Netherlands-based wholesaler Heuver Banden is introducing a ‘second life’ for Aeolus tyres in the markets where it represents the Chinese tyre maker. The company has released its first retreaded Aeolus tyre, the mould cure retreaded Eco-Twin trailer tyre in size 385/65R22.5. Heuver says the use of high quality Aeolus casings ensures excellent performance for the tyre’s second life, along with reduced operating costs.
GT Radial has announced that it will unveil its first commercial retread tyre product, the GT REE Tread, at The Commercial Vehicle Show 2012. With the brand representing an acronym for “Reliable, Economical and Environmental”, GT REE Tread is a high quality, hot cure bead-to-bead retread built on GT Radial casings. The company will present the tyre alongside its other new commercial products, the GSR220 steer axle pattern and the GDL617 non-directional long haul drive axle pattern, on Stand G40, in Hall 2.
Michelin North America is using this week’s Mid-America Trucking Show to debut the new Michelin X Multi Energy D drive tyre for regional and emerging super regional applications. The SmartWay-verified tyre delivers enhanced fuel efficiency, optimised traction and long tread life to provide significant value and performance, the tyre maker said.
Fraikin UK, a leading vehicle contract hire firm, has started a supply arrangement for its retread tyres and casing management with the Bandvulc Group. The agreement, which sees Bandvulc’s product being used extensively within its operations, is supported by the collection and processing of all used tyres (casings). All of Fraikin’s UK locations will have regular tyre deliveries and collections by Bandvulc’s own fleet of commercial vehicles. Fraikin has used Bandvulc products previously, but only in part whereas this new arrangement is to supply 100 per cent of the Fraikin fleet.
The Retread Tire Association has announced the launch of its new website, retreadtire.org. RTA's managing director, Harvey Brodsky says the site is a work in progress: “Our site will never be 'done' because we will be updating and adding to it on a regular basis.”
Starting in 2013 Pirelli will supply World Superbike Series (WSBK) riders and teams with 17-inch racing tyres instead of the previously used 16.5-inch rubber. This decision prompted Tyres & Accessories to ask Pirelli racing director Georgio Barbier what led to this “important step”, as Pirelli itself describes it, and how it can benefit the average rider. Unsurprisingly, Barbier retained a professional silence regarding the costs involved in Pirelli’s role as Superbike tyre supplier and how this compares to its Formula 1 commitment. The same applies to questioning on whether the planned switch to 17-inch tyres in 2013 is a sign of Pirelli’s intention to seek a continuation of its WSBK tyre supply beyond 2015.
Rema Tip Top’s UK branch landed the Innovation TAFF Award this year for the Ram-rod Tire Safe safety cage. In addition to the business that product attracted, Rema Tip Top says another product has been of particular interest this year. Making the argument that today’s economic climate calls for “favourably-priced solutions”, Rema Tip Top says its Minicombi plug/patch repair system is a “great alternative” to new tyre purchases, given that most tyre injuries can be repaired. “A genuine contribution to the sustainability of the environment can also be immensely satisfying to the responsible motorist,” the company maintains. The Minicombi is available for radial and cross-ply tyres and designed to be used to repair both the inside surface and puncture-canal, efficiently and durably in one step. The system can repair tread punctures of up to 10mm in diameter.
TyreSafe Australia has been awarded Australasian distribution rights for the PressurePro TPMS system. The fleet tyre maintenance specialist says it will target mining, road transport and bus sector customers with the US-developed system. “We are proud to offer product and service for the PressurePro system,” stated TyreSafe Australia’s PressurePro executive David Horne. “They pioneered commercial and aftermarket TPMS in the US and have been global market leaders for the past 20 years.
Bridgestone has donated over £2,000 worth of free tyres to Cambridgeshire charity Connections. The charity, which supports its local 13 to 19 year olds with a wide range of advice, guidance and practical help, relies on its converted double decker buses for its drop-in youth clubs. The tyres have come as a welcomed surprise, especially during a time when tyre prices continue to increase.
The Conti360° Fleet Services network in Europe is growing; in addition to the service package’s introduction into Hungary next month, Ireland now boasts a Conti360° presence. Continental Tyres has announced the establishment of a fully integrated partner network there, with 23 dealers and 37 sites across the country signing up.
Continental Tyres has appointed City 1st Tyres in Slough, Berks as an accredited Conti360° Partner outlet. City 1st, which specialise in new truck and trailer tyres as well as retreads, joins Continental's existing pan-European network of outlets that services the tyre manufacturer's fleet customers.
Fleet tyre management company Trucktyre has integrated Cam Systems’ recently launched casing management module into its UniSerV suite, leading to an increase in the speed and efficiency of its job card system and a 90 per cent reduction in its paper transfer. The module also eliminates double entries and improves data accuracy and tracking. Trucktyre says it processes 6,500 breakdown job cards each month.
According to the Retread Tire Association, North America’s retreading industry is experiencing a severe shortage of retreadable truck tyre casings. Association managing director Harvey Brodsky comments that this shortage may have a negative impact on those who use retreads as retreaded tyres act as a “brake” on new tyre prices: “Whenever there is a shortage of retreads, new tyre manufacturers do not have any reason to hold back on raising their prices, and everyone who purchases truck tyres feels the pain in their chequebooks.”
Cam Systems has launched a casing management module, designed to simplify and improve the overall efficiency of the casing management process. It will help to track the location and value of tyre assets which have been removed from a vehicle. The module is available as an integrated component within Cam’s UniSerV suite alongside Call Logging, Integrated Mapping and Document Manager, enabling customers to track each individual casing for its full lifespan.
Michigan-based business L-Ray has been manufacturing non-destructive tyre testing equipment for almost 40 years – previously under the names IHI (International Holographics, Inc) and Grant Engineering. While a small business, it operates on the global stage in manufacturing and retreading segments – in total, the company says it provides over 250 machines in more than 24 countries – first producing holography machines and then shearography machines. In 2007 L-Ray introduced its new Differometric Technology, which president Lee Petrimoulx says is “much faster and provides high quality digital images for checking tyres or retread casings”.
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