Commercial Vehicle Tyres
Shire Aggregates has specified Michelin tyres as original equipment across 12 new MAN 32-tonne 8×4 tippers and adopted a Michelin policy as standard for future tyre purchases. The decision came after a trial set of Michelin X Works tyres demonstrated potential savings of “more than £26,000 a year” in running costs, the company states.
Visiting CITExpo in 2018 had the potential to be a gloomy affair. A trade show that has specifically targeted medium-sized tyre Chinese manufacturers as a gateway for raising global interest, the trading environment in major export markets in Europe and North America have not been the most hospitable, with tariffs or anti-dumping duties affecting various product segments. In the UK, we heard from a major Chinese truck tyre importer that business had effectively been put on hold with the announcement that the EU was imposing tariffs in May. Pressure had also been mounting domestically, as the Chinese government moved to bring a halt to production at factories it considered to be too polluting, which led to upstream supply chain problems, as raw materials suppliers to the tyre industry were among those affected.
The Giti brand is joining the commercial vehicle tyre portfolio that Giti Tire offers in North America. Giti Tire (USA) is introducing a Giti line-up for long haul, regional, urban/light duty and mixed service applications, and intends to be active in both the original equipment and aftermarket segments within the region.
Vacu-Lug has become the new retread manufacturing partner for Hankook in the UK. The company signalled its new status by including the manufacturer’s Alphatread retreading brand on its stand at the Commercial Vehicle Show (24-26 April, Birmingham NEC), coinciding with the beginning of production of the Alphatread bead-to-bead retread truck tyre range at the Vacu-Lug factory in Grantham.
Vacu-Lug has begun production of Hankook’s Alphatread truck tyre range at its factory in Grantham, Lincolnshire. The bead-to-bead retread tyre range is designed for medium haul fleets, and consists of four sizes. For drive axles, the R-DH05 is available in 295/80R22.5, 315/80R22.5 and 315/70R22.5 and for trailer axles, the R-TH22 is available in 385/65R22.5.
Apollo Vredestein’s UK subsidiary has chosen Treadsetters to handle the sale and distribution of its Apollo truck and bus tyre range across England, Scotland and Wales. Apollo’s debut in Europe’s competitive TBR tyre segment was barely one year ago. The new distribution arrangement represents a change in strategy; the manufacturer had initially said the brand would be available directly from Apollo through an e-commerce system. Apollo Vredestein states the decision to partner with Treadsetters will aid in achieving the tyre manufacturer’s strategy of rapid TBR growth by combining its product range with a highly efficient and experienced distribution partner in the UK.
Giti Tire has given its first indication of the measures it is taking to shore up its European position in light of the EU tariffs introduced on commercial vehicle tyre produced in China. Presenting two of its most popular tyres, including the Giti GTR955 Combi Road, with “Made in Indonesia” highlighted on their sidewalls, the manufacturer is showing it is capable of shifting European truck tyre production to its Tangerang manufacturing complex in Jakarta, following a development completed in late 2016.
Even though Hankook Tire is now – as are many within the tyre industry – making final preparations for next week’s The Tire Cologne, the tyre maker is already getting ready for the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles fair. Offering a sneak preview of what we can expect to see this September, it shares that the show in Hannover, Germany will host the world premiere of a new Hankook mixed on- and off-road tyre line-up that includes steer, drive and trailer axle fitments. Hankook Tire also intends to announce further growth in its business with truck OEMs.
Bridgestone will demonstrate its fleet solutions to reduce overall operating costs alongside its car tyre range for dealers at The Tire Cologne trade fair 29 May to 1 June. The manufacturer added that it will also display part of its wide range of consumer products, with the spotlight will on the Turanza T005 summer touring tyre and a brand new product – one that represents “an entirely new direction for Bridgestone.”
Giti Tire launched its planned transition from the GT Radial brand to the eponymous Giti commercial vehicle tyre range at the CV Show in 2017. One year on, Tyres & Accessories travelled to the Birmingham NEC to meet Tony McHugh, TBR sales and marketing director UK at Giti Tire, to ask how the transition has progressed in the intervening year, catch up on the latest range developments, and find out the story behind the Team Oliver racing truck on its stand.
Bridgestone has secured a three-year commercial partnership with vehicle rental company Collease. The deal will incorporate a large fleet of all types of Trailers and Motorised equipment. Collease’s customers include a number of prestigious blue chip companies.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co has achieved rapid fuel efficiency savings in its truck and bus tyre line-up through its Nano Balance Technology. The manufacturer has been advancing its indigenous rubber material development technology since 2011; the latest step forward is a new process development technology Toyo says will contribute to significant reduction in fuel consumption from “nano processing.”
Bandvulc has secured a three-year contract to provide fleet maintenance services to keep John Lewis Partnership vehicles on the road 24/7, 365 days a year. The fleet service provider states that its retention of the blue-chip contract until October 2020 came following a lengthy and complex tender process last year. Bandvulc will provide support for the John Lewis and Waitrose fleet from its call centre in Devon. Its BVPlus+ fleet management contracts service more than two-thirds of the UK’s supermarket activity.
Aeolus has launched its third generation of truck and bus radial tyres in a large dealer event on the shores – and water – of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Readers of Tyres & Accessories will know that this location is highly appropriate for the Chinese company; the introduction of the new, extensive product range comes at a moment when the ChemChina produced brand is preparing for its future positioning as a second-line sister range to Pirelli in the commercial segment. While the exact relationship of Pirelli and Aeolus continues to be fluidly complex, the Italian brand’s recent separation of its commercial tyre operations under the Prometeon Tyre Group banner give a good indication of where Aeolus commercial tyres are heading.
Michelin’s new X Multi range of commercial vehicle tyres for regional and long haul transportation applications, launched in the UK earlier in 2017 at the CV Show, has been extended with the addition of two new drive sizes – 315/60R22.5 and 295/60R22.5. These X Multi D fitments are particularly targeted at car transporters and low-height 4×2 tractor units, on which they are popular sizes. The manufacturer took the opportunity of the extensions to the X Multi range to host Tyres & Accessories at its recently redeveloped research and development campus in Ladoux, just outside Clermont-Ferrand, introducing one of its latest joint ventures which has helped enhance the production process for the latest Michelin commercial and consumer tyres. It also demonstrated the X Multi range’s performance characteristics against competitors at its proving ground.
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