and parties in managing this difficult period”. Unions are said to be planning solidarity events in support of workers.
Triangle Tire representatives have denied online reports that the company is planning to invest in a Russian tyre production facility any time soon. Following online reports which surfaced in August, Tyres & Accessories contacted the company and its UK importer TYM International. According to TYM managing director Steve Eke, there were talks with Russian government officials along these lines last year, but at the start of 2013 the decision was taken not to follow these through any further.
Birla Tyres says it is ready to get its passenger car tyre factory project back on track, and the Indian tyre maker also intends to target export markets, including Europe, with its agricultural and other niche products.
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